At first glance, Spanish and Portuguese may look very similar, and they are indeed! But, apart from the phonetic differences, Spanish may seem more emotional to Portuguese speakers. But why is that?

Let’s do a little exercise. How would we say ‘I love it’ in Portuguese and Spanish?

Portuguese speakers may say ‘Eu adoro/amo’, while Spanish speakers may say ‘Me encanta’. The verb ‘encantar’ also exists in Portuguese, but it is not used so often. It comes from ‘to enchant’. Very poetic, right? We find it truly enchanting. 🪄🧙‍♀️In Portuguese, we tend to be a bit more straightforward.

Curiosity: Spanish has 5 vowel sounds, while Portuguese is leading with 9. The vowels with a nasal sound aren't found in Spanish. Portuguese has a more complex phonology than Spanish with many extra sounds. And this is the one reason that Portuguese speakers have an easier time understanding spoken Spanish than vice versa.

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