Brazil has one of the world’s largest online populations, and Brazilian users strongly prefer content in Portuguese. Translating your website is the first step; localizing it properly is what makes it convert. Use this checklist before launch.
Language and content
- Use Brazilian Portuguese (pt-BR), not European Portuguese.
- Adapt tone — Brazilian brands usually address users informally with “você”.
- Rewrite headlines and calls to action rather than translating them literally.
- Replace examples, images and references that do not make sense in Brazil.
Technical
- Set
lang="pt-BR"andhreflang="pt-BR"on Portuguese pages. - Leave room in the design: Portuguese text is often 15–30% longer than English.
- Export UI strings as JSON, XLIFF, PO or CSV so translators never edit code.
- Test forms with Brazilian data: CPF/CNPJ numbers, CEP postal codes, +55 phone numbers.
Formats
- Currency: R$ 1.234,56 (dot for thousands, comma for decimals).
- Dates: DD/MM/AAAA.
- Units: metric.
Commerce
- Brazilian shoppers widely use Pix and instalment payments (parcelamento) on cards; check your payment provider.
- Translate shipping, returns and privacy pages — Brazil’s data protection law (LGPD) and consumer code are taken seriously.
SEO in Portuguese
- Research keywords in Portuguese — do not just translate English keywords.
- Translate titles, meta descriptions, alt text and URLs.
- Submit the Portuguese pages in Google Search Console.
Our native Brazilian translators handle all of the above as part of website and app localization. Send us your URL for a free quote.
Frequently asked questions
Is translating my website enough for Brazil?
Translating is the first step; localizing it properly is what makes it convert: tone, calls to action, formats, payments and SEO all need adapting.
How much longer is Portuguese text than English?
Portuguese text is often 15–30% longer than English, so leave room in the design.
How are currency and dates written in Brazil?
Currency: R$ 1.234,56 (dot for thousands, comma for decimals). Dates: DD/MM/AAAA.
Should I translate my English SEO keywords?
No. Research keywords in Portuguese, and translate titles, meta descriptions, alt text and URLs.
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- AI vs Human Translation for Brazilian Portuguese: When Machine Translation Is Not Enough
- Brazilian vs European Portuguese: Which One Does Your Project Need?
- How Much Does Portuguese Translation Cost in India? (2026 Guide)
- Documents You May Need Translated for Doing Business in Brazil
- How to Prepare Documents for Translation (and Save Time and Money)
