Learning Portuguese

European Portuguese Resources for Kids

A smiling couple and their young son are looking at a laptop together. The woman is wearing a yellow top, and the man is in a blue denim shirt. The boy, who is seated, is focused on the screen. They appear to be enjoying their time together.

If you’re moving to Portugal with children, one of your biggest questions is probably: how do we help them learn Portuguese? It’s true that children often pick up languages faster than adults. But that does not mean you want to throw them straight into the deep end and hope for the best. Most parents would prefer to give their kids a gentler start, with time to hear the language, recognize common words, and build confidence before school or day-to-day life …

A person is holding a smartphone in their right hand, displaying the home screen with various app icons. Their left hand is holding a white cup of coffee with foam on top. The items are on a wooden table, and the person is wearing a watch on their left wrist.

Can you learn European Portuguese with an app? Not really, at least not by itself. But language learning apps can still be incredibly useful when you’re on public transport, want to revise some vocabulary, or just have 5-10 minutes to spare. And, if you choose the right combination of apps, they can make a big difference. The following are some of the best apps for learning Portuguese as it’s spoken in Portugal rather than Brazilian Portuguese (which Duolingo teaches). Some …

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Learning European Portuguese doesn’t have to be expensive. There are now plenty of free resources that can help you get started, from apps and YouTube channels to podcasts, phrase tools, and language exchange communities. If your goal is to build basic skills without spending much, it’s entirely possible to make real progress without paying for an expensive course. That said, it helps to be realistic. Free resources can take you surprisingly far—especially with listening, vocabulary, pronunciation, and basic conversation—but they’re …

A language site for moving to Portugal displays a Portuguese dialogue transcript, plus options for downloads, vocabulary, and a quiz.

Ever dreamed of effortlessly chatting with locals in a Lisbon café, or confidently navigating life as an expat in the Algarve? If you’re nodding your head, then learning European Portuguese is probably high on your to-do list. But let’s face it – tackling a new language can feel like climbing a linguistic Everest, especially when it’s not as widely taught as its Brazilian counterpart. Enter Practice Portuguese, the online learning platform that’s revolutionizing the way people learn Portuguese as it’s …

A group of adults sit in a classroom, writing on notepads. The man in the foreground is focused on his work, while a diverse group of individuals behind him are also engaged in writing. The classroom has wooden desks and a neutral-colored wall.

At some point in your Portuguese-learning journey, you’ll need to actually sit the exam. Whether you’re doing this for Portuguese citizenship, residency, work, or personal satisfaction, the process is fairly straightforward once you know how it works. Most people take the A2 exam (CIPLE), but it’s not the only option — and it’s not always the best one for everyone. Below is a clear, step-by-step guide to booking a CAPLE exam, what to expect, and how to prepare. Decide Which …

A person with long hair, wearing headphones and a light blue shirt, sits at a desk and uses a laptop. The desk is cluttered with notebooks, highlighters, and pens. A bookshelf with various books and folders is in the background.

Forget stuffy classrooms, outdated textbooks, and mind-numbing printouts. These modern courses are a far cry from traditional language classes. They’re flexible, engaging, and designed to fit around real life (work, kids, moving paperwork, and the occasional existential spiral about Portuguese pronunciation). Whether you’re planning to retire in the Algarve, study in Coimbra, or just want to pass that all-important A2 exam for citizenship, there’s a course out there for you. The trick is picking the right one—because “best” depends on …

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Practice Portuguese is one of the most comprehensive (and most popular) tools for learning European Portuguese. It’s something many people living in Portugal will be familiar with, but most people probably don’t know the story of how it came to be. In this interview, I chat to Joel Rendall about how he came to live in Portugal, the difference between life here and life in Canada, and his personal tips for learning Portuguese. Also worth mentioning: Practice Portuguese normally costs …

A man with a beard is looking down while holding a large white sign that reads "DO YOU SPEAK ENGLISH?" in bold, black letters. He is wearing a black vest over a gray shirt and standing against a plain, gray background.

One of the most frequently asked questions on Portugalist is: how widely is English spoken in Portugal? Can I get by with English or do I really need to learn Portuguese? You may have travelled or lived in other European countries like France or Spain where English isn’t always spoken. Portugal’s not like that. When it comes to speaking English as a second language, Portugal is the 9th most proficient country in the world, according to the EF English Proficiency …

Podcasts are a handy language learning tool to have your arsenal, particularly if you have some regular free time where you can listen to them such as during a commute to work. They can work well when used in addition to a Portuguese course, providing you with new vocabulary and repetition of things you may have already heard. The following are some of the top podcasts for learning Portuguese. We’ll start with European Portuguese, because this blog is about Portugal, …

An open book displays verb conjugation charts in Portuguese. The left page shows conjugations for the verb "fazer," and the right page shows conjugations for the verb "ferir." Both pages include various tenses and grammatical moods. Green leaves are visible in the background.

The Portuguese passport is becoming increasingly popular, not least because having it gives you the right to move to any EU country (including Portugal, of course). Many people have a claim to a Portuguese passport — for example, by having a Portuguese grandparent or having lived in Portugal for more than five years — and are now trying to take advantage of their ability to get a second passport. However, often showing an A2 level of Portuguese is required (also …

Learning Portuguese

European Portuguese Resources for Kids

10+ Best Apps For Learning European Portuguese

13+ Ways to Learn European Portuguese for Free

Reviews: Practice Portuguese – An Engaging Podcast & Interactive Language Learning Platform

How to Book A CAPLE Language Exam (e.g. the A2)

15+ European Portuguese Courses (With Reviews)

From Cruise Ship Musician to Practice Portuguese Co-Founder – An Interview with Joel Rendall

The Portuguese Places Where English Is Spoken Most

10+ Great Podcasts For Learning Portuguese

The A2 Language Test (CIPLE) for Portuguese Citizenship