JUST four months after the handover, Portuguese is playing second fiddle to Cantonese in Macau and is facing heavy competition from English and Putonghua.
Portuguese was the enclave's only official language until 1992 and dominated the civil service, judiciary and security forces for four centuries.
But Chinese now shares its official status, and when Chief Executive Edmund Ho Hau-wah made his first policy address he called for 'greater attention to the promotion of Chinese culture'.
English is also gaining ground. Secretary for Security Cheong Kuoc-va has said police who have regular contact with tourists should attend English classes.
But officials are adamant the official use of Portuguese will remain.
'Portuguese is one of our two official languages and the Government fully respects that,' said the Chief Executive's media co-ordinator, Isabel Ho.
The courtroom continues to be a bastion of Portuguese; all senior members of the judiciary are conversant in it and three of Mr Ho's five policy secretaries speak the language.