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”.
Segredos da Pronúncia Nativa
Secrets of Native Pronunciation
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”)
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.
Natal e o Ano Novo
Christmas and the New Year
What could be better than a holiday episode in January? (Just about anything!)
Listen to find out what happened to Rui that delayed this episode… and be extra prepared for when the holidays come around again in about 355 days!
We also discuss some quirky traditions and superstitions that Portuguese natives take part in during the New Year. Feliz janeiro!
A Lenda da Rapariga com Pés de Cabra
The Legend of the Girl with Goat's Feet
In this Lenda (tale), we explore a famous Portuguese tale of a woman… with goat feet! She manages to keep the secret hidden her entire life, until a nobleman falls in love with her and learns the truth.
(special thanks to Luís Relógio for writing this episode!)
Artigo 23 – António Guterres, A Unir Nações
António Guterres, Uniting Nations
A few days ago, Joel overheard some enthusiastic Portuguese natives talking about how António Guterres had been chosen as the new secretary-general of the United Nations. So in this episode, we take the opportunity to explore António’s life and the experiences that led up to this proud moment in Portugal’s history!
Desaparecido no Concerto
Missing at the Concert
Outdoor concert festivals are fun and everything… until someone goes missing! In this dialogue, a Canadian named Fred gets worried when his Portuguese friend João disappears unexpectedly. He attempts to file a police report in the middle of the night with an unhelpful officer who’d rather continue napping.
3 Video Lessons (Special Announcement)
Attention Practice Portuguese podcast subscribers!
This is not a regular podcast episode, but a special announcement to tell you about a 3-part video series we’re launching starting today.
Check out the first lesson now: practiceportuguese.com/words.
In these 3 lessons, we aim to solve a few of the biggest challenges our members run into when learning European Portuguese.
In the first video, we start with a list of simple rules you can use to quickly add 5000 words to your European Portuguese vocabulary, just by using words you already know.
In the second video, we’ll tackle the challenge of oral comprehension. We’ll explain what it is that spoken European Portuguese more difficult to understand than Brazilian. We’ll give you the necessary tools for you to not only better understand what they’re saying, but also make your own accent sound a lot more authentic when you speak Portuguese.
This second lesson will also have an interactive tool that you can use to practice what you learn in the video to make sure it sticks.
In the 3rd and final video, we’ll walk you through valuable tips and resources to help you throughout your Portuguese learning journey. We’ll also show you how to confirm that the words and grammar you’re learning are specific to Portugal (instead of the Brazilian vocabulary that you’ll find in most dictionaries and apps).
At the end of that third video we’ll also be announcing the biggest addition to Practice Portuguese since the launch of our podcast in 2013… but that’ll come later.
In these 3 videos, we worked hard to deliver very high-quality content to make the best use of your time. We could have easily sold these videos as a course, but we decided to offer them completely free so they could reach as many European Portuguese learners as possible.
If you want to get started with the first lesson and learn 5000 new words, head on over to practiceportuguese.com/words.
You’ll be able to download the free PDF e-book that goes along with the video lesson, as well as sign up to be notified when we launch videos 2 and 3. There won’t be another announcement for each video, so make sure you don’t miss out.
Once again, that’s practiceportuguese.com/words. Thanks for listening and we hope that this video series helps you learn a lot more about European Portuguese!
Uma Viagem a Marraquexe
A Trip to Marrakech
Today’s destination is Morocco, as we cover tons of new vocabulary to prepare you for wherever your future travels take you! Follow our journey through the airport, airplane, and all through the ancient city of Marrakesh.
(Featuring a very special guest, Ana Coimbra, Rui’s mãe!)
Portugal Campeão (Part 2)
In this second half of “Portugal Campeão“, we continue to celebrate Portugal’s futebol victory!
Just like the last few episodes, we discuss vocabulary and grammar useful in every day life, even if (like us) you don’t follow sports! Make sure to listen until the end where Rui gets a little bit hyper… and musical! (Too much galão, perhaps?)
(00:55 Slow reading, 07:31 Discussion, 26:38 Fast reading, 31:02 Outro)
Portugal Campeão (Part 1)
Portugal the Champions (Part 1)
We celebrate Portugal’s futebol victory with a play-by-play of how it all went down, including tons of useful expressions and vocabulary, soccer/football related and otherwise.
With Rui and Joel’s lack of sports knowledge (sports experts, you’ve been warned), we hope this episode is as educational as it is wacky!
Show up for the multiple musical outbursts, stay for the in-depth analysis of Ronaldo and his pet moth!
(Photo courtesy of Leticia De La Fuente)
A Família Vai Ao Supermercado
The Family Goes to the Supermarket
Marco and Ana take their kids to the “supermercado”, giving us an opportunity to learn some new vocabulary surrounding food.
First, Rui reads the entire article all the way through, then Rui and Joel split the text into sections to discuss vocabulary, Portuguese culture, and useful expressions you’ll hear on a daily basis while in Portugal. Rui also corrects some of Joel’s “estrangeiro” pronunciation mistakes that you might be making too!
Um Dia na Praia
A Day on the Beach
Are you just starting to learn Portuguese? This episode is perfect for you! It is A1/A2 level with simple vocabulary and grammar, but read by a native speaker, so it’s ideal for all levels to practice their pronunciation and listening comprehension! In addition, whenever we comment on the text, we take the opportunity to teach some expressions and review grammar.
Tip: The article is first read with discussion in between, and then read full-speed in its entirety at 14:50.