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Cedillo
municipality
Cedillo MMXIX 03.jpg
Flag of Cedillo
Flag
Coat of arms of Cedillo
Coat of arms
Country Spain
Autonomous community Extremadura
Province Cáceres
Municipality Cedillo
Area
 • Total 61 km2 (24 sq mi)
Elevation
270 m (890 ft)
Population
 (2018)
 • Total 449
 • Density 7.36/km2 (19.06/sq mi)
Time zone UTC+1 (CET)
 • Summer (DST) UTC+2 (CEST)

Cedillo is a small town and a municipality (a local area with its own government) in Spain. It is located in the province of Cáceres, which is part of the Extremadura region. In 2018, about 449 people lived there. Cedillo is known for its unique history and the special language spoken by many of its residents.

Languages of Cedillo

Cedillo is very close to the border with Portugal. Because of this, the town has a fascinating mix of languages. While Spanish is the official language of Spain, many people in Cedillo have traditionally spoken a special kind of Portuguese.

Cedilheiro: A Unique Dialect

The Portuguese spoken in Cedillo is not like the standard Portuguese you might hear in Lisbon. It's an old dialect called Cedilheiro. This dialect arrived in the 18th century. It sounds similar to the Alentejan dialect of Portuguese, which is spoken in the nearby parts of Portugal.

Why Portuguese is Spoken Here

Most of the first people who settled in Cedillo in the 18th century were Portuguese colonists. They brought their language with them. For a long time, speaking Spanish in Cedillo was seen as a bit fancy or a sign of being richer. Children who went to school learned Spanish there. However, they would still speak Portuguese at home with their families.

Language Today

Today, most older people in Cedillo still speak Portuguese. Younger people tend to speak Spanish more often. However, many young people can understand both languages. Sadly, the unique Cedilheiro dialect is slowly disappearing. It is under pressure from the more widely spoken Spanish language.

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Cedillo para niños

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