Language: Portuguese or Spanish

[Eswee]

I am walking the Camino Portuguese from Porto to Santiago in October 2017 and want to learn one of the two languages, Portuguese or Spanish before I go. Which of the two languages will be the best to learn to be helpful on the route.

 

[JohnnieWalker]

In Portugal many people speak English. Less so in Spain. In bars, restaurants and albergues staff are well able to communicate with you. It would be polite to be able to say hello, goodbye, goodmorning, please etc in both languages

Buen Camino

John

 

[SYates]

The one, short stay I had in Portugal I actually asked people if they prefer to speak with me in English or Spanish - the overwhelming response was ENGLISH. I suggest you learn some polite phrases in Portuguese like "Hello", "Good Bye", "Thank You" and "Sorry, I don't speak much Portuguese, may I speak English with you?". And learn a bit more Spanish than that. BUT, these are well traveled routes, people are used to the basic needs of pilgrims (bed, food, drink, church times) so they do know what you need even if you speak very little of their native tongue. BTW duolingo.com is a great resource for learning languages - free and fun!

Buen Camino/Bon Camiño, SY

 

[Mike Savage]

English works very well for me in Portugal and on the rare occasion I can't communicate in English then Spanish works. I do know common phrases in Portuguese but just the basics.

 

[JP]

We were hopeless in Portugese, but we used French or English quite often to get directions with no problem.

 

[notion900]

Spanish is more useful globally and if you want to walk more Caminos in future.

 

[Pelegrin]

Yes, Spanish is more useful globally and I think is easier .
But if you want to learn Portugues do it, Portugues is also an important language in the world and is similar to Galego.

 

[Rick of Rick and Peg]

Spanish is more useful globally and if you want to walk more Caminos in future.

There are about twice as many native Spanish speakers in the world than there are native Portuguese speakers and there are more countries where Spanish is spoken. There are more native Spanish speakers in the US than there are in Spain. I say learn Spanish first.

 

[Stephen Nicholls]

When in Portugal: English is preferred to Spanish [remember the Spanish are the ancient "enemies"!!] And Portugal is the only European country with whom England has never been at war.
But most of your journey will be in Spain.
So if it's a choice between learning Portuguese or Spanish for the Portuguese camino from Porto, I would personally learn some Spanish!
Buen camino! or
Bom caminho!

 

[Rainerbernd]

Olá

on the Caminho Português , Portuguese is language number one! Stephen wrote, most of your journey will be in Spain. That´s not true! On the other side of the border you are in Galicia. Well, Galicia is part of Spain, but the Galegos are very proud of their language and their culture.
Galego is very close to Portuguese. So I never had problems of understanding with my Português. In albergues I often had to translate because nobody spoke English. Allright, in Galicia nearly everybody speaks Spanish, but Portuguese is well understood all around.

Bom caminho

Rainer

 

[Eswee]

Thank you all for your response. Look like Spanish is the winner.

 

[notion900]

Portugal is the only European country with whom England has never been at war.

Wow is that true? Surely a few must have escaped, like Andorra and Lichtenstein?