Start here: a one‑minute daily warm‑up
When you’re a beginner, consistency beats long study marathons. Take one minute to prime your brain before longer sessions. That quick win makes the habit stick.
Do this: glance at 3 flashcards, say 2 words out loud, and read 1 short sentence. Simple. You can build from there as your confidence grows.
- Day 1: ola (hello), grazas (thanks), por favor (please)
- Day 2: si (yes), non (no), chámome… (my name is…)
- Day 3: de onde es? (where are you from?), son de… (I am from…)
- Day 4: un café, por favor (a coffee, please), canto é? (how much is it?)
- Day 5: non entendo (I don’t understand), podes repetir? (can you repeat?)
Free places to learn Galician online
You can learn a lot for free. Start with official materials and simple tools designed for beginners. That gives you accurate language input from day one.
Bookmark a dictionary and a course hub so you can check words quickly and study regularly.
- Portal da Lingua Galega (lingua.gal): free beginner content and CELGA exam PDFs.
- Dicionario RAG (dicionario.gal) and Estraviz (estraviz.org): reliable, free Galician dictionaries.
- YouTube: search “Aprender galego”, “Galego para principiantes”, “frases en galego”.
- TVG and Radio Galega (crtvg.gal): free streaming in Galician for listening practice.
- Memrise community courses: user‑made Galician decks for vocabulary (free).
Apps, tutors, and structured courses
If you want guidance, mix self‑study with short tutor sessions. A teacher helps you fix pronunciation early so what you say sounds natural.
Most learners do well with a light app routine plus a weekly conversation slot.
- Anki or Quizlet: spaced‑repetition decks for core words (set to 5–10 new cards/day).
- italki or Preply: find Galician tutors for 25–45‑minute beginner lessons.
- Tandem or HelloTalk: language exchange with friendly speakers.
- Local language schools in Galicia: evening beginner classes; ask about CELGA 1–2.
- University or cultural institutes: occasional short courses for beginners.
Easy immersion: audio, video, and reading
Immersion doesn’t have to be hard. Pick content that you actually enjoy, even if you only catch one new word each minute at first. Progress compounds.
Use subtitles and slow playback. Hearing the language daily helps your brain map sounds to meaning.
- Kids’ cartoons on TVG: clear speech, simple plots.
- Short news clips on crtvg.gal with on‑screen text.
- Music playlists labeled “galego” on streaming apps; read lyrics as you listen.
- Local blogs or short articles about food, travel, and culture in Galicia.
- Follow Galician creators on social media for bite‑size input.
What to say: core beginner phrases
Memorize a tiny toolkit you can use anywhere. These phrases cover greetings, small talk, and polite requests—exactly what beginners need.
Practice out loud so your mouth learns the patterns. Aim for clarity, not speed.
- Ola! Como estás? – Hello! How are you?
- Chámome… / Son… – My name is… / I am…
- Encantado/a – Nice to meet you
- Por favor / Grazas – Please / Thanks
- Si / Non – Yes / No
- Podes falar máis amodo? – Can you speak more slowly?
- Non entendo / Podes repetir? – I don’t understand / Can you repeat?
- Canto é? – How much is it?
- Onde está…? – Where is…?
- Teño unha pregunta – I have a question
A1–A2 roadmap: from beginner to confident
Think in weeks, not days. Small, steady wins take you from absolute beginner to A2. If you already know Spanish or Portuguese, you may move faster—Galician is closely related.
CELGA 1–2 roughly align with A1–A2. Use free CELGA materials for structured goals and checklists.
- Weeks 1–2: 10–15 minutes/day. One minute warm‑up, 5 minutes vocab, 5 minutes listening.
- Weeks 3–6: Add 2 short texts per week and one 25‑minute tutor chat.
- Weeks 7–10: Learn the past and future basics; write 3–4 sentences daily.
- Weeks 11–12: Mock dialogues (buying, directions, café). Record yourself to improve what you say.
- Ongoing: Review CELGA 1–2 topics; take a practice test when ready.
FAQ
- Is Galician closer to Spanish or Portuguese?
- Galician is a Romance language closely related to Portuguese, with strong contact with Spanish. If you know either, learning Galician as a beginner is faster.
- Can I learn Galician for free?
- Yes. Use lingua.gal, RAG/Estraviz dictionaries, YouTube, TVG/Radio Galega, and Memrise decks. Add a free language exchange for speaking.
- How long to reach A2?
- With 15–30 minutes a day, many beginners reach A2 in 3–4 months. Prior Spanish/Portuguese helps. Tutors speed up pronunciation and speaking.
- Do I need Spanish to learn Galician?
- No. English speakers can start from zero. That said, Spanish or Portuguese knowledge makes vocabulary and grammar feel familiar.
- What is CELGA?
- CELGA is Galicia’s proficiency scale (1–5). For beginners, aim at CELGA 1–2, which roughly match A1–A2. Free prep PDFs are available online.