Portuguese Idioms with “Pé”
Getting acquainted with Portuguese idiomatic expressions is key to reaching language fluency and feeling at home with day-to-day lingo. Today, I am bringing you 13 frequently-used Portuguese…
Portuguese Polite Expressions – Desculpa vs. Com licença vs. Por Favor
At the beginning of their learning journey, many Portuguese language learners struggle to discern between expressions such as Desculpa, Com licença, or Por favor, namely, when to…
Portuguese Verb “Dar”: An Idiomatic Gem
If you asked me to list the most frequently used, idiomatically rich verbs in Portuguese, I’d certainly put Dar on top of that list. Dar means ‘give’,…
Portuguese Spelling Reform
In 1990, various Portuguese-speaking countries agreed on a spelling reform to create and maintain a cohesive, international standard across borders. In Portugal, in particular, the spelling reform came…
Portuguese Preposition ‘De’
The Portuguese preposition de is a preposition of origin and the Portuguese equivalent of from in English. Additionally, we use de to indicate possession, modify a noun,…
Portuguese Present Tense – Usage Rundown Anchored to English
This article concerns Portuguese equivalents to the English Present Simple, Present Continuous, and Present Perfect tenses. We will be mostly focusing on usage, not conjugation. To learn…
Portuguese Gerund: Progressive Tenses and Beyond
The Portuguese Gerund (Gerúndio) is used to build Progressive tenses (such as the Present Continuous) and is the equivalent of the English Present Participle: the -ing verb…
The Portuguese Verb Ficar – Conjugation and Usage
Ficar is a high-frequency and versatile Portuguese verb that every language learner should master as soon as possible. Depending on the context, Ficar may mean ‘stay’, ‘get’,…
The Portuguese Verb Fazer
The Portuguese verb Fazer means different things depending on the context. Depending on the context, its English equivalent can be Make, Do, or Take. Additionally, there are…
Portuguese Verbs “Ir” vs. “Andar” – Know When to Use Either
I’ve noticed that Portuguese language learners often use the verb Andar when they want to say Ir, and vice-versa. This happens almost without exception in a context…
Portuguese Swear Words: An Unashamed Journey through Portuguese Strong Language
Although strongly repressed by many, swear words have their place in social interactions, namely, they are a powerful means of emotional release and human expression. As a…
Portuguese Perfect vs. Imperfect Tense: Know When to Use Either
The Portuguese Perfect and Imperfect past tenses (aka Pretérito Perfeito and Pretérito Imperfeito in Portuguese) are often a headache for language learners whose native tongue doesn’t make…
Portuguese Irregular Verbs Students Need to Learn as Soon as Possible
Have you noticed that some of the most frequently used verbs in Portuguese happen to be irregular? These verbs are not only high-frequency but they also tend…
Portuguese Verb Tenses and Moods Explained: A Usage Rundown Anchored to English
With so many conjugations, Portuguese verbs are a hard-to-chew bit for anyone learning the language, especially for those not acquainted with any Romance language from before. Now,…
20 Portuguese Idioms and Expressions to Impress Locals
If you’re planning a trip to Portugal or simply looking to connect with Portuguese speakers, incorporating idioms and colloquial expressions into your conversations can make a significant…
Poder vs. Conseguir in Portuguese – Tease Them Apart
Portuguese language learners often struggle to discern between Poder and Conseguir, not least native English speakers or anyone using English as a reference since Can usually encompasses…
50 Most Common Verbs in Portuguese
Want to start speaking Portuguese as soon as possible? The key is to learn the words you’ll use most often! Here’s a list of 50 commonly used…
‘Tão’ v. ‘Tanto’ in Portuguese – Know the Difference
Portuguese language learners often struggle to distinguish between the adverbs tão and tanto. Are you one of them? I get it! After all, tão and tanto are…