List of the languages spoken in Brazil, grouped by status and usage

Official / National Language

• Portuguese (Brazilian Portuguese) — spoken by the vast majority of the population and used in government, media, education, and business.

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Recognized Sign Language

• LIBRAS — Língua Brasileira de Sinais (Brazilian Sign Language)
  Officially recognized for public services, education, and accessibility.

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Co-official Languages in Certain Municipalities

(alongside Portuguese — usually in indigenous or immigrant-heritage areas)

Indigenous languages with local co-official status include:

• Nheengatu
• Tucano
• Baniwa
• Guarani (various municipalities)
• Macuxi
• Tikuna
• Kaingang
• Wapichana
• Xavante (and others in specific regions)

Immigrant-heritage co-official or protected languages:

• Riograndenser Hunsrückisch (Brazilian Hunsrückisch German)
• East Pomeranian (Pomerano)
• Talian (Venetian-based Italian dialect)
  (recognized as cultural heritage in Rio Grande do Sul)

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Indigenous Languages (Living / Spoken Communities)

Brazil has 180+ Indigenous languages, including:

• Tupi-Guarani family (Guarani, Nheengatu, Kaiowá, etc.)
• Macro-Jê family (Xavante, Kaingang, Timbira, etc.)
• Arawak family (Baniwa, Terena, Paresi…)
• Tucanoan family (Tucano, Desano…)
• Panoan family (Yawanawá, Shipibo…)
• Cariban family (Macuxi, Ye’kuana…)

Many are endangered, spoken mainly in the Amazon and interior regions.

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Immigrant / Heritage Community Languages

Still used by communities, especially in the South & Southeast:

German-origin varieties

• Riograndenser Hunsrückisch
• East Pomeranian (Pomerano)
• Standard German (smaller share)

Italian-origin varieties

• Talian (Venetian-based)
• Regional Italian dialects

Other immigrant languages (smaller communities)

• Japanese
• Polish
• Ukrainian
• Arabic
• Spanish
• Yiddish
• Dutch
• Lithuanian

Use varies by generation and region.

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Urban / Contact / Historical Languages

• Nheengatu (Lingua Geral Amazônica) — formerly a major lingua franca; still spoken in the Amazon
• Portuguese-influenced creoles and mixed varieties (regional / historical contexts)

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Brazil is officially monolingual in Portuguese, but socially multilingual, with:

• a nationwide sign language (LIBRAS),
• dozens of municipal co-official languages,
• 180+ Indigenous languages, and
• significant heritage immigrant languages that remain culturally active.

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Languages in Brazil

Brazil is officially a Portuguese-speaking country, and nearly the entire population speaks Brazilian Portuguese, which is the language used in government, education, media, and public life. Portuguese in Brazil has its own pronunciation, vocabulary, and usage patterns, making it distinct from European Portuguese, much like the differences between American and British English.

Although Brazil is legally monolingual at the national level, it is socially multilingual. The country recognizes Brazilian Sign Language (LIBRAS) for public services and education, and dozens of municipalities grant co-official status to local languages — especially in Indigenous and immigrant-heritage communities.

Brazil is home to over 180 Indigenous languages, spoken mainly in the Amazon and interior regions, belonging to families such as Tupi-Guarani, Macro-Jê, Arawak, Panoan, Cariban, and Tucanoan. Many of these languages are endangered but remain culturally central to their communities.

In the South and Southeast, immigrant-descendant groups continue to speak heritage languages brought by European settlers, including German dialects (such as Riograndenser Hunsrückisch and Pomeranian) and Italian-derived Talian, some of which are locally protected or co-official.

Overall, while Portuguese unifies Brazil nationally, the country’s linguistic landscape is diverse and historically layered, reflecting Indigenous roots, colonial history, migration, and modern cultural identity.