We didn’t know what to talk about, so Practice Portuguese team member, Molly, gave us a list of questions to answer! Topics include: pet peeves, where else in the world we’d live, binge-watching habits, favourite cuisine, biggest fears and much more! We also reveal some behind-the-scenes news of what the Practice Portuguese team has been […]
Perguntas Pessoais
Personal Questions
The Verb “Dar” And Its Many Meanings
Did you know the verb “dar” has at least 60 different meanings in Portuguese? 😱 The simplest translation is “to give”, but it also has many idiomatic meanings, which depend on the context. Today, Joel and Rui take a deep dive into “dar”, with some help from one of our Shorty episodes: Dar Uma Mãozinha. […]
Prémios e Roubos
Awards And Thefts
Are Rui and Joel still alive?! After many busy months, we’re back to talk about everything that we’ve been up to, and what’s next for Practice Portuguese in 2022. Special thanks to borderland.pt (@borderland.photo) for the fantastic job on our neon logo!
Despedidas e Parcerias
Farewells And Partnerships
2021 has already been off to a busy start! Rui & Joel update you on everything that’s going on, in Portuguese: • Rui & Joel get COVID swabs jammed up their noses… for TV • Rui quits something and joins something else within the same week (Huh?) • Our mobile app is on the way! […]
Já Somos YouTubers!
We're YouTubers Now!
Have you been to the dentist lately? In this first-ever video podcast, we feature one of our latest Shorties and discuss useful vocabulary all about… teeth! While recording, we’re interrupted by some personal text messages that we reveal and deconstruct for your learning pleasure!
Os Tons do Português
Shades of Portuguese
We all have moments where we need some colourful language to express ourselves. (No, we’re not talking about swear words, that’s for another episode). Today we go through the whole colour spectrum while featuring the Shorty, “Um Lindo Bebé“. Do you know how to say your favourite colour in Portuguese?
Maratona de Leitura
Reading Marathon
Featured Shorty: “Diário de uma Quarent(o)ena II.”
A lot has happened, to say the least, since we last recorded a podcast episode!
We start out by challenging your comprehension with casual Portuguese conversation to get you up to speed on what’s been happening with us personally as well as in the world… since we know we are definitely your primary resource for all things COVID-19!
We spend the rest of the episode tweaking the pronunciation of our brave listeners who once again contributed their recordings. (Obrigado!)
We review the pronunciation of the different R, S, E, and O sounds, perfecting the cadence and flow of Portuguese sentences… plus, you’ll discover a word that even Rui has trouble pronouncing!
Segredos da Pronúncia Nativa
Secrets of Native Pronunciation
In this episode, we once again analyze record audio clips from our brave listeners! We listen to the Shorty, “À Busca de Doces“, and explore how to make your Portuguese sound more native with pronunciation subtleties and word choice. We also clarify some other challenging concepts, such as the differences between “aí, ali, & lá”.
Como Falam os Nossos Membros?
How Do Our Members Speak?
Today, the tables have turned, because YOU, (our listeners) are the main voices of this special episode! European Portuguese learners from around the world bravely submitted recordings of themselves reading our featured Shorty, “Um Encontro“.
We listen to each one, while suggesting subtle improvements for perfecting their pronunciation, including some challenging vowel sounds, and rules of the letter “S”, and more.
A BIG “thank you” to everyone who bravely submitted their recordings. Let us know if you enjoy this and we’ll do more of this in future episodes!
(Learn more about the pronunciation of the letter “S” here: The Letters “S” and “C”)
Ninguém Quer Esparguete Doce
Nobody Wants Sweet Spaghetti
‘Tis the season… to spread misinformation about the origins of Christmas and Santa Claus! In this special holiday episode, Rui and Joel explore the food and other traditions of Christmas in Portugal, while featuring one of our latest Shorties, “a Consoada“. Boas festas a todos! 🎄
Dona Amélia Vai À Farmácia
Dona Amélia Goes to the Pharmacy
Dona Amélia, an old-fashioned woman who only believes in natural remedies, pays a visit to the pharmacy. Will the pharmacist be able to help her, despite her hearing difficulties?
Carro Alugado, Caos Instalado
Rental Car, Chaos Takes Place
Cláudio and Joana are a Portuguese couple who decide to take a trip to Tomar in a rental car. When it comes to driving, they can’t seem to agree on anything. Will they make it to their destination without driving each other crazy?
As Senhoras Que Bebem Cerveja
Ladies Who Drink Beer
In this episode, we deconstruct one of our latest “Shorties”. We go through some useful food vocabulary, discuss verb and tense choices, and Rui irons out Joel and Molly’s “estrangeiro” pronunciation! There’s also some exciting news about Practice Portuguese, especially for those of you who might be in the Algarve next weekend.
Dona Gertrudes e a Conta do Gás
Dona Gertrudes and the Gas Bill
Dona Gertrudes, a retired 65-year-old woman, has just a received a surprisingly large bill from her gas company. Upset and nervous, she attempts to sort the matter out on the phone.
Roupa Na Varanda, Afinal Quem Manda?
Clothes On The Balcony, Who's In Charge Anyway?
Monica has just moved to an apartment in the Historic Center of Porto. She meets her neighbour Eduardo who tries to impose some unexpected rules. Will she be able to deal with these strict requirements?
À Caça de Descontos no Supermercado
The Hunt for Supermarket Discounts
To prepare for an upcoming birthday party that they’ll be hosting, a modern grandma and her jokester husband stock up on groceries at the local supermarket. While taking advantage of every promotion they can, will they actually remember to pick up everything they went there for in the first place?
Perigo na Estrada, Pesadelo na Oficina!
Danger on the Road, Nightmare in the Shop!
Eduarda, the mechanic, deals with a customer who thinks he knows exactly what’s wrong with his car… when in fact, the biggest problem might just be the driver!
(Special guest: Eliana Silva)
Uma Ida Ao Supermercado
A Trip to the Supermarket
While making her way through her lengthy shopping list (containing useful food vocabulary, of course), Sra. Rosa shares her elderly wisdom with a young employee who is eager to help.
Special Guest: Eliana Silva
Um Natal de Crescer Água na Boca
A Mouth-watering Christmas
This holiday season, a Practice Portuguese TV reporter takes to the streets to hear directly from Portuguese natives about their family Christmas traditions… until a particularly talkative woman steals the show!
Lançamento: “Passo a Passo” (o Caminho de Santiago)
Launch: "Step by Step" (the Caminho de Santiago)
With the holiday season approaching, Rui and Joel announce a special early gift for members of Practice Portuguese! Listen and find out exactly what is on “the Way”…
Updated December 1, 2018: It’s launched!
Cabelos, Tesouras e Desilusões
Hair, Scissors, and Disappointments
Salvador and Mariana (– no, Adriana! –) visit a hair salon to freshen up their looks, but quickly find themselves in a hairy situation! In this episode, you’ll learn lots of new vocabulary and expressions that should come in handy the next time you find yourself going under the scissors…
Parte II: À Caça de Casa
Part II: Hunting for a House
Today we revisit Diálogo 29 to discuss some of the vocabulary and expressions surrounding the Portuguese housing market. There’s also an extra listening challenge waiting for you in the second half, so stick around!
À Caça de Casa
House Hunting
In this episode, we explore the Portuguese apartment rental market with James, a young adult of Portuguese descent looking for a new place. To find some leads, he recruits the help of his friend, Luís. However, Luís happens to be going through a bit of drama with his ex-girlfriend, so let’s see if he’s able to be of any help…
BONUS: Palavras Japonesas Inspiradas na Língua Portuguesa
BONUS: Japanese Words Inspired by the Portuguese Language
After listening to our last podcast on foreign words derived from Portuguese, a Japanese member, Ryoko, came to our rescue with recordings of every Japanese word we mentioned, plus a bunch of new ones for good measure. Join us as we explore surprising similarities between Japanese and Portuguese in this bonus episode!
(“Arigato” once again to Ryoko Kawaoka for her generous time in preparing the list and recordings for this episode!)