European Portuguese - Geographic Variation

Geographic Variation

The two main divisions of European Portuguese differentiate between the Portuguese Islands (Madeira, the Azores, etc.) and mainland Portugal (Continental Portuguese). Continental Portuguese is in turn divided roughly into Northern and Southern varieties. The Prestige norms are based around two varieties: that of Coimbra and that of Lisbon.

Phonetically, differences emerge within Continental Portuguese. For example, in northern Portugal, the phonemes and are less differentiated than in the rest of the Portuguese speaking world, and the grapheme 'ch' is pronounced instead of giving this particular regional variety of Portuguese greater proximity to Galician. Another regionalism can be found in the south with the use of the gerund in the present progressive tense rather than the infinitive.

Portuguese is spoken by a significant minority in Andorra and Luxembourg. The Principality of Andorra has shown interest in membership in the CPLP. There are also wealthy immigrant communities in France and Germany.