If you speak Portuguese and work with people from Spanish-speaking countries, this has probably happened to you: you understand almost everything they say, you can read an email without translating it, and you can even hold a conversation.
But when it's time to respond… Portuñol appears.
And there's nothing wrong with that. Portuñol can work perfectly well in informal situations. The problem arises when we bring it into the professional environment, where more or less understanding each other is not always enough.
Why does it seem so easy?
Portuguese and Spanish share many words and structures. That's why, for a Brazilian, understanding Spanish is often relatively easy.
But understanding does not necessarily mean being able to communicate accurately.
Someone may understand a meeting and still struggle to express an opinion, explain a problem, respond quickly, or participate spontaneously in a conversation.
When Portuñol may not be enough
In an informal conversation, mixing Portuguese and Spanish probably won't cause major problems.
But imagine a conversation with a client: you need to present a proposal, explain a delay, or answer an unexpected question.
In that context, it's not enough to find a word that sounds similar in Portuguese. We need to be able to say exactly what we mean and understand exactly what the other person means.
Then there are the famous false friends:
- embarazada does not mean embaraçada.
- exquisito does not mean esquisito.
- largo does not mean largo in Portuguese.
In a conversation between friends, we can easily correct a misunderstanding. In a professional situation, a small misunderstanding can have bigger consequences.
It's not about speaking perfect Spanish
Learning Spanish for work does not mean eliminating your accent or speaking without mistakes. It means communicating with confidence.
Being able to ask for clarification, express an opinion, explain a problem, or rephrase a sentence when something is not understood.
That's why studying grammar and vocabulary is important, but it cannot replace practicing real-life situations.
The Spanish you need is the Spanish you actually use
At Concepto Español, we design corporate programs based on the situations teams actually face: meetings, presentations, negotiations, conversations with clients, and other specific needs.
Because the goal is not for your team to simply get by in Spanish, but to be able to communicate with confidence, clarity, and ease.
Does your team work with clients, colleagues, or suppliers from Spanish-speaking countries?
Tell us what situations they need to handle in Spanish, and we'll design a customized training program. Get in touch.