<P> The main varieties of Portuguese spoken in South America are Brazilian Portuguese (spoken by the vast majority), Uruguayan Portuguese and a mixed variety known as Portunhol . </P> <P> Brazil is the largest country in which Portuguese is spoken in all of the Americas, with a population of approximately 200 million people, almost all of whom are native speakers of Portuguese . The size of this population renders Portuguese a relevant regional and world language . Research in regional and social variation in the Brazilian dialects of Portuguese, known together as Brazilian Portuguese, reveals the diversity of this language . The country also received settlers from Portugal and white settlers from former Portuguese African colonies, Eurasian settlers from Macau and East Timor . </P> <P> Argentina was the first Spanish - speaking member state of Mercosur to participate in the Frontier schools project . It involves the exchange of language teachers with Brazil . Secondary schools are now required to offer Portuguese as a foreign language . The same goes for primary schools in provinces bordering Brazil . </P> <P> Uruguay, born out of conflict first between the Spanish and Portuguese empires and then Brazil and Argentina, has Portuguese speakers in northern region . The acronym DPU (Dialectos Portugueses del Uruguay) is used to describe the varieties of Portuguese spoken in this region . DPU is not standardized and so Brazilian Portuguese serves as the primary model for Uruguayan speakers of Portuguese, native and non-native speakers alike . Instruction in Portuguese has now been increased in the Uruguayan education system . In the northern departments bordering Brazil, education has become bilingual combining Spanish and Portuguese as languages of instruction . </P>

Portuguese is the dominant language in which south american country