Did you know that in addition to Portugal and Brazil, Portuguese is spoken in seven other countries and ranks eighth among the most spoken languages in the world? Or that over 200 million people speak Portuguese throughout the world today and that Portuguese is one of the official languages of the European Union? Or that almost all the regional traits or characteristics of standard Portuguese in Portugal are present either in standard Brazilian Portuguese or in some dialect in Brazil? Or that Brazil has the tenth largest economy in the world?

Duke students interested in learning Portuguese can start studying the language at the beginning level or can continue their study of Portuguese by placing into the appropriate level when they arrive at Duke. Students are encouraged to plan early in order to attain an advanced level in Portuguese and to work into their study plans our Duke-in-Brazil study abroad summer program.

Students wishing to do work towards a major with Portuguese are encouraged to consider the Spanish Latin American and Brazilian major track