The 2016 CIA World Fact Book reports that 12.3 million, or 47% of the population, speaks Portuguese as their first language.

Some closely approximate Standard Portuguese pronunciation and are associated with the upper class and younger generations of urban background.

Although most of the vocabulary is the same as in Portugal, Brazil or Mozambique, there are differences, many due to the influence of African languages spoken in Angola.

Among these words are bunda (backside or "bottom"); fuba [fubá in Brazil] (maize flour); moleque ("kid"); kizomba and kuduro.

In Portugal, Angolan Portuguese has had a large influence on the vernacular of the younger population, contributing significant amounts of lexicon.