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On the 25th of April 1974, a ended almost fifty years of in Portugal. Troops had gathered overnight in Santarém and arrived in Lisbon at dawn. The had issued orders not to fire, and the regime’s forces, demoralised after years of colonial war, offered little resistance. By midday, dictator Marcelo Caetano – Salazar’s sucessor – […]

It’s Sunday morning and mouth-watering smells are already coming from the kitchen. Family filters in, coats come off,  gets poured (earlier than anyone will admit). You grab a handful of (sugar-coated in pastel colours or covered in milk chocolate), as if you haven’t been snacking on them for weeks already. Someone has brought o . It […]

Have you ever scrolled through Portuguese social media or glanced at a Portuguese friend’s phone and wondered if you’d accidentally stumbled into some kind of cryptographic puzzle? “Hj,” “mt,” “fds”… What do those mean? Well, they are common abbreviations, remnants of a bygone era, and understanding them might eventually help you to decipher what your […]

If you’re planning to move to Portugal, or if you’re already here, here’s a survival tip that will make you sound instantly more natural: if you’re not sure what to say, just mumble . Sounds too simple, right? Although it doesn’t translate neatly into English, pois is a versatile and casual word you can hear […]

Have you ever been in a Portuguese conversation where someone shares exciting news, and you freeze, unsure how to react naturally? Or maybe you haven’t been in that position, but you worry about when that day will come. Don’t worry, we got you covered with a beautifully simple shortcut for expressing reactions. Simply use the […]

Ever walked into a Portuguese gym and felt completely lost? You’re not alone. Fitness vocabulary isn’t exactly covered in most Portuguese textbooks, but it’s incredibly useful if you plan to stay active while living in or visiting Portugal. So, in this post, let’s break down the essential gym Portuguese you’ll actually need. Getting Started at […]

In every language, there are those quick, spontaneous reactions that breathe life into conversations. You know the ones—”Yeah, that’s good,” “Aw, that’s so sad,” or “Oh really?”. These small but mighty phrases show you’re actively listening, engaged, and emotionally connected to what someone is sharing. Portuguese, too, has its own collection of these conversational gems […]

Picture this: you’re having a heated conversation with your Portuguese friends about football, and someone declares that Ronaldo is the greatest of all time. Whether you agree or not, you’ll need to express your opinion tactfully. The key is knowing how to agree or disagree in Portuguese without sounding rude or like you’re reading from […]