Of all of the challenges of learning Portuguese, there’s one thing you don’t have to worry about: not having enough resources to choose from. In fact, you might have the exact opposite problem. There are now so many ways to learn a language, it can be intimidating. Fortunately, we have an option for you: our guide to Portuguese basics. Here, we’ve compiled every resource we have for learning the language.
This guide roughly increases in difficulty as you go along, from the most basic vocab to the intricacies of the Portuguese language. Whether you’re just starting out or have been studying Portuguese for a while, you might want to bookmark this page so you can return to it.
This guide also mostly focuses on Brazilian Portuguese basics, which you should keep in mind as you go forward. The Portuguese spoken in Brazil and Portugal are mutually intelligible, but there are certainly differences that might throw you off.
Basic Portuguese Words And Phrases
When figuring out a starting point, you can’t go wrong with “hello.” In this section, we have guides to some of the most essential words and phrases you’ll need in Portuguese.
How To Say Hello
With these greetings, you can begin (and end) any conversation in Brazil. Let’s get to it!
How To Say Goodbye
Ah, the subtle art of farewell. Not every “bye” works for every situation, so we put together a guide on what to say and when.
How To Apologize
Everyone messes up sometimes. The best you can do is know how to apologize. Here’s how to say “sorry” in Portuguese.
How To Insult Someone
Hopefully you won’t need to start cursing at someone. But if something does happen, you might as well have a few good zingers in your back pocket.
How To Compliment Someone
Portuguese is nothing if not a language of warmth. It’s never a bad idea to learn how to deliver a few cute and nice compliments in Portuguese.
How To Ask Someone Out
For all of your shot-shooting needs, here’s a complete guide to asking someone out in Portuguese.
Essential Brazilian Portuguese Phrases
If you only learn 10 phrases in Portuguese before you go to Brazil, these slang terms are the ones to remember. You won’t be able to do much more than greet friends and order beers, but you’ll sound very local.
A Guide To The Most Common Brazilian And Portuguese Phrases
Let’s dive into some idioms and proverbs that will help you make your Portuguese sound more authentic.
Portuguese Vacation Phrases
Make the most of your upcoming trip to Brazil by focusing on these Brazilian Portuguese phrases ahead of your flight abroad.
20 Most Common Verbs
What are the most important Portuguese verbs and how are they conjugated? We’ve prepared a learning guide to help you get familiar with the most common verbs.
10 Portuguese Proverbs To Add To Your Vocabulary
Adding a few proverbs to your lexicon will make you sound like a natural.
@babbelLearn Portuguese, the fifth most spoken language in the world. This beginner Brazilian Portuguese lesson will help you out in Portugal, Brazil, or one of the six other countries that lists it as an official language. Learn more Portuguese at the link in bio 🔗 #learnportuguese #portugueselanguage #portugueselessons #beginnerportuguese #brazilianportuguese #languagelearning #languagelesson beginner portuguese lesson #falaportugues #portugese #portuguese
General Tips For Portuguese
These articles highlight some of the biggest difficulties you’ll run into when learning Portuguese. Even better, they offer solutions for you.
5 Very Good, Very Specific Tips To Learn Portuguese
A lot of language tips give you advice that can be applied to learning any language. Here are a few that will help you specifically with Portuguese.
A Pronunciation Guide To The Portuguese Alphabet
Here, we’ll break down the Portuguese alphabet and cover some of the most common letter pronunciations that might give you trouble.
Words You Might Struggle To Pronounce
Pronunciation is one of the toughest parts of learning a new language. Here are a few words that even the quickest learners might have trouble with, and some tips on how to overcome these problems.
A Brief Introduction To Portuguese Accent Marks
At first glance, the symbols above the vowels and the little “leg” below the letter C might not make a lot of sense to Portuguese learners.
Portuguese Numbers
Portuguese numbers are fortunately not too tricky, and you’ll want to learn how to use them so you can tell time and write the date with ease.
How To Count To 100
I know, I know. You came here to learn a language, and now you have to learn math. Don’t worry, it’s mostly painless!
How To Tell Time
Time is tricky. It can be one of the most confusing things to learn in a new language (even in English, the “half pasts” and “quarter tills” are a bit weird). Here’s a guide to start mastering the subject.
How To Write The Date
Mark your calendars! Today’s the day to learn how to write the date in Portuguese (as well as learn the months of the year and the days of the week).
Portuguese Vocabulary Lists
Building up your vocab takes time. Here are several vocab lists that will help you tackle various topics in the Portuguese basics universe. Every list includes English translations, as well as recordings of a native speaker pronouncing each word and phrase.
Portuguese Animal Vocabulary
Whether you’re going to a zoo or trekking out into nature, an encounter with animals won’t be complete if you don’t know their Portuguese names.
Portuguese Body Parts Vocabulary
Naming the parts of your body can come in handy in any number of situations, so here are the terms you’ll need to know.
Portuguese Color Vocabulary
Roses are vermelhas, violets are azuis. Learn the colors in Portuguese so you can be feliz! Here’s a brief guide.
Portuguese Family Vocabulary
Learn all the words and phrases you’ll need to talk about your family (or anyone else’s).
Portuguese Feelings Vocabulary
Expressing your emotions in your native language is hard enough. Now it’s time to talk about feelings in another language.
Portuguese Food Vocabulary
If you go to a new place and don’t try the food, did you really go there? Prepare for your food travel by brushing up on Portuguese vocabulary.
Portuguese Hobby Vocabulary
Whether you like art, sports or thrift-shopping, learning how to talk about your free time is one of the best ways to work on your small talk.
Portuguese Tech Vocabulary
More and more communication is being done online. To keep up, you’ll need to study tech and internet vocabulary. After all, emoji will only take you so far.
Portuguese Transportation Vocabulary
Getting around a new city where you don’t speak the language is quite a challenge. Learning the words for the various modes of transport will definitely give you a leg up.
Portuguese Weather Vocabulary
Ah, weather. One of the best or worst topics of conversation, depending on who you ask. If you’re trying to start chatting with someone in Portuguese, though, you could do worse than talking about the unseasonable heat.
Portuguese Home Vocabulary
At some point in your language learning journey, you might need to tell your friends to gather in the kitchen.
Portuguese Clothes Vocabulary
Whether you’re dressing up or down, you’ll want to know these terms.
Portuguese Movies, Books And Other Media
Learning a language isn’t all about vocab lists and conjugation charts. Here are movies, books, Twitter accounts and more to supplement the Portuguese basics we’ve already covered.
Portuguese Movies To Watch
Brazil and Portugal aren’t the biggest moviemaking countries in the world, but they’ve both put out excellent films you’ll want to watch (with subtitles, possibly).
Portuguese TV Shows To Watch
Sometimes, you’re not in the mood to study a new language. You’d rather veg out in front of the television. Fortunately, there’s a way to combine the two activities!
Portuguese Podcasts To Listen To
Podcasts are a great way to supplement your language learning, because you can listen to them whenever. Here are a few of our favorites for learning Portuguese.
Portuguese Books To Read
Been slaying those language lessons? Come up for air and supplement your learning with one of these Portuguese books.
Twitter Accounts To Follow
Twitter might not sound like the best place to learn, but following Portuguese-language accounts is a good way to inject a little vocabulary into your day-to-day life.
Portuguese Quizzes
You learned the Portuguese basics — now it’s time to see how well you retained that information.
Do You Know The Days Of The Week In Portuguese? Quiz
Sure, we could just tell you how to say the days of the week. But why not test your knowledge?
Do You Know The Colors In Portuguese? Quiz
Without colors, the world is all, well, black and white. See how well you know your colors in Portuguese.
How Much Do You Know About Portuguese? Quiz
Whether you speak Portuguese or not, it’s good to know some basic facts about the language. Test your knowledge by taking this Portuguese quiz!
Miscellaneous Portuguese Facts
Moving past the Portuguese basics, it’s also good to know some information about the language and its history. Here are all our articles about Portuguese and its dialects.
How Many People Speak Portuguese, And Where Is It Spoken?
Here, we provide a brief history of the Portuguese language and the data as to where it’s spoken.
The Top 5 Reasons To Learn Portuguese
Maybe you’re on the fence as to whether Portuguese is really the best language for you to learn. Or maybe you’ve been learning it for a little while and need to remind yourself why you started. Either way, here are some of the top reasons to learn the language.
Top Portuguese-Speaking Countries That Aren’t Portugal Or Brazil
Portuguese is mostly associated with Portugal and Brazil, but those definitely aren’t the only countries with people who speak the language.
Portuguese Expressions That Are Essential To Understanding Brazil
Learn these 14 Portuguese expressions from Brazil and you’ll be a step closer to understanding Brazilian humor (and the Brazilian way of life).
Brazilian Portuguese Vs. European Portuguese
As mentioned, most of the guides on this list focus on Brazilian Portuguese. But what’s the difference between these two varieties of the language?
12 Brazilian Dialects To Know About
When you learn a language, you usually only learn about the “standard” dialect. There’s more to a language than just that, though.
How To Host The Perfect Portuguese Dinner Party
Save the airfare and bring Portugal to you! Try using these recipes and phrases for a deliciously authentic Portuguese dinner party.