Portuguese
/ˌpɔːr.tʃəˈɡiːz/noun
Relating to Portugal, its people, or its language.
Did you know?Portugal’s name developed from Portucale, an early medieval name for the region around present-day Porto and Vila Nova de Gaia; the origin of Cale remains disputed, possibly Celtic.
Etymological Timeline
1st Century BCE–1st Century CE
Latin
Portus Cale
“The harbor or port of Cale, a Roman-era place-name in northwestern Iberia”
Late Antiquity
Late Latin
Portucale
“A regional name formed from Portus Cale”
9th–11th Century
Medieval Latin
Portucalense
“Of or relating to the territory of Portucale”
12th Century
Old Portuguese
Portugal
“The developing name of the kingdom and territory”
13th–14th Century
Middle English
Portyngale
“Portugal or Portuguese, borrowed through medieval Romance forms”
Modern English
English
Portuguese
“Relating to Portugal, its people, or its language”
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