Português · Portuguese
Learn Portuguese vocabulary
Brazilian and European variants; nasal vowels.
Portuguese is learned in two main varieties: Brazilian and European. Pronunciation and some words differ. The language has nasal vowels, which is another reason to learn by listening.
The vocabulary is Latin-based and clearly resembles Spanish. Nouns are masculine or feminine.
What to know
- Brazilian and European varieties differ in pronunciation and some words.
- Shares a large common vocabulary with Spanish.
- Nasal vowels are best learned by ear.
Study tips
- Use audio for pronunciation.
- If you know Spanish, use the similarities but watch the differences.
- Learn noun gender with the word.
Where is it spoken?
Portuguese is official in Portugal, Brazil, Angola and Mozambique among others; Brazil has the largest speaker community.
Pronunciation and spelling notes
Nasal vowels (ã, õ, "ão") are characteristic; "lh" and "nh" give special sounds. Unstressed vowels are clearer in Brazilian Portuguese and reduce more in European Portuguese. The letter "ç" sounds like "s".
Which languages help?
It is very close to Spanish with many shared words, but pronunciation and some words differ, so "it is similar" often leads to mistakes.
A roadmap for your first week
In week one, start with greetings, numbers and everyday words; choose between Brazilian and European Portuguese and stay with it. Listen to every new word to get used to the nasal vowels (ão, ões).
Common mistakes
- Mixing Brazilian and European words: "trem" (Brazil, train) versus "comboio" (Portugal).
- Trying to read nasal vowels from spelling; learning them without hearing them.
- Relying too much on Spanish similarity: the languages are close but have many false friends.
A small sample word list
| Portuguese | English |
|---|---|
| olá | hello |
| obrigado | thank you |
| por favor | please |
| a água | water |
| a casa | house |
| o amigo | friend |
| sim | yes |
| não | no |
| bom | good |
| hoje | today |
This list is our own; it is not an official list and only gives a feel for the first steps in this language.
Studying Portuguese in Frigya
When you add Portuguese in Frigya, you choose a separate level (A1–C2) and daily word goal for it. In Discover you meet new words and in Learn you reinforce them with spaced repetition; you can listen to words and example sentences. You can start without an account.
Frequently asked questions
Brazilian or European Portuguese?
Is Portuguese easy for Spanish speakers?
In Frigya you choose a separate level (A1–C2) and daily word goal for this language. For details see the levels guide.
Learn this language in Frigya
Try it without an account. If you like it, link your progress to one.
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