Patua: The creole language of the Macanese

Patua (also called Patois) is a Portuguese creole language that was once the common tongue of the Macanese. Originating in the 16th century, this language became widespread in Macau during the 19th and early 20th century. Being an important platform for international trade, Macau received a great influx of people from various Portuguese colonies who came to look for economic opportunities or were brought over as human bondage. Before Macau was colonized by Portugal, the locals spoke Cantonese, a dialect of Chinese. But these new ethnic groups who stayed in Macau introduced Malay, Sinhala (Sri Lankan), and Japanese. Foreign influences, combined with the original Chinese and Portuguese presence, gave birth to Patua. Portugal’s colonial framework formed this unique Eurasian language that did not have a unified writing system, though truly multicultural. However, while the mix-blooded Macanese found Patua as a crucial part of their everyday life, starting from the 20th century, Portuguese authorities began discouraging the use of it considering its impurity. The government made sure to only allow official European Portuguese in school. In many Macanese families, parents banned their children from speaking Patua because it symbolized a lower social status that contrasted from the wealthy European aristocracy. Today, the declining Patua is facing a second wave of threat from the encroaching Chinese government. As of 2000, merely fifty people worldwide can still speak it. Patua is a definitive trait of Macanese identity that deserves preservation, and we need to revitalive the language to prevent the extinction of this historical gem. Just like the Macanese, many minorities around the world are fighting against the disappearance of their indigenous tongues. On the positive side, Patua is already enlisted in “UNESCO's Atlas of the World's Languages in Danger”. Additionally, some Macanese are making efforts to halt Patua’s existential crisis by creating art such as theater, songs, and poems. I wish that more citizens of Macau, no matter their race, and those who view my website try to support the Macanese community in keeping their valuable intangible heritage: Patua.

Comparing phrases in standard Portuguese with Patua

Here are some modern songs sung in Patua, translation included:

This Youtube channel promotes Macanese culture through creative works using Patua. It is an example of modern artists trying to keep the language alive on the internet. 

PhD thesis on Patua theater, written by a Macanese student: