The main objective of the study is to present the results of the analysis of 66 interviews with informants from the city of Mindelo, Cape Verde, of different ages, educational levels and intensity of contact with the Portuguese language (group of "common users") and 17 interviews with university professors (specialists in different scientific areas), artists, priests and writers residing in Mindelo. In addition to observing the socio -linguistic dynamics of the island and collecting opinions on the linguistic situation in the entire country, it is our intention to describe some processes related to the lexical distancing from the European standard norm that can be identified in the oral production of "common users". The analysis will follow the qualitative model, with quantitative elements referring to the frequency of observed lexical changes.