“How can I learn Portuguese quickly?”
We’ve gotten this perguntaquestion many times. And while there’s no atalhoshortcut to fluency, you can start speaking in Portuguese by learning the right things first. Here’s what we suggest:
1. Start by learning basic greetings and polite phrases, such as:
- ObrigadoThank you (male speaker) / ObrigadaThank you (female speaker)
- Por favorPlease
- Bom diaGood morning
- Boa tardeGood afternoon
Here’s a short video about using different greetings at different times of the day.
2. Instead of learning all the verbs, start with the ones that are most common.
For example:
- serto be (perm.)
- irto go
- fazerto do, to make
You can find the 10 most common Portuguese verbs and how each of them is used in sentences in our quick guide here.
3. Consider focussing on these two common verb tenses when you’re getting started:
- Present (I speak = Eu falo)
- Simple past (I spoke = Eu falei)
4. Learn words that you’ll actually use in your daily life.
If you spend time in restaurants or cafés, learn basics like um caféa coffee , torradatoast , A conta, por favorThe bill, please . Or if you use public transport, learn words like comboiotrain , autocarrobus , and próxima paragem (next stop).
You don’t need to learn everything, just what’s most relevant to your life and your plans for actually using the language. ☺️ You can explore by topic using our Site Index.
5. Immerse yourself.
Part of learning a new language is just hearing it over and over again: the more you hear it, the easier it is to understand and eventually speak it. With that in mind, here’s a list of A1 shorties to help you practice.
Happy learning!
Comments
Hello gents,
My name is Stuart, and my husband and I are moving to Portugal in a year and 5 months. The question and PS, however, read this: THANK YOU.
HERE IS THE THING. I have a great private tutor in Porto about 3 times a week. I use your appt in between.
I am really bad at this. I mean, I suck . I work very hard, but it barely sticks. I am good at your speaking videos. Anyway, do I just keep plugging along, and hopefully, I will make my way?
Kindest regards, Stuart May
Thank you for sharing your experience with us. It’s completely normal to feel like progress is slow, especially when you’re working hard and expecting to see immediate results. Since you’re already taking private lessons and using our app, you’re on the right track. The answer is yes, keep plugging along, as you said, and trust that the repetition and exposure will help solidify your skills over time. Remember to make use of the Smart Review flash cards to reinforce what you’ve learned and to help make the language stick. Speaking out loud during these sessions can also be a helpful step towards becoming more comfortable with the language. Additionally, consider spending time with our Shorties, Podcasts and Videos for listening practice. This can improve your understanding when people speak to you, and can also be used for speaking practice by pausing the audio to repeat what you’ve heard. Keep up the hard work!
Eduardo,
Thank you for the encouragement. I won’t let it get to me I just at times have felt I am dumb lol. My husband and I are leaving next Friday to whittle down what are we want to live. We have hired some scouting trips as well as our own.
Adeus. Obrigado