How to Learn Portuguese (Portugal)

Learning Portuguese can unlock a world of art, travel, and culture. As you progress, it's important to distinguish between different accents. If your aim is to explore Brazil, focus on mastering Brazilian Portuguese. However, if Portugal is your destination, there are several steps you can take to speak like the locals. Engage in conversation with native European Portuguese speakers. Immerse yourself in Portugal's music and art scene. Above all, savor the melodic richness of this beautiful language.

Mastering common greetings. Practice basic phrases to facilitate everyday conversations:

• Hello!: Olá 'oh-la'
• What is your name?: Como se chama? Pronounce it: 'KO-m's'SHA-ma'
• My name is…: Chamo-me 'SHA-mo may'
• Sir/Ma'am...: Senhor, Senhora...'SAYN-yor'
• How are you?: Como está?/Como vai?/Tudo bem? 'KO-mu esh-TA'
• I'm well, thank you: Estou bem, obrigado(a). 'SHTOO-baym, ob-ree-gah-doo/ah'
• Nice to meet you: Encantado(a) 'AYN-can-tah-doo/ah'
• Have a nice day!: Tem um bom día! 'TAYM oom bom DEE-ya'
• Goodbye!: Adeus 'AH-day-osh'

Master some essential conversational phrases. Practice courteous expressions like 'please' and 'thank you.' Familiarize yourself with ways to convey your comprehension or confusion.

Acquire key travel phrases. If you're planning to travel in Portugal, learn fundamental questions and expressions necessary for navigation:

• I understand: Compreendo
• I don't understand: Não compreendo
• Can you repeat that, please?: Pode repetir isso, por favor?
• Turn left: Vire à esquerda
• Turn right: Vire à direita
• Straight ahead: sempre em frente
• Towards the...: em direcção à...
• Past the...: Depois do...
• Before the...: Antes do...
• Will you show me on the map?: Você pode me mostrar no mapa?
• Where's the bathroom?: Onde está a casa de banho
• Where is the train station? Onde está a estação de comboios?

Brush up on your shopping and dining vocabulary. Learn phrases for inquiring about accommodations, ordering from menus, and conversing with merchants:

• Is there a table available?: Tem uma mesa livre?
• What do you serve? O que tem?
• I'll have this: E ísto para mim
• The bill please: A conta por favor.
• How much does this cost?: Quanto custa?
• I’m just looking: Estou só a ver, obrigado(a)
• What time do you open/close?: A que horas abre/fecha?
• Do you have any rooms available?: Tem um quarto livre?

Learn to count in Portuguese. Portuguese numbers may vary based on the gender of the noun they modify. For example, 'uma mulher' is used for a woman, while 'um homem' is used for a man.

• 1: um (m) uma (f)
• 2: dois (m) duas (f)
• 3: três
• 4: quatro
• 5: cinco
• 6: seis
• 7: sete
• 8: oito
• 9: nove
• 10: dez
• 11: onze
• 12: doze
• 13: treze
• 14: quatorze
• 15: quinze
• 16: dezesseis
• 17: dezessete
• 18: dezoito
• 19: dezenove
• 20: vinte
• 21: vinte e um (m) vinte e uma (f)
• 100: cem
• 1000: mil
• 1 million: um milhão
• 1 billion: um bilhão

Master the pronunciation of consonant sounds. While many letters in the Portuguese alphabet resemble their English counterparts, some have distinct pronunciations:

• The letter 'C' is pronounced as a hard 'k' unless followed by 'e' or 'i.'
• 'G' is usually hard like in 'goal,' but softens to a 'j' sound before 'e' or 'i.'
• 'H' is silent at the beginning of a word, sounds like 'y' after 'l' or 'n,' and forms a 'sh' sound with 'c' in 'ch.'
• 'J' is always soft, akin to the 's' in 'pleasure.'
• 'S' is often like in English, but may sound like 'sh' or a soft 'j' at the end of a sentence or before a consonant.
• 'V' is usually like 'v' in English, but in Northern Portugal, it may sound more like 'b.'
• 'X' can vary in sound, from a soft 'j' or 'sh' to 'ks,' 'z,' or 's.'

Learn how to pronounce certain letters differently when they end a word. In Portuguese, 'M,' 'N,' and 'Z' have distinct sounds at the end of words:

• 'M' and 'N' sound as in English unless they end a word, then they sound like a nasal 'ng' or 'ny.'
• 'Z' is like in English unless it ends a word, then it's pronounced like a soft 'j' unless followed by a vowel, in which case it's 'z.'

Master the pronunciation of the letter 'R.' Unlike in English, the Portuguese 'R' is rolled, swallowed, or tapped depending on the region:

• Between vowels, it's tapped at the palate, similar to Spanish.
• At the beginning of a word, syllable, or after another 'R,' it's rolled at the back of the throat.

Remember the diacritic marks. These marks affect pronunciation or stress:

• A tilde ('~') over a letter indicates nasalization.
• A cedilla under 'c' ('ç') makes it sound like an 's.'
• A circumflex ('ê') denotes high stress.
• An accent ('á') indicates low stress.
• A grave (' à') denotes a contraction of two vowels, unstressed.

Understand word stress in Portuguese. While most words stress on the penultimate syllable, exceptions exist:

• Words with acute or circumflex marks stress on those syllables.
• Words ending in diphthongs stress on the final syllable.
• Some words stress on the third to last syllable.

Enroll in an online or in-person class. Portuguese is widely taught, so finding classes locally or online should be feasible. Look for MOOCs or online courses offering video conferences for interactive practice with teachers and peers.

• Explore language schools nearby.
• Check if any community colleges offer Portuguese classes.
• Search online for Portuguese cultural centers in your vicinity.

Hire a tutor if classes are unavailable. If you're lacking individualized attention in a class, consider hiring a tutor, especially if native speakers are scarce in your area. Contact local colleges or universities for potential tutoring resources.

• Consider posting ads for a Portuguese tutor on Craigslist or local message boards.
• Ask friends if they know any Portuguese speakers or advanced learners who could tutor you.
• If there are other Portuguese learners nearby, organize a group for practice sessions.

Listen to Portuguese music, including Fado. Tune in to radio stations or podcasts featuring Portuguese music, or explore music on platforms like YouTube or streaming services. Look for world music compilations, often including Portuguese songs.

• Discover traditional Fado music by artists like Amalia Rodrigues or Cristina Branco.
• Explore the intricate harmonies of Cante Alentejano, a musical genre from Southern Portugal's Alentejo region.

Watch Portuguese films and TV series. Immersing yourself in Portuguese dialogue through movies and TV is effective. For beginners, consider watching with Portuguese subtitles.

• Explore classic Portuguese films like Aniki-Bóbó.
• Watch children's cartoons popular in Portugal, such as Tic Tac Tales or Romance da Raposa.