Do I need to be able to speak Portuguese

[Pam Scott]

Hello
I'm planning to walk the Portuguese Camino this year starting at Lisbon. A couple of questions.

Apart from being able to speak the common courtesies of thank you goodbye etc. Do I need to be able to speak Portuguese?

Is it advisable to start outside Lisbon?

Many thanks

Pam

 

[Waka]

I think wherever you are outside of your home country language, it is polite to speak the language of the country you are in, irrespective of whether they speak your mother tongue. Now the level of understanding is another thing, as long as you try to converse you will be welcomed and appreciated. On the other hand if you the think that by talking loader in your own tongue will make them understand you more, you'll find that unlike the movies it doesn't work.
So the moral to this is, learn all you can, don't be shy in making mistakes and finally, just go with the flow.

 

[shubertj]

We did not speak Portuguese but a little Spanish which wasn't to helpful. We were able to get buy on our English and pick up some Portuguese along the way. The route isn't marked as well as the Frances and the distances were longer between places to stay (30K + days). I would say the first 3-4 days out of Lisbon were pretty uneventful. We only saw a few pilgrims the first few days and started to see more from Tomar on.

 

[Doogman]

I have walked from Porto to SdC twice, and my experience is that most Portuguese that you will come in contact with will speak English fairly well. The more Portuguese you know the better it will be, but if you can learn the very basics in the local language, and obviously be polite, them you will make out just fine. That is what I have done, and have not had any issues. I have to believe that many have walked this route before with little or no knowledge of the language.

 

[Rick of Rick and Peg]

Currently going on is the thread Language: Portuguese or Spanish

 

[AJ]

Apart from hello, goodbye, please and thank you I don't speak Portuguese and had no difficulties walking from Lisbon.

 

[mspath]

If you learn a few basic phrases in Portuguese to communicate politely you will have no problem. Most locals speak excellent English and often French. Everyone is very eager to be helpful to visitors.

 

[StepheninDC]

I'm fluent in European Portuguese and I love the language. I'm a strong believer in learning a language as a way to get to know a country and its culture better. There are lots of online and smartphone-ready language courses that can help you learn some of the language before you go. Bom Caminho!