Why Learn Galician Online as a Beginner?
Galician (Galego) is a Romance language spoken in Galicia, a region in northwest Spain. It sits between Spanish and Portuguese, so many words look familiar even to an absolute beginner. If you already know a little Spanish or Portuguese, you will learn faster; if not, Galician is still friendly for beginners thanks to clear spelling and regular grammar.
Learning online means you can start today for free. Videos, podcasts, open dictionaries, and community forums give you real voices and natural phrases that you can copy. The goal is small daily wins: one new phrase, one new sound, one minute of listening. That is how steady progress happens.
- Close to Spanish and Portuguese, but proudly its own language
- Lots of free content from Galicia’s media and institutions
- Regular spelling makes reading and pronunciation easier
- Great culture: music, food, and stories you can enjoy early
Sounds, Spelling, and First Things to Say
Start with sounds so you can say words confidently. The letter x often sounds like sh (as in xente, people). The nh and lh spellings (from Portuguese influence) are like the ny in canyon and the li in million. Stress usually lands on the second-to-last syllable, and vowels are short and clean: a, e, i, o, u.
Next, learn friendly phrases you can use from day one. Practice out loud, record yourself, and compare with native audio. It is fine to be a beginner: speak slowly and clearly. If you are unsure about a sound, repeat that word for one minute while listening to a model, then move on.
- Olá/Boas = Hello/Hi
- Como estás? = How are you?
- Grazas = Thank you
- Por favor = Please
- Si / Non = Yes / No
- Chámome... = My name is...
Build Core Vocabulary in One Minute a Day
Micro-study works. Set a daily one minute timer and learn three new words with an image or a quick example sentence. Use spaced repetition: come back later the same day and the next day. That small loop strengthens memory without stress, which keeps beginners motivated.
Choose high-frequency topics: people, places, food, daily verbs. Mix in short sentences so you learn how words connect. If you already know Spanish or Portuguese, note the friends (cognates) and the tricky false friends. Track wins: one phrase used in chat, one minute listening, one sentence written.
- Day 1: I/you/he-she; simple greetings; numbers 1–10
- Day 2: Food words and the verb querer (to want)
- Day 3: Places in town + prepositions (en, a, de)
- Day 4: Time and routine verbs (traballar, estudar, ir)
- Day 5: Review everything for one minute, then add two new phrases
Grammar Light: Articles, Gender, and Ser/Estar
Articles agree with gender and number: o/a (the, singular), os/as (the, plural), un/unha (a/an). Many nouns ending in -o are masculine and -a are feminine, but learn the article with each noun so that patterns feel natural. Word order is usually Subject–Verb–Object, and adjectives tend to follow the noun.
Two key verbs help you say a lot: ser (to be, essential traits) and estar (to be, states/locations). Very short present forms give you real sentences fast. Add simple prepositions (en = in, a = to, de = of/from) and you can describe where things are and how you feel.
- Articles: o libro (the book), a casa (the house), os amigos (the friends), unhas cidades (some cities)
- Ser: Eu son, ti es, el/ela é, nós somos, vós sodes, eles/elas son
- Estar: Eu estou, ti estás, el/ela está, nós estamos, vós estades, eles/elas están
- Examples: Eu son estudante. Ela está en Vigo. Iso é pan. (That is bread.)
- Adjectives: un café quente; unha praia bonita; libros interesantes
Free Resources and Practice Ideas
You can learn Galician free with a smart mix: public media, open dictionaries, community groups, and language exchanges. Search for Galician news videos or podcasts at slow speed and add subtitles. Use an online dictionary (RAG or Estraviz) to check meanings and examples.
Create low-pressure practice: post a short diary line each day, read one tweet, or shadow one minute of audio. Join a language partner swap and agree on a beginner-friendly format: five minutes Galician, five minutes English, slow and supportive. Small, repeatable steps beat marathon sessions.
- Open dictionaries: look up words with audio and usage notes
- YouTube and podcasts: news clips, music, and short interviews
- Apertium or similar tools: quick checks for simple phrases
- Community spaces: forums, Discord, or social groups for beginners
- Media from Galicia: radio streams to build listening stamina
FAQ
- Is Galician hard for English-speaking beginners?
- It is friendlier than you might expect. Regular spelling, lots of shared Latin roots, and familiar grammar make it approachable for a beginner. Start with sounds and short phrases, then build up.
- Can I learn Galician online for free?
- Yes. Use open dictionaries, public media, community groups, and free flashcard decks. Combine those with short daily habits and you will progress without spending money.
- How long does it take to reach A1–A2?
- With daily micro-study (even one minute focused sessions) plus a few longer reviews each week, many learners reach A1 in 6–8 weeks and A2 in 3–4 months. Your pace depends on consistency.
- Should I learn Spanish or Portuguese first?
- You do not have to. Prior Spanish or Portuguese helps, but a focused Galician path for beginners works fine. If you know one of those, leverage the overlap while noting differences.
- What should I say first in Galician?
- Start with Olá/Boas (hello), Grazas (thank you), Por favor (please), and Como estás? (how are you?). Learn your introduction: Chámome [name]. That tiny set lets you greet, be polite, and start chats.