Brazilian Portuguese the last decades of the 20th century, due to the popularity of Brazilian music and Brazilian soap operas. Since Brazil joined Mercosul, the South American free trade zone, Portuguese has been increasingly studied as a foreign language in Spanish-speaking partner countries. Many words of Brazilian origin (also used in other Portuguese-speaking countries) have also entered into English: samba, bossa nova, cruzeiro, milreis and capoeira. While originally Angolan, the word "samba" only became famous worldwide because of its popularity in Brazil. After independence in 1822, Brazilian idioms with African and Amerindian influences were brought to Portugal by returning Portuguese Brazilians ("luso-brasileiros"
Brazilian Zouk schools outside Brazil: In addition and to these styles many professional zouk dancers have created and named their own derivations of Zouk, such as Flow Zouk, and Vero Zouk. Brazilian Zouk Brazilian Zouk is a partner dance originating from Brazil. At first known as zouk-lambada, the dance is a descendant of lambada, and it was danced to Lambada Music. Later on it was danced to Caribbean Zouk music, from where it got the name "Zouk". (the dance style originated in Brazil and the music style to be distinguished from each other). Today (2018), Brazilian Zouk is danced to a broad