Learning Notes

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.

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 […]

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 […]

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 .

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:

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 […]

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 […]

Let’s learn about relative pronouns in Portuguese! Simply put, we use relative pronouns to link parts of a sentence so that we don’t have to repeat ourselves. They connect the dependent clause (someone/something mentioned previously) to the main clause to make it clear who/what we’re referring to. For example, let’s look at these 2 separate […]

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 […]

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 […]

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.