Learning Portuguese

Portuguese Slang, Insults, & Swear Words (You Probably Don’t Need to Know)

A word cloud in the shape of a cross features various Portuguese and Spanish words in different colors and sizes. The words include strong language and profanities such as "Caralho," "Paneleiro," "Filho da puta," and "Cona" on a light brown background.

Welcome to the colorful and occasionally rambunctious world of European Portuguese slang and those words your Portuguese grandma might gasp at! Let’s set the standard textbooks aside for a moment and look at how people in Portugal actually talk—the words that make locals chuckle, the idioms that are as Portuguese as a pastel de nata, and yes, a few that might earn you a disapproving tsk-tsk in the wrong company. This is the vocabulary you’ll actually hear—on the street, in …

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These days, most people who are learning European Portuguese will want to do so via a course or an app. We all have our phones on us all the time, making it easy to study whenever we want, and, besides, most apps or websites offer a lot more functionality than a book. That said, there’s a lot to be said for picking up a book — especially if you already have to sit in front of a computer for work. …

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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 …

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Portuguese is full of expressions that make no sense whatsoever. People swallow frogs. They send you to go bother a poet who’s been dead since 1580. When something’s easy, it’s chicken soup. When a job is hard, there’s water coming up your beard. But first, the thing no one else writing these lists will tell you: you’re probably not going to use any of these for a long time. Realistically at B2 level or above, and even then it takes …

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Like reading, listening, and speaking Portuguese, writing is its own skill. It’s possible to excel in the other three areas, but be terrible at writing in Portuguese. Unless you live in a Portuguese-speaking country, and work in a Portuguese-speaking job, you may not actually do a lot of writing in Portuguese. In Portugal, for example, a lot of communication tends to be face-to-face or over the phone. You can send e-mails to companies, but whether they get answered or not …

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While a lot of people aim for an A2 level of Portuguese, as this is the level needed to obtain Portuguese citizenship, aiming for a B1 or lower-intermediate is a lot more practical if you’re going to be spending a lot of time in Portugal. Ideally, you should use this as a stepping stone to work towards a B2 level of Portuguese. With a B1 level, you’ll be able to have slightly more complex conversations and understand a lot more …

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A B2 level of Portuguese is a fantastic level to aim for. It isn’t as daunting as the C1, which can often take years to achieve, but it’s something that some people will be able to achieve in less than a year. Having a B2 or upper-intermediate level of Portuguese will give you the skills and confidence to speak Portuguese at quite a confident level. You may still struggle with accents, certain vocabulary or phrases, and expressing yourself as comfortably …

Do You Need to Learn Portuguese to Live in Portugal?

Moving to a new country can be an exciting yet daunting experience, especially when there’s a language barrier. If you’re considering relocating to Portugal, you might be wondering if learning Portuguese is a necessity. In this article, we’ll explore the residency visa requirements and the day-to-day situations where knowing the language can make a difference. Residency Visa Requirements Good news! If you’re applying for visas such as the D7, Digital Nomad Visa, or the Golden Visa, you don’t need to …

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Thinking about moving to the Azores or exploring your family roots there? You’re in for a linguistic treat! While there’s no official “Azorean Portuguese,” the islands have their own unique flavour when it comes to the language. Let’s dive into what makes it special and how you can start learning Portuguese as it’s spoken in the Azores islands. The Azorean Accent: A World of Its Own The main difference between continental Portuguese and Azorean Portuguese is the accent. However, the …

Portuguese Slang, Insults, & Swear Words (You Probably Don’t Need to Know)

Books for Learning European Portuguese

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

Funny Portuguese Expressions (And Why You Probably Shouldn’t Use Them Yet)

How to Practice Writing in Portuguese

Learning Portuguese to B1 (Lower-intermediate) Level

Learning Portuguese to B2 (Upper-Intermediate) Level

Do You Need to Learn Portuguese to Live in Portugal?

How to Learn “Portuguese From the Azores”