What to study after deciding to learn Portuguese from scratch

Introduction

Deciding to learn Portuguese is exciting. This guide explains what to study first, how to organize your beginner learning path, and which practical words, phrases, and simple exercises will get you communicating quickly in Brazilian Portuguese.

Start with pronunciation and the alphabet

Brazilian Portuguese uses the Latin alphabet but pronunciation has important differences from English. Begin by learning letter sounds, nasal vowels, and key consonants so you can read aloud, decode words, and be understood.

Essential focus areas:

Alphabet and basic letter sounds: a, e, i, o, u and consonants

Nasal vowels: ã, õ as in botão and mãe

Consonant differences: r (initial and double r), lh, nh, and digraphs like ch and qu

Sample practice words with pronunciation clues:

Olá — short o like in long, stress on second syllable

Obrigado / Obrigada — thank you (male/female speaker)

mãe — mother (ã nasal)

bom — good (o nasal before m)

Learn high-frequency vocabulary

Focus on the most common words you will use every day. Start with greetings, numbers, days, family, and basic verbs. Memorize small, useful sets and use them in short sentences.

Everyday vocabulary examples:

Bom dia — good morning

Boa tarde — good afternoon

Boa noite — good evening / good night

Sim / Não — yes / no

Por favor — please

Obrigado / Obrigada — thank you

Desculpe — sorry / excuse me

Numbers 1–10: um, dois, três, quatro, cinco, seis, sete, oito, nove, dez

Basic grammar: verbs, pronouns, and present tense

At beginner level, focus on personal pronouns and present indicative of regular verbs in -ar, -er, -ir. These let you describe actions, ask questions, and give simple information.

Key pronouns:

eu — I

você — you (singular, informal/formal in Brazil for many contexts)

ele / ela — he / she

nós — we

vocês — you (plural)

eles / elas — they

Regular verb patterns (present tense):

falar (to speak): eu falo, você fala, ele fala, nós falamos, vocês falam

comer (to eat): eu como, você come, nós comemos

abrir (to open): eu abro, você abre, nós abrimos

Simple example sentences:

Eu falo inglês. — I speak English.

Você mora aqui? — Do you live here?

Ela come arroz. — She eats rice.

Essential phrases for real situations

Learn phrases you will actually use when traveling, studying, or living in Brazil. Practice both the phrase and small variations to increase flexibility.

At a café or restaurant:

Eu gostaria de um café, por favor. — I would like a coffee, please.

O cardápio, por favor. — The menu, please.

Quanto custa? — How much does it cost?

Para viagem — to go / takeaway

In transportation and directions:

Onde fica a estação? — Where is the station?

Quanto tempo leva até o aeroporto? — How long does it take to the airport?

Um bilhete só de ida, por favor. — One one-way ticket, please.

At a store or market:

Posso provar? — Can I try it on?

Tem tamanho maior? — Do you have a larger size?

Eu vou pagar com cartão. — I will pay with card.

Practice reading short texts and signs

Begin with simple authentic materials: restaurant menus, street signs, labels, and short messages. Reading helps reinforce vocabulary and common structures.

Examples a beginner will see:

Entrada — entrance

Saída — exit

Aberto / Fechado — open / closed

Horário de funcionamento: Segunda a Sexta, 9h–18h — opening hours

Promoção — sale / promotion

Short sample message:

Olá, meu nome é Ana. Eu sou estudante e estou aprendendo português. — Hello, my name is Ana. I am a student and I am learning Portuguese.

Listening and speaking: simple drills and resources

Start with slow audio and repeat aloud. Use language apps or short YouTube clips labeled for beginners, and shadow native speakers sentence by sentence. Prioritize comprehension of greetings, questions, numbers, and directions.

Practical listening drills:

Listen to a 30-second dialogue and write down keywords: Olá, quanto, aqui, obrigado

Repeat short sentences and record yourself: Eu quero água, por favor

Use spaced repetition to review new words daily

Useful verbs and their everyday uses

Knowing a handful of common irregular verbs helps you express many ideas. Focus on ser, estar, ter, ir, querer, poder, and fazer in present tense first.

Examples and uses:

ser — permanent states or identity: Eu sou estudante. — I am a student.

estar — temporary states or location: Eu estou cansado. — I am tired.

ter — to have: Eu tenho dois irmãos. — I have two brothers.

ir — to go: Eu vou ao mercado. — I go to the market.

querer — to want: Eu quero água. — I want water.

poder — can / to be able: Você pode me ajudar? — Can you help me?

fazer — to do / to make: O que você faz? — What do you do?

Pronouns, formal vs informal address, and polite language

Brazilian Portuguese commonly uses você for most informal and semi-formal conversations; tu is regional. Learn polite forms for service interactions and formal writing when needed.

Polite phrases:

Com licença — excuse me (to get attention or pass by)

Por favor — please

Muito obrigado / Muito obrigada — thank you very much

Posso ajudar? — Can I help?

Practical study plan for the first 3 months

Organize your study into small daily goals. Aim for consistency and concrete tasks rather than vague practice.

Week 1–2: Alphabet, pronunciation, greetings, numbers 1–20, and basic survival phrases

Week 3–6: Present tense regular verbs, pronouns, top 200 vocabulary words, common questions, and short dialogues

Month 2: Irregular verbs in present, listening practice with slow audio, reading menus and signs, writing short messages

Month 3: Expand vocabulary to shopping, travel, family, and work; practice simple roleplays like ordering food and asking for directions

Common beginner mistakes and how to fix them

Mixing ser and estar — learn common contexts for each and create example sentences to practice contrast

Pronouncing r incorrectly — focus on different r sounds; listen and mimic native speakers

Using literal English word order — study simple Portuguese sentence patterns and practice building phrases from subject-verb-object

Overusing formal conjugations or tu in regions where você is normal — observe how locals speak and adjust your usage

Quick reference: everyday mini conversation

Olá, tudo bem? — Hi, how are you?

Tudo bem, e você? — I’m fine, and you?

Como você se chama? — What is your name?

Eu me chamo João. E você? — My name is João. And you?

De onde você é? — Where are you from?

Eu sou dos Estados Unidos. — I am from the United States.

Resources and next steps

Combine beginner textbooks, bilingual flashcards, graded readers, and apps for daily exposure. Join a conversational group or find a language partner for practical speaking practice. Gradually add grammar study and short authentic materials like simple news headlines or kids stories.

Practice tip: set one concrete weekly task, for example order a meal in Portuguese or write a short self-introduction of 3–4 sentences and send it to a language partner.

Conclusion

After deciding to learn Portuguese from scratch, focus first on pronunciation, high-frequency vocabulary, present-tense verbs, and useful everyday phrases. Use short realistic tasks, steady daily practice, and beginner-friendly materials to build confidence fast. With clear goals and practical examples, you will start communicating in Brazilian Portuguese in weeks.