It’s time to learn how to use the gerund in European Portuguese! 🥳 Simples vs. Composto So what is the exactly? For English speakers, it generally corresponds to the verb form ending in -ing, when it is used as a noun (e.g. “I like cooking“). However, the Portuguese gerund plays a different role, which is […]
The Gerund
Pronunciation Variations
After exploring the Pronunciation Guide for European Portuguese Vowels and Pronunciation Guide for European Portuguese Consonants, you probably had a better sense of how to pronounce the various sounds of Portuguese in isolation. However, when you listened for these sounds throughout the Units and in the Shorties, you may have heard some things you didn’t expect! […]
Demystifying the Word “Logo” in Portuguese
You may have come across the word logo in Portuguese and had trouble translating it. Logo is another of those Portuguese words that has several meanings… The word can mean “therefore”, it can mean “soon”, and (don’t hate us!) it can also mean “later”. 😳 Sometimes it does not have a clear translation in English, […]
Relative Determiners – Cujo
Let’s talk about relative determiners! There is only one relative determiner – cujo (and its variants). This is a relatively recent change to the terminology, so you may find a lot of articles that list cujo as either a relative pronoun or a quantifier, but this is incorrect. Relative determiners always agree in number and […]
How to Pronounce R in European Portuguese
The Portuguese R is one of the more difficult sounds to master. We covered it briefly in our Pronunciation Guide to European Portuguese Consonants, but it deserves a bit more explanation! Pronunciation varies across different Portuguese dialects, so you will likely hear variations in the the R (as well as other sounds). We’ll focus on […]
How to Say Large Numbers in Portuguese
In the next couple lessons, we’ll let you practice with large numbers, such as those in the ten-thousands and hundred-thousands. A few reminders: – Remember that 100 is cento when it’s part of a number (i.e. followed by e) – Remember that 100 is just cem when it’s by itself (i.e. not followed by e) Here’s […]
How to Use the Verb Andar
The simplest translation for the Portuguese verb andar is “to walk”, but the fun doesn’t stop there! Andar can take on many different meanings, depending on the context. As opposed to , which is pretty straightforward, refers more to the general act of moving, acting, or changing places. It can indicate that an action is […]
Portuguese-English Cognates
Learning Portuguese-English cognates is a great way to build vocabulary fast! It’s basically using what you already know to get a jump-start. Cognates are simply words that are very similar in both languages, usually due to a common root. We talked about them in our guide to European Portuguese Shortcuts, as well as our video […]
False Cognates
False cognates, also known as , are words that look and/or sound similar in two different languages, but that don’t actually have the same meaning. In other words (no pun intended), they “trick” you into thinking they are true cognates. Let’s start with what’s most important: making sure you don’t run into any doors when […]
Having a Basic Conversation in Portuguese
In the next set of , we’ll introduce phrases that will help you have a basic conversation in Portuguese. Many beginners are afraid to initiate a because they don’t know whether they’ll understand or be understood. Well, we wouldn’t recommend discussing politics right away 😳, but with some preparation, you can at least get further […]
Poder vs. Conseguir
Some Portuguese verbs have such similar meanings that it can be quite confusing for learners to know which to use in different contexts. Two of these tricky verbs are and . In this Learning Note, we’ll cover how to distinguish between poder vs. conseguir.
Where Are You From?
In this Learning Note we’ll cover 3 main topics: 🗺 Countries in Portuguese (so you can say where you’re from!) 🤓 Whether to use a definite article (o or a) before the name of your country 🗣 How to state which language(s) you speak and your nationality (both male and female forms) You may have […]
How to Practice Portuguese
Before you jump right in, we wanted to give you an overview of how to use our platform to learn 🇵🇹 ! You can use the menu to navigate. The 2 most important sections are Learn and Practice: Next, we’ll discuss each section in more detail. If you’re too excited for all this explanation, scroll […]
Word Order in Portuguese Questions
Word order is fairly flexible when it comes to Portuguese questions, so let’s review the possibilities. Then we’ll introduce one more option that you haven’t seen yet. Yes/No Questions Word Order 1. Add a question mark to the end of a statement 2. Add a phrase like “não é?” to the end of a statement […]
Easter in Portugal
Have you ever wondered what it’s like to celebrate Easter in Portugal? Portugal is a country with deep Catholic roots, so is a big celebration here. In fact, it’s probably the second biggest holiday after Christmas. Páscoa marks the remembrance of the death and rebirth of .
Pronunciation of The Letter X in Portuguese
How Do You Pronounce the Letter X in Portuguese? The letter X is one of the most challenging sounds in Portuguese because the pronunciation rules are quite variable. Let’s hear what Sherlock has to say on the topic: To review, let’s look at the 5 groups of possible pronunciations:
Diminutives in European Portuguese
Today we’re going to look at diminutives. But what exactly are they? are usually used to describe an object or a person as small or cute. They can also be used to express affection or pity towards someone/ something. Depending on the tone, they can also be used sarcastically. We often use diminutives when we […]
Augmentatives in European Portuguese
We learned a bit about diminutives earlier, so now it’s time to look at their opposites: augmentatives. Augmentatives in Portuguese are usually used to add emphasis when describing a person or object as strong, large, or ugly. Sometimes they can be quite pejorative (and funny)! In the Diminutives’ Learning Note we mentioned that the augmentative […]
Relative Pronouns
This unit will cover relative pronouns in Portuguese. Relative pronouns are used to connect a dependent clause to the main clause of a sentence. A dependent clause refers to someone or something mentioned previously. The relative pronoun establishes a relationship with an antecedent and it’s that relation that allows us to understand who or what […]
Vamos Falar Algarvio!
In this article by Lena Strang, originally published in Tomorrow Magazine, she shares an inside look at the Algarvian dialect and how it complements the lively culture of the Algarve region of Portugal. Throughout the article, you can listen to examples of how Portuguese is spoken in the Algarve. Then, to explore the character and […]
Being a Vegetarian in Portugal
What’s it Like to be a Vegetarian in Portugal? In a country of meat and fish-lovers, many wonder if it’s easy to be a vegetarian (or a vegan) in Portugal. As you may have realized, much of traditional Portuguese cuisine is very meat-centric. Many of these dishes are tied to the history and traditions of […]
Introducing Yourself in Portuguese
You learned how to say hello and goodbye in the Greetings unit, along with a few polite phrases, but what about after that initial greeting? You probably want to have a little more conversation when you meet someone new! In this Learning Note, we’ll cover the basics of how to introduce yourself in Portuguese.
The Most Common Portuguese Verbs
With so much to learn about the European Portuguese language, it helps to consider what you’ll actually use most frequently. Let’s start off with the top 10 most common Portuguese verbs!
Colours in Portuguese
Let’s explore some useful vocabulary: colours in Portuguese! Even if you’re not an artist, it helps to know . How else will you talk about all the beautiful tiles and buildings around you in Portugal? Plus, next time you’re shopping, you’ll have an easier time asking for what you need. You can even use colours […]