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 …

If you’re learning European Portuguese, you’ve probably already come across Mia Esmeriz’s YouTube channel—it’s packed with excellent videos on grammar, pronunciation, Portuguese culture, and her trips around the country. So it’s genuinely exciting that she has a full course that goes from A1 to C1. Most people will only want the A1 and A2 (the level needed for permanent residency and Portuguese citizenship), but those who are serious about integrating into Portugal will want to aim for at least B2, …

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 …

Almost every week, someone emails me to say they’ve been grinding away on Duolingo and just found out it teaches Brazilian Portuguese, not European Portuguese. I’ve genuinely lost count of how many times this has happened. I don’t think most people realize the two can differ enough to matter. And, they do matter. It’s not quite the gap between American and British English, where you’ll be understood everywhere and nobody blinks. It’s not even the difference between learning Spanish in …

Podcasts are one of my favorite tools for learning Portuguese, especially if you have regular pockets of dead time to fill — a commute, a dog walk, the gym. They pair well with an actual Portuguese course, feeding you new vocabulary and, just as importantly, repeating the stuff you’ve already half-learned until it finally sticks. But let me be honest about something first, because most “best podcasts” lists won’t tell you this. The dream is that you’ll sit down and …

A language learning app lesson screen shows a man looking frustrated and holding his head. It asks users to translate "Ah! I'm starting to get mad." to Portuguese. Four audio options are available, and a "Next" button is seen in the bottom right.

If you’re learning European Portuguese, Practice Portuguese is one of the few tools I would genuinely recommend to almost everyone. I first came across Practice Portuguese back in 2012, when I was living in Lisbon for the first time. Back then it was more of a podcast, but I signed up and thought it was genuinely impressive even then. What started as an audio podcast has grown into a full learning platform: a website and mobile app (iOS and Android), …

Portuguese music won’t teach you the language on its own. Lyrics are too poetic for that. But it’s the most fun you’ll have practicing, it’s great for the rhythm of European Portuguese, and it helps to know the songs your Portuguese friends know. Here are the singers worth starting with, three songs from each, and the method I’d use to turn any song into a lesson.

How to Learn Portuguese to C1 & C2 Level

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What does it mean to be fluent in Portuguese? According to the CEFR level, it can be measured at C2 level, although ultimately C1 is going to get you very far. For those looking to work professionally in Portugal, particularly at a high level, C1 and C2 are the levels you’re ultimately going to have to aim for, with C2, essentially a native-level speaker. Now, obviously, that’s challenging to get to. It takes a lot of work, but it’s challenging …

Review: “The Journey” from Portuguese With Carla

You may have come across Portuguese With Carla before. Carla runs a popular podcast, YouTube channel, and website where she teaches European Portuguese alongside her husband Marlon. Their latest innovation, The Journey, is an incredibly creative way of teaching European Portuguese – from beginner to advanced. The Journey follows a story, which the trailer below gives a preview of. In it, the main character, Carla, receives a letter informing her of an inheritance left behind by her estranged father. What …

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 …

European Portuguese Resources for Kids

Mia Esmeriz Academy Review: A Course To Take You From Beginner to Fluency

10+ Best Apps For Learning European Portuguese

Learning European Portuguese? Skip Duolingo

10+ Great Podcasts For Learning Portuguese

Practice Portuguese Review: Is It Worth It?

Can Music Help You Learn European Portuguese?

How to Learn Portuguese to C1 & C2 Level

Review: “The Journey” from Portuguese With Carla

Do They Speak English in Portugal? An Honest Region-by-Region Answer