Portuguese

Bem-vindo to the Portuguese Section Website

Portuguese is an official language in Portugal, Brazil, Angola, São Tomé and Príncipe, Mozambique, Cape Verde, Guinea-Bissau, Macau, Equatorial Guinea, and Timor-Leste. In total, approximately 227.9 million people worldwide speak Portuguese as their native language. Compared to this high number of native speakers, only around 30 million people are learning Portuguese as a foreign language—making it a valuable asset on any résumé.

One of the most challenging aspects of the language is its pronunciation: there are nine oral vowels, five nasal vowels, ten diphthongs, five nasal diphthongs, and 25 consonants, all of which contribute to a complex and distinctive sound system.

Placement Test Portuguese presents itself

Registration Deadline

The registration deadline in heiCO ended on April 10, 2026. You can still register by emailing sekretariat@zsl.uni-heidelberg.de. Please include in your email the language, the level, and—if applicable—the group you would like to register for. To help us process your request more quickly, please also attach proof of payment of the course fee (e.g., a screenshot or photo).