Should I Learn Spanish Before Taking Online Portuguese Lessons?

One of the most commonly asked questions by students taking the best online Portuguese course is whether they should have started their journey by learning Spanish first. It’s unsurprising, considering how similar the two languages are. Plus, it’s often remarked upon by Portuguese speakers how easy it is to understand Spanish (at least to some extent) even with no prior background in it. While vice versa is not guaranteed, it’s essential to note that exposure to Spanish can aid you in learning Portuguese online. Most people consider it an advantage that every student needs to do well in an online Portuguese course. Here are some of the reasons why.

Why Should You Learn Spanish Before Taking the Best Online Portuguese Course?

The Languages Are Similar

Spanish and Portuguese are quite similar in a lot of ways. For starters, they have at least 90 percent lexical similarity, according to Nikolaos Sitsanis (speakt.com). That means that you can find a cognate of most words in both languages. Of the two, Portuguese tends to be more challenging for native English speakers. However, learning Spanish can help you understand Portuguese faster because of the similarities. That way, you don’t need to learn a lot of new vocabulary, and you can take your time to learn the pronunciation and the rules of the language. You can also have fun studying Portuguese by translating it from or to Spanish. 

Additionally, since the languages are as different as they are similar, achieving a comfortable knowledge of Spanish first gives you a significant edge to better differentiate the two. More importantly, it’s best to beware of false cognates (false friends).

Which Is Easier to Pick Up?

Everyone expresses a different opinion about the ease of learning the two languages. However, the majority of people agree that Spanish is easier to understand. Learning Spanish can also make it easier to learn other romantic languages. Once you’re comfortable with your Spanish, Portuguese will be a lot easier to master and speak fluently. As long as you don’t end up picking up “Portuñol” (a blend of Portuguese and Spanish) with time, you can be sure of an excellent way of mastering your online Portuguese lessons.

Both Languages Are Important

As a multilingual person, you get a chance to explore new opportunities and enjoy a diverse array of cultures. You can sample employment opportunities in both Portuguese-speaking and Spanish-speaking countries. However, you should note that this isn’t limited to language-oriented careers like translation alone, but numerous other careers.

But it’s not really about employment opportunities alone. By learning Spanish before Portuguese, you get better cultural exposure that opens your way of thinking and offers a new channel to express yourself. Learning Spanish first may prove beneficial for many, including children.

Mastering with Ease

Mastering Spanish before learning Portuguese has proven to be the trick of understanding the latter language with ease. It’s also the best way to hit two birds with one stone by adding another foreign language to your list of accomplishments. However, you should beware of false cognates and the issue of falling prey to Portuñol. Contact us for more information.