Welcome! If you're an English speaker starting to learn Portuguese, you're in a good position. English and Portuguese share many cognates, and while the grammar differs, it's learnable. This guide focuses on Brazilian Portuguese, the most widely spoken variety. You'll get a feel for pronunciation, learn how to build simple sentences, and pick up polite phrases for first meetings. Remember, Portuguese has gendered nouns and verb conjugations, but so does English to some extent. We'll highlight common pitfalls and give you a solid foundation for further study. Let's begin!
What you’ll be able to do
- Recognize and use common Portuguese cognates to build vocabulary quickly.
- Pronounce key Portuguese sounds like nasal vowels and final 'de' accurately.
- Form basic sentences with correct word order and use polite phrases in introductions.
Build on what you know
Cognates: Your Shortcut to Vocabulary
English and Portuguese share thousands of cognates due to their common Latin roots. Words ending in '-tion' in English often become '-ção' in Portuguese, like 'information' to 'informação'. Similarly, '-ty' becomes '-dade', as in 'university' to 'universidade'. However, watch out for false friends like 'actually' (atualmente means currently) and 'push' (puxar means pull). These cognates give you a head start, but always check meaning in context.
A informação está na universidade.The information is at the university.
Pronunciation: Nasal Vowels and Final 'de'
Brazilian Portuguese distinguishes nasal and oral vowels. In 'sim' (yes) and 'bom' (good), the final m signals nasalization rather than an English-style m release. 'Não' (no) contains a nasal diphthong: listen to the full vowel movement rather than saying separate English a and o sounds. In many Brazilian accents, d before an ee-like sound becomes a j-like sound: 'cidade' often ends in 'jee'. This varies by region; a d-like pronunciation is also used. Listen to the recordings and copy one pronunciation consistently.
Não, a cidade é boa.No, the city is good.
Sentence Structure: Subject-Verb-Object and Beyond
Portuguese sentence structure is similar to English: subject-verb-object. However, adjectives usually come after nouns, and articles and nouns must agree in gender and number. For example, 'the red car' is 'o carro vermelho' (masculine) and 'the red house' is 'a casa vermelha' (feminine). Also, Portuguese often omits subject pronouns because verb endings indicate the subject, but English requires them. So 'I speak' is 'eu falo' or just 'falo'.
Eu falo português. / Falo português.I speak Portuguese.
Politeness: Using 'Você' and 'O Senhor/A Senhora'
In Brazilian Portuguese, 'você' is the standard way to say 'you' in most situations, both formal and informal. For extra politeness with older people or in formal contexts, use 'o senhor' (for men) or 'a senhora' (for women). When greeting, a handshake is common, and among friends, a kiss on the cheek or a hug. Use 'por favor' (please) and 'obrigado/obrigada' (thank you) to show respect.
O senhor pode me ajudar, por favor?Can you help me, please? (formal)
Eight phrases to make your own
Checking available voices…
oh-LAH, TOO-doo beng?
Hello, how are you?
Common informal greeting; 'tudo bem' literally means 'everything good'.bong DEE-ah
Good morning!
Used until around noon; 'boa tarde' for afternoon, 'boa noite' for evening.meh-oo NO-mee eh
My name is...
To ask someone's name: 'Qual é o seu nome?'prah-ZEHR eng koh-nyeh-SEHR vo-SEH
Nice to meet you.
Often shortened to 'Prazer' in casual settings.jee ON-jee vo-SEH eh
Where are you from?
In Brazil, 'de' at the start is pronounced 'jee'.eh-oo soh dooz es-TAH-dooz oo-NEE-dooz
I am from the United States.
For a woman: 'Eu sou dos Estados Unidos' remains the same; 'sou' is gender-neutral.por fah-VOR, FAH-lee myz dee-vah-GAR
Please speak more slowly.
Useful when you don't understand; 'mais devagar' means 'more slowly'.oh-bree-GAH-dah
Thank you.
The recording uses the feminine form obrigada. The masculine form is obrigado (oh-bree-GAH-doo).Your first conversation
oh-LAH, TOO-doo beng?
Hello, how are you?
TOO-doo beng, oh-bree-GAH-doo. ee vo-SEH?
I'm fine, thank you. And you?
TOO-doo beng. meh-oo NO-mee eh AH-nah. prah-ZEHR eng koh-nyeh-SEHR vo-SEH.
I'm fine. My name is Ana. Nice to meet you.
prah-ZEHR, AH-nah. eh-oo soh oo KAR-loos. jee ON-jee vo-SEH eh?
Nice to meet you, Ana. I'm Carlos. Where are you from?
eh-oo soh dooz es-TAH-dooz oo-NEE-dooz. ee vo-SEH?
I'm from the United States. And you?
eh-oo soh doo bra-ZEEL. beng-VEEN-dah!
I'm from Brazil. Welcome!
Small changes, clearer meaning
False Friends: 'Actually' vs. 'Atualmente'
Using 'atualmente' to mean 'actually'.
'Atualmente' means 'currently' or 'nowadays'. For 'actually', use 'na verdade' or 'realmente'. Example: 'Na verdade, eu não sei.' (Actually, I don't know.)
Gender Agreement: 'O problema'
Assuming 'problema' is feminine because it ends in 'a'.
'Problema' is masculine: 'o problema'. Many words ending in '-ma' from Greek are masculine. Example: 'O problema é sério.' (The problem is serious.)
Pronunciation: Final 'de'
Pronouncing 'de' as 'deh' at the end of words like 'cidade'.
In Brazilian Portuguese, final 'de' is pronounced 'jee'. So 'cidade' is 'see-DAH-jee'. Practice: 'A cidade é grande.' (The city is big.)
Try it yourself
1. How do you say 'Good morning' in Portuguese?
Show answer
Bom dia!'Bom dia' is used from morning until noon. It literally means 'good day', but is used as 'good morning'.
2. Translate: 'I am from Brazil.' (masculine speaker)
Show answer
Eu sou do Brasil.Use 'do' for masculine countries. 'Brasil' is masculine, so 'do Brasil'. For feminine countries like 'a França', use 'da França'.
3. What is the polite way to ask an older man 'Can you help me?'
Show answer
O senhor pode me ajudar?Use 'o senhor' for formal 'you' when addressing an older man. For a woman, use 'a senhora'.
Your next ten minutes
- 1
Morning Greeting Practice
Each morning, greet someone with 'Bom dia! Tudo bem?' and respond appropriately. If alone, say it aloud to practice pronunciation.
- 2
Cognate Spotting
For 2 minutes, look at a Portuguese text (like a news headline) and identify cognates with English. Write down 5 pairs, noting any false friends.
- 3
Dialogue Role-Play
Practice the six-line dialogue with a partner or alone, alternating roles. Focus on pronunciation of 'tudo bem', 'prazer', and 'Estados Unidos'.
You've taken your first steps into Portuguese! Remember, cognates are your friends, but watch for false friends. Practice nasal vowels and the 'jee' sound for final 'de'. Use 'você' for most situations, and 'o senhor/a senhora' for extra politeness. Keep practicing the phrases and dialogue until they feel natural. Next, try listening to Brazilian music or podcasts to train your ear. Boa sorte!
