Portuguese

noun

Por·​tu·​guese ˈpȯr-chə-ˌgēz 

-ˌgēs;

ˌpȯr-chə-ˈgēz, 

-ˈgēs 

plural Portuguese

1

a

: a native or inhabitant of Portugal

b

: one who is of Portuguese descent

2

: the Romance language of Portugal and Brazil

Portuguese adjective

Examples of Portuguese in a Sentence

She is teaching her son Portuguese.

the customs of the Portuguese

Recent Examples on the Web

Carlos Queiroz, the 73-year-old Portuguese, is the latest to try to crack the code and is about to oversee a World Cup campaign that begins with group matches against Panama, England and Croatia. — Simon Hughes, New York Times, 17 June 2026

The track is sung in English, Spanish, and Portuguese, blending Latin pop, K-pop, and Afrobeats; LISA delivers the opening verse, Anitta takes over across all three languages, and Rema rounds it all off with an Afrobeats verse. — Hannah Abraham, Forbes.com, 13 June 2026

Breeds that shed less, such as the Poodle, Bichon Frise, Portuguese Water Dog, and some terrier varieties, are considered more allergy-friendly. — Encyclopedia Britannica, 12 June 2026

Spanish is the official language everywhere except in Brazil (Portuguese), French Guiana (French), Guyana (English), and Suriname (Dutch). — Michael Ray, Encyclopedia Britannica, 8 June 2026

Word History

Etymology

Portuguese português, adjective & noun, from Portugal

First Known Use

1534, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing Portuguese

• Portuguese man-of-war
• Portuguese water dog
• the Portuguese

Rhymes for Portuguese

• abcs
• absentees
• addressees
• adoptees
• allottees
• amputees
• antifreeze
• appellees
• appointees
• arrestees
• artistes
• assamese

Kids Definition

Portuguese

noun

Por·​tu·​guese ˈpōr-chə-ˌgēz  ˈpȯr- 

-ˌgēs;

ˌpōr-chə-ˈgēz, 

ˌpȯr-, 

-ˈgēs

plural Portuguese

1

: a person born or living in Portugal

2

: the language of Portugal and Brazil

Portuguese adjective