Choose your variety and tiny goals
Pick one variety first: Brazilian Portuguese (BR) has more media and beginner content, while European Portuguese (EU) is common in Portugal and nearby countries. Both share the same basics, but pronunciation and some vocabulary differ.
Now set tiny, trackable goals. Instead of vague aims, plan minutes and outcomes: 15 minutes daily, 5 new words, 1 short dialog. Small wins keep beginners moving.
- Decide BR or EU Portuguese for now; switch later if needed.
- Study 10–20 minutes every day; add a longer session on weekends.
- Keep a one-page PDF checklist: alphabet, greetings, ser/estar, present tense.
- Review your streak weekly and adjust one habit at a time.
Start with the basics: sounds, greetings, core grammar
Get your ears tuned first. Learn the alphabet, stress, and nasal vowels (m, n, ão). Use Forvo or YouGlish to hear natives, then shadow for a few minutes daily.
Next, cover the must-have grammar: articles, gender, plurals, present tense of ser, estar, ter, ir, and common question words. A printable PDF cheat sheet helps you review fast.
- Greetings and survival phrases: Olá, tudo bem? Por favor, obrigado/a, desculpe.
- Numbers, days, time: practice for 5 minutes while commuting.
- Pronunciation: nasal vowels (m/n/ão), lh, nh, rr, and final e/o.
- Core verbs in present: ser, estar, ter, ir; make 5 mini sentences daily.
Use free online courses and apps
Combine one structured course with light apps. Keep it simple and free. Many resources include PDFs you can download for offline study.
- FSI Programmatic Portuguese (BR): public-domain course with PDF + audio; great for drills.
- Duolingo or Memrise (free tiers): daily basics for beginner streaks and quick wins.
- PortuguesePod101 and Easy Portuguese on YouTube: short lessons, dialogs, culture.
- BBC Languages (archived) and Camões Institute: phrase lists, PDFs, and beginner notes.
Build vocabulary with SRS and short reading
Spaced repetition (SRS) is the fastest free way to learn words. Use Anki or Memrise community decks for high-frequency verbs, phrases, and sentence mining.
Pair SRS with short, simple reading. One paragraph a day is enough for A1–A2 if you stay consistent.
- Anki: add 10 new cards a day; review takes minutes and compounds fast.
- Clozemaster: sentence-level practice for context and collocations.
- Lingua.com and Readlang: graded texts with click-to-translate; export words to Anki.
- Printable PDFs: top 500 words, verb conjugation tables; keep a one-page travel phrase PDF.
Listen, speak, and find a partner
Listening builds comprehension quickly. Keep it easy and repetitive. Use slow content first, then short native clips. Shadow out loud for 3–5 minutes to improve rhythm and pronunciation.
Speaking can be free. Language exchanges give you real practice and keep you motivated.
- Podcasts and YouTube: Portuguese with Leo (EU), Talk the Streets or Easy Portuguese (BR).
- News in Slow Portuguese: sample episodes free; repeat each segment twice.
- RTP Play (EU) and Rádio Jovem Pan or Rádio Nacional (BR): short daily listening.
- HelloTalk or Tandem: 15-minute text/voice exchanges; swap English for Portuguese.
FAQ
- Should I learn Brazilian or European Portuguese first?
- Choose the variety you plan to use most. BR has more beginner content and media; EU helps if you’ll live in Portugal. The basics are the same, so pick one for now and stay consistent.
- How many minutes a day to reach A2?
- A2 often takes 150–200 hours. At 20 minutes daily, that is roughly 9–12 months. At 30 minutes daily plus a weekly 60-minute session, many beginners reach A2 in about 6–9 months.
- What free PDFs are best for beginners?
- FSI Programmatic Portuguese (PDF + audio) for drills, BBC Languages phrase sheets (archived), Camões Institute grammar notes, and printable verb tables from Verbix. Keep a one-page basics PDF for daily review.
- Can I learn Portuguese online for free only?
- Yes. With a structured plan—one course, SRS, daily listening, and language exchanges—you can cover all A1–A2 basics for free. Later, consider a tutor for feedback, but it is not required to start.