Podcasts for Portuguese Language Learners

The more input you get, the more you’ll develop your Portuguese language skills. If you want to focus on your listening skills in specific, then listening to Portuguese podcasts is the way to go.

Today, I will reveal 16 Portuguese podcast shows for you to work on your listening comprehension and improve your overall language skills in Portuguese.

For better guidance, I’ve arranged the podcasts into 3 groups according to different levels of language proficiency.

Let’s get started.

! The podcasts listed below are Portuguese and thus conform to the European standard. 
If you happen to be learning Brazilian Portuguese, I recommend PortuguesePod101.

Portuguese podcasts for beginners

The podcasts in this group are specifically designed for Portuguese language learners. 

The episodes are short and written in a streamlined language. They often focus on grammar points, basic structures, and idioms that are widely used in everyday life.

1. Portuguese with Carla

In this well-humored podcast, Carla and her co-host play everyday life dialogues and role-plays to then go back to break it all down for you, bit by bit.  

2. European Portuguese Shorties

In this one, you’ll have plenty of short stories and dialogues to browse through, but you’ll have to pay for a subscription plan to access the transcripts.

3. Portuguese Lab podcast

Yet one more source of short podcast episodes tailored for beginners. For the most part, you’ll find free transcripts available on their website. 

Portuguese podcasts for intermediate-level students

Most of the podcasts shown in this group are fewer than 10 minutes long and each episode focuses on a narrow topic. 

Given their short duration and topic delimitation, these podcast shows are suitable for intermediate-level learners.

But mind though! These are not designed for language learners and it wouldn’t surprise me if you find it tough to follow along. Don’t get caught in details and try instead to get a gist of the whole. 

Tips! Learn how to effectively drill your listening comprehension skills: Improve Your Portuguese Listening Skills: Best Practices.

4. Histórias da história (Portuguese history)

In this podcast show, Helena de Matos glances back into decisive moments and noteworthy episodes in Portugal’s history.    

5. Um dia no mundo (Chronicles, World current affairs)

Journalist Francisco Sena brings you daily chronicles about current affairs around the world, whether it is about a certain happening, person, or fact. 

6. Dos cinco cantos do mundo (Chronicles, World current affairs)

Like the previous one, this podcast is about current world affairs. Portuguese correspondents scattered around the globe share their chronicles with us.

7. 1001 razões para gostar de Portugal (Portuguese culture and heritage)

Let Andreia Pinto guide you through Portugal’s culture and local traditions. In each episode, she invites a guest to talk about a specific place, its customs, people, local crafts, gastronomy, etc.

8. Vou Ali e Já Venho (Portuguese culture and heritage)

Each episode lasts for approximately 2 minutes, time enough for Rui Gomes to share interesting local stories from the countryside with you.

9. Vice-versa (Interview)

Expats living in Portugal talk about their “love affair” with the country and Portuguese culture – what brought them there, things they love about Portugal, challenges with learning a new language and culture, etc.

10. O Amor é… (Relationships)

This is a daily pod where Inês Meneses and sexologist Júlio Machado Vaz chat around topics concerning romantic relationships, friendship, and family. 

Portuguese podcasts for advanced learners

The following podcasts are not as topic-delimited as the previous ones and, therefore, intermediate-level learners might find them extra challenging to keep up with. Anyway, it never hurts to give it a try.

11. E o Resto é História (Portuguese history)

Once a week, João Miguel Tavares and Rui Ramos discuss historical events and periods that have contributed to shaping contemporary Portugal.

12. Quinta Essência (Interview)

João Almeida interviews different personalities to discuss arts, architecture, history, science, and music, among others. 

13. Fala com ela (Interview)

Inês Meneses knows how to create an intimate space. She interviews personalities from Portuguese society and cultural life to talk about their lives, personal struggles, and careers. 

14. Conversas à Quinta (Debate, current affairs )

A weekly podcast where current affairs, national and international, are debated by Jaime Nogueira Pinto and Jaime Gama. Moderation by José Manuel Fernandes.

15. Governo Sombra (Debate, Portuguese current affairs, humor)

With a generous dose of humor, Ricardo Araújo Pereira, Pedro Mexia, and João Miguel Tavares debate Portuguese current affairs on a weekly basis. 

16. Maluco Beleza (Interview, humor)

Rui Unas, an accomplished comedian, interviews a new guest each week. The language register is casual, “spicy” at times, and the show is likely to make you laugh.  

17. Hotel (Humor)

Luis Franco Bastos is the voice artist who plays all the characters in this comic audio series. If you want to learn and explore Portuguese slang and strong language, this is your thing. And if you manage to keep up with it, you’ll burst into laughter every 10 seconds or so. Guaranteed.

Reading tips! You may be interested in reading the following articles as well:

• Online Portuguese Learning Resources That Are Actually Worth Your Time
• Here’s How to Push Through Your Portuguese Speaking Skills
• Mindsets and Strategies to Learn Portuguese the Best (or any other language)
• 22 Online Portuguese TV-Shows with Subtitles to Boost Your Language Learning