How Much Difference Between Spanish and Portuguese?

Spanish has 5 vowel sounds, while Portuguese is leading with 9. The vowels with a nasal sound don't found in Spanish. Portuguese has much 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.

Can a Portuguese person understand Spanish?

False Friends in Spanish and Portuguese. Apart from the difficulties of the spoken language, Spanish and Portuguese also have distinct grammars. ... A Spanish speaker and a Portuguese speaker that have never been exposed to each other's languages will understand around 45% of what the other says.

Which is harder Portuguese or Spanish?

For most native English speakers, Spanish is slightly easier to learn than Portuguese. This is primarily a matter of access. ... Portuguese, on the other hand, has nine vowel sounds. Spelling is also more difficult because Portuguese has more silent letters and accents than Spanish.