What Language Do They Speak in Cape Verde?

Official language of Cape Verde Portuguese

Facts last checked 9 October 2026.

The official language of Cape Verde is Portuguese. Portuguese is also an official language in 7 other countries worldwide.

Learn some Portuguese before you go

As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. We are also a member of the CJ Affiliate and AWIN affiliate networks. Links below are affiliate links.

AMAZON

Portuguese Phrasebook & Dictionary
The essentials for ordering food, asking directions and being polite.

Check Price →

AMAZON

Learn Portuguese for Beginners
A structured course book to go beyond the basics.

Check Price →

Languages of Cape Verde at a glance

Official language	Portuguese
Number of official languages	1
Countries on this site where Portuguese is official	8
People (demonym)	Cape Verdian
Capital	Praia
Internet domain	.cv

Other countries where Portuguese is official

Portuguese is also an official language in 7 other countries covered here:

Cape Verde in context

Cape Verde covers 4,033 km², making it the 167th largest of the 196 countries on this site.
Its population density of about 122 people per km² ranks 75th of 196 (1st = most crowded).
Cape Verde has no land borders with other countries on this site.
With 491,233 people, Cape Verde holds about 0.1% of the population of Western Africa.
Traffic drives on the right, and calendars start the week on Monday.
Cape Verde is a member state of the United Nations.

Useful phrases for visitors to Cape Verde

Everyday Portuguese phrases you will hear and use in Cape Verde:

English	Portuguese
Hello	Olá
Thank you	Obrigado (m) / Obrigada (f)
Please	Por favor
Goodbye	Adeus
Yes	Sim
No	Não

Spellings can vary by region, and some languages use different forms for formal or informal speech. Even a simple greeting in the local language is usually appreciated.

Languages in Cape Verde — FAQ