Should I learn Portuguese or Spanish, if I am travelling to Brazil and Argentina.?

Which of these has more mutual understanding? If I learn Portuguese, can Argentinians understand me? But if I learn Spanish, can Brazilians understand me? Which is better, Portuguese, Brazilian Portuguese, or Spanish - or some other?

I'd recommend you to learn Spanish. Both of them can be understood by each other (Spanish and Portuguese speakers). However, Spanish might be more useful in the future as it is spoken in more countries

The official language of Brazil is Portuguese, and the official language of Argentina is Spanish.But, in both countries, Spanish is spoken, and in some areas English is spoken.From what I understand, Portuguese has some similarities with Spanish, but the languages are mostly unalike. Since you are going to travel to both I would suggest learning Spanish and learning key Portuguese vocabulary. There are also traveler's dictionaries, pick one up in both languages, these will help you ask specific questions such as, where is the bathroom etc. and say phrases such as I have a reservation...etc. If you are traveling to areas that are popular tourist attractions, you may not have to speak much of either language. If you know basic vocabulary but can't put together a question or a statement, you might be able to get by. I would definitely opt for Spanish and get traveler's dictionaries.

well if you are traveling to Argentina,you'll have to learn Spanish(castellano)

Both languages are close but if you know Spanish you won't automatically understand Portuguese. It will just be easier to learn Portuguese. Both languages are different enough that you won't automatically know both by learning either one. Where will you be first? What country are you going to stay longer in?

Portuguese is the official language of Brazil and Spanish (Castilian or 'Castellano' same as 'Spanish') is the official language of Argentina. However, Spanish is also spoken in Brazil so...

I'd learn Spanish as it is spoken in more places than Portuguese. With a good English/Portuguese or Spanish/Portuguese dictionary you should get by.

Good luck.

H

Both languages have the same degree of difficult (or easyness depending on yours ) but I think in the future you would most likely use Spanish instead of Portuguese. I mean, Spanish would be useful in future work.

And the Spanish talked in Spain and in Argentina are as much closer than Portuguese talked in Brazil and Portugal are (Brazilian popular Portuguese I mean full of slangs )
I dare to say that to Brazilians continental Portuguese may sound as strange as Spanish is (not to me).

However as a Brazilian I 'd glad you choose Portuguese.
Forgive me please my poor English

Good Luck and have a nice time here ! :-)

If you really want to choose one I'd say Spanish, it's spoken in a lot of countries and if you don't want to spend a lot of time learning it it's easier thatn portuguese. And don't worry about being understood, if you go to Brazil and speak Spanish slowly, they'll understand you fairly well.

I think you should try to learn both. If that is too hard of a task then work on your Spanish more and learn basic things in Portuguese. Learn how to ask people, “Do you speak English” (or Spanish), “How much does it cost?”, “Thank you”, stuff like that. They will appreciate you trying. I have tons of Latin American friends including Brazilians. I have more than 20 Brazilian friends and acquaintances. Every one of them understands Spanish and most of them speak it pretty decently. Most of my Spanish-speaking friends understand Portuguese (notice how I said most). Portuguese is a lot harder. Spanish has more of a mutual understanding, but don’t walk up to a Brazilian speaking Spanish, ask them first.

Very few people in Brazil actually understand Spanish well, but even less Argentineans understand Portuguese, thus Spanish is your best choice. And by all means don't learn Portuguese from Porgutal, no one understands it in Brazil.