Immediately a disclaimer - learning the language is best with a notebook and pencil or with a native speaker friend. Any online courses or applications, and even more so games for learning a foreign language, are helpful. You can tinker with some kind of app in the toilet, or on the subway.
On this site and in this review, we always talk about the European version of Portuguese, or more precisely, about the Lisbon dialect. The Portuguese language is the same thing as with English, there is English in England, there is English in the USA and there is some general English, which is used by the travel and business community from all over the world. By analogy: there is Portuguese from Portugal, there is Portuguese from Brazil, there is Portuguese from African countries (former Portuguese colonies);
Dictionary
We could not find a good dictionary in the app store, our beloved Slovoed does not have a dictionary with a Portuguese-Russian pair, but offers only a Portuguese-English pair (899 rubles). The WordUp app has a dictionary and even a phrasebook, and it's a nice app designed around the Mirai and Collins system. In addition to the dictionary and phrasebook, the application contains various goodies for memorizing words and grammatical foundations.
Cost: $ 4.99, there is also a free Lite version.
Conjugator
To study the languages \u200b\u200bof the Romance group, a verb conjugator will not be superfluous, where there are no auxiliary verbs (English), there you need a reference book with verb conjugations (port.). We highly recommend the VerbForms application, which will be indispensable in language learning. I am pleased not only by the thoughtfulness of the interface and design, but also by the additions - for example, you can create lists of verbs and train their memorization through the built-in exercises.
Price: $ 3.99
Phrasebook
There is a phrasebook with a cute name - Tudo Bem, which seems to say that everything will be fine. If it's no joke, then this good application will come in handy on the trip and for bored students, opened the topic - pressed the buttons, or maybe something will sink into memory.
Cost: Free
The Pimsleur course, known to many, has an application that serves as a dispatcher in listening to the lessons of the course. It will be useful for the official purchase of the course on the company's website. If you downloaded the pirated version, you can just listen in your player. Both options seem to us the same.
Collected 6 applications that will help you not screw up in an English pub. Or French or Brazilian. In general, this is a collection for those who want to learn or improve a foreign language.
MEMRISE
The free app offers to sign up to get started. This can be done by simply syncing with your Facebook account. The next step is to select the language you want to learn. There is also Japanese, and Italian, and Portuguese with English, and even Russian. So it's time to remember what you had there in school in Russian for a year and, perhaps, instead of a foreign one, choose a more familiar language.
We had an eight, so we choose English from the list of proposed languages. The application immediately imposes the course "400 words of TOEFL", but if you click on the button below, you can choose from a bunch of other courses. For example, go through the topic "50 Basic Roots for English".
The 400 words of TOEFL course offers you to learn words. It offers so that it is almost impossible not to learn them. First you need to understand the meaning of the word that you are offered to learn, then guess the word by meaning and the meaning by the word. It is also worth remembering the spelling of a word, because the next exercise is to type this word correctly. Do something wrong and the app will remind you three more times that irrigation is irrigation.
There are no problems with the interface: it is intuitively clear where to press and what to do next. The only drawback is the rather strange keyboard in the exercises, where you are asked to write the word just spoken by the application.
By the way, Memrise invites users to make memes: if you can't remember a word, choose a picture from Google Images and create a meme. Memrise also has a PC version that syncs with the app.
First, Busuu is not one application that contains different languages, but a whole series. To learn English, you need to download "Learn English with Busuu", for German - well, you get the idea.
Secondly, to start using the application, you still need to download some add-ons. Judging by the time spent, they weigh no more than 1 KB. Well, then everything is simple: choose your level and begin to go through the exercises. All lessons are organized by topic (meeting friends, socializing at work, clothes and shopping) and include vocabulary and dialogues.
The disadvantage of the application is that not all lessons are available in the standard version. Sometimes (about 4 times in each lesson) you will come across a warning that this topic is available only to users with a premium account. If you skip this warning, the app will immediately jump to another exercise for mere mortals.
The feature of the service is that you can help people who are learning Russian, and they, in turn, will help you with Portuguese. In other words: a certain Israeli is trying to make a sentence in Russian, and you point him to the wrong ending of the third noun in the sentence. He can thank you by finding a mistake in every word of your Hebrew.
Busuu also lets you change your profile picture. You can put yourself Lana Del Rey or Jeremy Clarkson.
Unlike previous apps, Duolingo only allows you to learn German and English (if you choose Russian as the base). First you need to register or, again, sync with Facebook. Then set yourself a goal - easy, ordinary, harsh or crazy. Which one you choose will determine how many and what tasks Duolingo will offer you.
Each lesson in the app is about speaking practice, listening and translation. The pluses, perhaps, include the fact that the translation works in both directions. That is, you first need to write a sentence in English, and after a couple of steps translate the English phrase into Russian. On top of that, Duolingo suggests how else you can translate this sentence.
True, there were also some drawbacks. Firstly, the tasks here are not the most difficult. Perhaps that is why Duolingo has a 4.7 rating on the Play Market. Secondly, in tasks where you need to pronounce a phrase, your speech is not always adequately perceived. So you can lose your self-confidence by pronouncing an apple “wrong” 30 times. And you won't learn much in transport, but for this there is a button "not now". If you press it, then the task can be skipped and you do not have to frighten those around you with your "Ai um uh man".
Oh yeah, after every lesson you take, Duolingo tells you what percentage you are now fluent in and suggests adding it to your Linkedin profile. And if you doubt that you now know the language by 10%, then you can safely follow the link, download the test application and confirm to yourself and the whole world that yes, indeed 10%.
LINGUALEO
A photo: AppStore, karshhagan.com.
Mobile applications have become an integral part of modern life, and have occupied a large niche in our minds. They have partially turned our life into a kind of game or quest. Learning foreign speech was no exception, now you can memorize popular phrases and words in a fun and interesting way. Minutes spent in queues or public transport will now become your learning aids.
The editors of the YNashla website have prepared for you a list of the most popular and demanded applications for learning a foreign language in 2019 for smartphones with the Android and iOS operating systems. Most of this list is free to use.
It has long ceased to be a secret that communication with a native speaker of a foreign dialect is the best way to learn. By joining the environment of communication, you will make progress in this direction several times faster. This application makes it possible to find users with the highest communication skills in the language you are learning. Make appointments with those who are nearby. Suitable for improving the level of proficiency in a foreign language, be it English, German, Chinese or French. Practicing teachers insist on live communication in the study methodology to deepen the knowledge of spoken language. Communicate and find out the mentality of the people, which is represented by your communication opponent.
Advantages:
- Fast learning with a native speaker;
- Live communication.
Disadvantages:
- You can get into an inadequate interlocutor;
- Sometimes you look for a long time with whom to start a lesson.
The most popular application of all among Russian-speaking users. Want to learn new phrases in game mode? Then this is what you need !!! Everyone remembers how at school I had to spend a lot of time reading boring textbooks, bouncing material. The developers have tried to make this process very fun and interesting. Memorization by watching videos or listening to songs is now a reality. While studying, you play a game in which you have to feed a lion with delicious meatballs. You get a treat for a predator by completing tasks. Don't leave your lion cub hungry!
Advantages:
- Nice and unobtrusive interface;
- Learning as a game.
Disadvantages:
- Sometimes crashes for unknown reasons;
- Brakes the video row.
Operating system: Android / iOS.
An application that has conquered the whole world. More than one million users have chosen this addition to the gadget as a training program. The difference from the previous app is that here you can memorize four foreign dialects at the same time: French, German, English and Spanish. It will teach you to perceive information by ear, visually and the correct pronunciation of words. For positive results in training, you receive prize points that will be available in the world ranking. The advanced training offered by the developers reduces the period of language learning by tens of times in comparison with courses at a school or university.
Advantages:
- Simultaneous study of several languages;
- Excellent voice acting of phrases.
Disadvantages:
Operating system: Android / iOS.
The most diligent assistant for learning new words and phrases. In memory of this program, about 200 languages \u200b\u200bfrom all over the world. The main feature of this application is the effective method of multiple unobtrusive repetitions. It will remind you of the specified word interval throughout the day. To make it easier to perceive information, data visualization is used with the help of videos and interesting pictures (memes).
Advantages:
- A huge number of languages;
- Excellent visualization.
Disadvantages:
Operating system: Android / iOS.
The application imitates a well-known memorization method for a long time, which is based on the spelling of a word and its translation on the back of the card. The same principle is taken as a basis here, but in addition to everything, it is also suggested to evaluate how difficult it was to remember this or that word. The construction of "reminders" will be developed based on your answers. The developers offer us ready-made cards or blank ones in order to fill in the necessary words ourselves. The arsenal of the program includes more than 80 million different words and dozens of foreign languages.
Advantages:
- Comprehensible learning method;
- Intelligent selection of the memorization method.
Disadvantages:
- Many features are only available after purchase;
- Reminder closes other applications.
Operating system: Android / iOS.
The creators of this unique product base their learning method on the basis of viewing various thematic speeches of speakers at conferences. Several dozen different topics at the speeches make it possible to choose the most interesting for the user, and continue learning on its basis. Technique or cinema, high materials or animal husbandry - all this is in this application. All this is designed mainly for users with an intermediate level of knowledge of the language in order to improve practical conversational skills.
Advantages:
- Listening to live speech;
- Suitable for various levels of language proficiency.
Disadvantages:
- Limited number of languages;
- A very expensive premium account.
Operating system: Android / iOS.
Try to learn English from the lyrics of your favorite songs. The Genius archive contains a little over 1.5 million different songs. All texts are accompanied by understandable comments to understand some of the turns of speech inherent in this language. The creators approached the study according to the following scheme: read the text, teach, sing along! This trick will easily pass with any song that is currently playing on your gadget. The app syncs with external music services.
Advantages:
- Explore with your favorite hits;
- It is not necessary to constantly sit at the gadget.
Disadvantages:
- After each song, you have to manually switch tracks;
- Doesn't always sync with services.
Operating system: Android / iOS.
A program that allows you to study 12 foreign languages \u200b\u200bsimultaneously or in turn. It includes top languages \u200b\u200band several very rare specimens, such as Arabic, Japanese, Chinese. Ownership skills are developed through comprehensible exercises. The A1 courses for beginners and B2 for more advanced students will allow you to find a personal trainer who is a native speaker. Each language comes with 150 topics and about 3 thousand words.
Advantages:
- The ability to study rare dialects;
- Personal coach.
Disadvantages:
- Levels in exercises are sometimes confused;
- Incomprehensible interface.
Operating system: Android / iOS.
"Puzzle English"
Would you like to learn your favorite language and watch your favorite TV shows at the same time? With Puzzle English, this is now a reality. While watching the series, subtitles are shown on the screen in two languages \u200b\u200bsimultaneously. If you suddenly come across an unfamiliar word, then with a simple click you can add it for repeating a little later. The series are selected on different topics, and will satisfy any movie fan. The application list contains about 300 series of various categories. This type of study will be easier for perception and will teach you to understand a foreign language by ear as soon as possible.
Advantages:
- Watch your favorite TV shows;
- Double subtitles.
Disadvantages:
- The free version has low video quality;
- Very incomprehensible topics.
Operating system: Android / iOS.
Mondly's Daily Lessons make it easy to remember lesson reminders. Everything is organized automatically here. 33 foreign languages \u200b\u200bwith their exclusive representatives such as: Vietnamese, Hindi, Farsi will give you the opportunity to either start learning from scratch, or improve your level of proficiency. According to the developers' promises, after completing this course, your vocabulary will be replenished with at least 5 thousand new words that will teach you to use it in everyday life.
Advantages:
- Clear daily reminders;
- Very rare types of languages.
Disadvantages:
Operating system: Android / iOS.
"Rosetta Stone"
The first programs for the study of foreign speech appeared in the early 90s of the twentieth century. Rosetta Stone was one of the founders of this trend. Currently one of the most popular applications in the industry. Three dozen studied foreign languages \u200b\u200bmake it possible to choose the most demanded one. For the study, we used the technique of perceiving information through a video sequence, sound reproduction or reading a text. All tasks become more difficult with each new lesson. Using the microphone on your gadget, you can evaluate the pronunciation, and the application will give hints on the correct dubbing.
Advantages:
- Huge functionality;
- Pronunciation score.
Disadvantages:
- Difficulty level cannot be lowered;
- Sometimes the text does not match the voice acting.
Operating system: Android / iOS.
Some time ago, Easy ten hit the top of the Apple editorial board. Based on the fact that the average native speaker costs 3.5 thousand words in everyday life, the founders propose to study this material fractionally. Every day you will be asked to memorize about ten new words. A simple calculation shows that in a year you can completely master the basic knowledge base for communication. The training itself takes about 15 minutes a day. The choice is based on their popularity in the world. Among the paid services there is a personal teacher and your own selection of words and phrases.
Advantages:
- Takes little time every day;
- An interesting approach to learning.
Disadvantages:
Operating system: Android / iOS.
Learning just one language, English, enables everyone to approach this issue more deeply and qualitatively. The developers did not disperse all their forces into several directions, but concentrated the maximum at one point. The result is a very high quality product. Improvements in comprehension and pronunciation can be made through watching movies in the target language. User support is at a high level and is expressed in the form of a personal teacher who will suggest and select individual study methods. The biggest disadvantage of the application is the paid basis.
Advantages:
- Narrow specialization in study;
- Doesn't distract attention with unnecessary content.
Disadvantages:
- Most of the functionality is available after purchase.
Operating system: Android / iOS.
Learn Japanese
Like the previous Learn Japanese app, it focuses on one language, Japanese. This program is suitable for both beginners in the field and advanced students. One big drawback is that the entire interface is written in English, and to learn you need to know at least its basics. The entire interface is written competently and intuitively for any user. Special techniques, developed by the best linguists over the years, are now in one place. The study of the syllabic alphabet of Hiraganu and Katakana will take place in the form of shows and tests that will not let you get bored while learning this rather difficult language. Audio accompaniment for the duration of the entire course of study will provide an opportunity to hone your skills in pronunciation.
Advantages:
- Pronunciation assessment;
- In-depth study of one language.
Disadvantages:
- English interface.
Operating system: Android / iOS.
The interface of this application is also written entirely in English and is suitable only for knowledgeable people. If this is not a special problem for you, then go ahead! Taking only 135 megabytes of space on your device, this program will become the best assistant in learning a foreign language. Compiled by the best linguistic experts, it offers 14 languages \u200b\u200bto choose from. Each lesson is designed for 10-15 minutes of free time. After completing the course, the developers claim that the level of training will allow you to freely understand and express yourself in the language of your choice.
Advantages:
- Takes up a small amount of memory on the device;
- High level of teaching.
Disadvantages:
- The entire interface is in English.
Operating system: Android / iOS.
The direction of study in this appendix is \u200b\u200bbased on a correct and convenient structure. The material is collected by topic and created by many renowned university professors. Quality lessons create a foundation that is comfortable and enjoyable to work with. The only drawback that immediately catches the eye is the monotony of the proposed study and, as a result, quickly gets boring. But still there is a feature for which it is worth downloading this application, and it is really unique. Every time you go to the selected application, whether it be Facebook or a game, before entering, it is suggested to complete a small task to repeat the material. Therefore, we set a limit on the most frequently opened applications and easily learn the language.
Advantages:
- Interesting reminder method;
- Excellent user support.
Disadvantages:
- It gets boring quickly.
Operating system: Android / iOS.
"Google translate"
The most downloaded software in the world. Hundreds of millions of downloads in 2019 on Android and iOS - this is not a complete list of the merits of our celebrity. Almost every smartphone owner on this planet has heard about it. Of course, I'm talking about Google translate. Translation of words or whole phrases and sentences is within the power of this program. The filling for ease of use is simply great! Handwritten text can be translated into all speech directions of the world. Voice dialing and voice recognition will add convenience and speed to the user. But the most interesting and unusual innovation was that now you can make a translation just by scanning the text and running it through the application. According to Google, the future has already arrived!
Advantages:
- Most popular application;
- There are no bugs.
Disadvantages:
- The text scanner is not working correctly.
Operating system: Android / iOS.
The developers of the Easy ten application started trying a new direction in teaching foreign dialects. Upmind's new techniques and relaxed interface have captivated many users. It is based on animation of images defining words or phrases. But not everything is as smooth as it seems at first glance. Either the creators went the wrong way, or the base is still too "raw", but some moments are honestly annoying. The automatic addition of images sometimes fails, and what you see does not match the word or phrase that is displayed on the screen. It is hoped that with the help of feedback from people who downloaded it, the developers will begin to fix all the bugs in their work.
The main difference from the initial Easy ten is that you don't have to buy a premium account to take advantage of the basic features. In this regard, there is a wider audience coverage and most likely in the near future it will overtake the initial version in terms of the number of downloads.
Advantages:
- Completely free application;
- Interesting animation.
Disadvantages:
- The image does not always match the caption.
Operating system: Android / iOS.
"Smigin travel"
The developers of this program pleased us with an unexpected idea. It helps to connect words and phrases for people who are going to travel to countries with an unfamiliar dialect. Various situations at the airport, cafe, hotel, in case of emergency are considered in this program. An indispensable thing for beginners who know the basics, but cannot make complete meaningful sentences. Initially, the developers made it for travelers, but the set of phrases that are used here will fit the study of ordinary conversational communication between people of different linguistic directions. The biggest drawback is the limited functionality. In the free version, only a set of phrases with the theme "cafe" is available, for the rest you will have to pay a certain amount of money.
Advantages:
- Facilitates the traveler's life;
- There is everything you need to communicate with a foreigner.
Disadvantages:
- Limited free functionality.
Operating system: Android / iOS.
Filp and Learn
The simplest and most familiar idea for everyone to display verbs on flash cards that everyone loves. Sorting by group enables precise sorting. Stop your choice on the right amount for more comfortable memorization. From 50 to 500 verbs in one lesson. After you are sure that you have completely memorized the material, you can send it to the "memory box", which sometimes itself will remind you to repeat the material. As in any dictionary, there are transcriptions of words and their translation. The disadvantage of the whole study is that you cannot choose the time and interval of repetitions of the studied material yourself. So you will have to remember the repetition of words yourself.
Advantages:
- Adjustment of the study load;
- Game form.
Disadvantages:
- The repetition time and frequency are not adjustable.
Operating system: Android / iOS.
One of the foundations of the Caucasian group of speech phrases are irregular verbs that you just need to remember tightly. A memorization method is applied to them based on visual content (pictures, gifs, small videos), audio clips and speech development. After studying a certain block of tasks, you will have to pass a small "exam", according to the results of which you can gain access to the next level of knowledge. The limitation on the number of irregular verbs applies to the 200 most common of them. The application is designed for users with a level of proficiency in a foreign dialect. Advanced or below.
Based on the above, we can draw some conclusions that there is practically no completely free content on the market. Paid programs provide advanced functionality and a solid knowledge base. Unfortunately, there are very few balanced according to these parameters.
Advantages:
- In-depth study of verbs;
- Suitable for beginners.
Disadvantages:
- Sometimes the final lessons are impossible to pass.
Operating system: Android / iOS.
Output
For a successful and quick study, you will need to make every effort and attention. Most of the applications presented above allow you to make an individual choice of the study method. The paid basis for increasing the functionality of applications is the main disadvantage of all the programs presented.
If you have your own experience in using these applications or any others, then we ask you to tell about them in the comments to this article.
Portuguese is a language that sounds like music ... It's no wonder Portugal and Brazil have such rich musical traditions. Fado and Bossa Nova, Tropicalia and Samba ... Music is the best starting point for language learning, and singing is a great way to improve listening and pronunciation skills. Melodic and expressive intonations, almost plaintive vowels, what is so well conveyed by songs of longing. Take into account the fact that Portuguese has its own untranslatable word for emotional state, describing light sadness, nostalgia and melancholy - saudade. And this is a feature of the national character of the Portuguese. Portuguese is arguably the sexiest language of all Romance languages \u200b\u200b- even more so than French and Italian.
Motivation to learn
Learning Portuguese opens the door to the cultures of four continents - Seja bem-vindo!
By learning Portuguese, you will have the opportunity to experience cultures that are unique and diverse, ancient and modern, traditional and innovative.
Portugal is a small country, but its official language spans almost the entire world. Currently, due to the expansionist activities of the Portuguese during colonial times, it represents the Latin American region, the Pacific coast, some parts of Africa.
In which countries is Portuguese spoken? The Comunidade dos Países de Língua Portuguesa (Community of Portuguese Speaking Countries) has nine member countries: Portugal, Brazil, Angola, Cape Verde, East Timor, Equatorial Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Mozambique and Sao Tome and Principe. In which country is the official language of Portuguese, other than those listed? In Macau, a Special Administrative Region of China and a former Portuguese colony. Due to historical connections, Portuguese is widely spoken in Sri Lanka, Goa, India.
Most of the native speakers, of course, are in Brazil, where more than 207 million people live, the vast majority of them are native Portuguese. Brazil is an exotic, romantic, incredibly diverse country with one of the richest and most exciting cultures. Having experienced European, African and Asian influences throughout its history, it presents an amazing panorama that stretches from samba to capoeira, from Festa Junin in the north to Churasco and mate in the south.
People interested in exploring Hispanic and African diasporas will be able to travel around Brazil, study the texts and culture of people of African descent in Brazil and Africans who speak Portuguese. Considering that the language is less learned than some other European languages, despite its global importance, Portuguese speaking foreigners will definitely stand out from the crowd. This language will allow environmental and life sciences students to actively participate in travel and projects taking place in the Amazon rainforest.
Distinguished by the diversity and culture of Portugal, which, throughout history, has experienced the influence of many peoples and civilizations. The unique combination contributed to the unique architecture, the richest musical heritage, and of course, amazing cuisine.
Brazil and Portugal are just the tip of the iceberg! The history and culture of every Portuguese-speaking region is not just Latin America, which is equally intriguing and worth exploring.
Learning Portuguese will help improve your job prospects in general. So, the Brazilian economy has experienced ups and downs, but the fact remains: it is the eighth largest economy in the world. Brazil is a major player in international business, so knowing Portuguese gives you an edge in the business world. The largest Latin American country, it has experienced rapid growth in recent years and is attracting expats now like never before.
These are not only expats, but also buyers of secondary homes and real estate investors. People are drawn to the beautiful white sand beaches and warm tropical weather. They buy beach properties and invest in lucrative pre-construction projects while enjoying a relaxed lifestyle. Although Brazil is not as cheap a country today as it was a few years ago, the cost of living is still low in most localities.
Features of self-study of the Portuguese language
The best way you can choose to learn Portuguese for beginners is to listen to yourself. It may sound a little transcendental, but it really works with any new language. Some prefer traditional methods, which means learning grammar, memorizing vocabulary before they start or can speak Portuguese. They generally need more time to develop their speaking skills, but it's worth it. Very soon, a student who has chosen the classical way to learn Portuguese understands a lot, including literary works.
It is easier for another category of students to learn the language in the "reverse order", that is, to learn along the way and practice spoken language, not paying much attention to one or another grammatical rule. Of course they make mistakes (and correct them), but they will never forget the language and can always speak it when necessary. This is similar to how we learn our native language as a child. In fact, in recent years, this "unconventional" method has become very fashionable for learning foreign languages. True, it is ideal if a person lives among native speakers.
Is it difficult for a beginner to learn from scratch?
To a greater extent, comprehension of the language, when you achieve real results, comes down to the motivation and perseverance of the student. This is what decides whether you end up being able to speak Portuguese fluently or give up in the learning phase. Portuguese is a Romance language and belongs to the Indo-European language family. Similarities can be found with other Romance languages \u200b\u200b- English, French, Italian, and of course Spanish.
The most difficult aspect to face when learning Portuguese is pronunciation and understanding of what native speakers say. This is especially true for European Portuguese, where speakers tend to swallow vowels and syllables are difficult to distinguish. There are also nasal vowels in Portuguese. Also, some letters mean different sounds depending on the context. Learn the Portuguese alphabet! Basically, each language has its own tricks and this is definitely not a reason to stop!
Which type is more difficult - European or Brazilian?
Standard Portuguese is based on the Lisbon dialect. The differences in dialects within Portugal are small, but Brazilian Portuguese may differ from European Portuguese; this applies to intonation, pronunciation, grammar and vocabulary are not an exception. For example, such a feature - objective pronouns in Brazilian Portuguese occur before the verb, as in Spanish, in standard Portuguese they follow the verbs. Despite the differences in phonology, grammar and vocabulary, Portuguese is often mutually intelligible with Spanish.
It is believed that the Brazilian dialect is easier to learn. This is a lighter, more informal version of the classic Portuguese. In addition, many resources for learning Portuguese are based on the Brazilian version. But, as a rule, people, after taking an online grammar course in the Brazilian version, having visited Portugal, are very upset that they cannot understand a word of what people are saying.
Key differences between Brazilian and European Portuguese:
- Pronunciation difference - Brazilians pronounce their vowels longer and wider. Some consonants are also pronounced differently, especially the [s] at the end of a word. In Brazilian [s] is pronounced as, in European -.
- Brazilian Portuguese is considered phonetically more pleasing due to its open vowels; accents have a strong rhythm, which makes learning and understanding easier.
- Some words are spelled differently. For example, the word "receção" in European; in Brazilian [p] is heard and, accordingly, the spelling is "recepção".
- Brazilians are more creative with language; they turned some nouns into verbs. The Portuguese greeting phrase "dar os parabéns" in the Brazilian version is a verb - "parabenizar".
- In Brazilian, you can distinguish adapted words from American English that ignore the Latin root. In European, words with Latin roots retain their original spelling.
- European Portuguese is more formal. In Brazilian, the word "voê" is used for "you" in an informal setting; in European, "tu" is used in the same context. In Portugal, “você” is considered rude and thus the second person pronoun is removed in less random situations and the third person singular verb is used instead.
- When describing actions, the Brazilians use "estou fazendo" - "I do", the Portuguese - the infinitive form "estou a fazer", "I am busy."
In general, European Portuguese is more resistant to changing and learning foreign words.
Countries tend to follow linguistic development in the language of the mother country, with little delay due to geographic distance. But as an official language, Portuguese became such in Brazil in 1758, while colonization began in the 16th century. Over time, there have been changes in the language due to increased contacts with European and Asian immigrants. Other countries that have experienced the former colonial regime speak Portuguese, which is more like the European version. Many of these countries are located in Africa and have little external contact with other cultures that could influence the language when compared to Brazil. In addition, they gained independence much later and at an early stage of their development had the most direct contacts with Portugal.
The question of which Portuguese language to choose for beginners from scratch - European or Brazilian - is a very personal decision that depends on the environment and interests. This is what will directly affect the chosen dialect. For example, for those looking to read classical literature, European Portuguese is the best choice. Or, if the plans are to work in the UN, then here it is imperative to learn the continental option, since its activities are based in Europe. On the other hand, if in the future work in a North American enterprise that has economic and trade branches in Brazil, then the Brazilian dialect is best suited.
Differences between Portuguese and Spanish
After the Roman conquest of the Iberian Peninsula, Vulgar Latin replaced almost all local languages. In areas along the Atlantic coast, it developed into what became known as the Galician-Portuguese language. Later, when Spain included Galicia in its structure, and during the period of independent development of Portugal, it split into independent branches - Galician and Portuguese.
Portuguese and Spanish belong to a branch of Romance languages \u200b\u200bcalled Western Iberian. It includes many variants and dialects, which to a certain extent are understood by all speakers within it. Examples are Brazilian Portuguese, European Portuguese, dialects of Spanish spoken on the American continent, and Andalusian Spanish. However, Portuguese and Spanish, although closely related languages, differ in many details of their phonology, grammar and vocabulary. The most obvious differences are in pronunciation. Mutual understanding is generally more relevant in the written language than in the spoken form.
- The definite article is used more often in Portuguese than in Spanish. For example, vou ao Brasil (port) and voy a Brasil (Spanish); o - definite article.
- Hasta (before) and hacia (in) - in Spanish. In Portuguese, the preposition "in" is até.
- The preposition of the direction "a" (b) in Spanish is found after the verbs. The most common example is "ir a". For example, you might say ir a la playa to go to the beach, ir a la escuela to go to school, ir a casa to go home. It's oddly similar for native Portuguese speakers to use an expression with an "a" in the middle: Vou sair agora (Portuguese), Voy a salir ahora (Spanish) - I'm leaving now.
- Possessive pronouns: the Portuguese usually say a casa dela, the Spanish say su casa; a sua casa in Portuguese is likely to be interpreted as the official second person.
- Muy or mucho? In Portuguese, muito (very) is the only word. In Spanish, muy is used before adverbs and adjectives, and mucho is used before a noun or after a verb.
- Similar composition of words, comparison: any language faces such a problem. For example, in Portuguese, vagabundo is a bum, while in Spanish it is a person who lives on the street, homeless (morador de rua in Portuguese). Or brincar - play in Portuguese, jump - in Spanish.
| Portuguese | Translation into Russian | Spanish | Russian-Spanish translation |
| Abono | allowance | Abono | fertilizer |
| Aceite | adoption | Aceite | olive oil |
| Acordar | wake up | Acordar | agree |
| Acreditar | believe | Acreditar | accredit |
| Apelido | nickname | Apellido | surname |
| Balcão | counter | Balcón | balcony |
| Barata | cockroach | Barato | cheap |
| Borrar | smear (borrar borrado - remove erased) | Borrar | delete |
| Borracha | rubber | Borracha | drunk |
| Botequim | tavern | Botiquín | First aid kit |
| Cena | scene | Cena | dinner |
| Cola | glue | Cola | tail |
| Embaraçada | embarrassed | Embarazada | pregnant |
| Engraçado | funny | Engrasado | Oiled |
| Esquisito | strange | Exquisito | refined |
| Fechar | close | Fechar | date |
| Ganância | greed | Ganancia | profit |
| Oi | hello | Hoy | today |
| Largo | wide | Largo | long |
| Latido | bark | Latido | beat |
| Ligar | turn on | Ligar | tie |
| Logro | fraud | Logro | attainment |
| Mala | suitcase | Mala | cheekbone |
| Ninho | nest | Niño | Baby, little boy |
| Oficina | seminar | Oficina | Office |
| Osso | bone | Oso | carry |
| Polvo | octopus | Polvo | powder |
| Prender | keep | Prender | arrest / enable |
| Rato | mouse | Rato | while |
| Risco | risk | Risco | cliff |
| Salada | salad | Salada | salt |
| Solo | earth | Solo | only |
| Taça | cup, glass of wine | Tasa | speed |
| Tirar | to take | Tirar | throw |
Portuguese and Spanish - Similarity: The lexical similarity between Spanish and Portuguese is almost 90%. It looks like 9 out of 10 words in both languages, but this does not mean that they are necessarily mutually intelligible to native speakers due to additional differences in pronunciation and syntax. Yes, it's easy to read and translate things written in both languages, even if you only speak one of them. But it is much more difficult to understand native speakers in a live conversation unless a professional translator is nearby.
Learning methods
How to learn Portuguese when you are almost zero? How long will it take to learn Portuguese? This is one of the first questions anyone interested in learning a language asks, and unfortunately there is no easy answer to it. This is a complex process that is individual for each person, depending on various factors. If you already speak a foreign language or have been raised in a bilingual environment, it will be easier for you to learn Portuguese. It is easier for bilinguals to learn a third language, as linguistic studies prove.
In any case, Portuguese is very well structured, with many loanwords from other European languages \u200b\u200bknown as cognates. Perhaps they will make learning much easier and faster. Teaching methods play an important role in how quickly learning progresses. If language acquisition is limited to classroom activities only, then it will probably take a little longer. But if you make Portuguese a part of your daily life, including reading, listening to audio books and radio, you will extend it to watching movies and TV series, traveling to Portugal or Brazil, and of course, all the modern technologies for learning languages \u200b\u200bthat the Internet offers, then significantly shorten the time.
Courses or language groups
The Common European Framework of Reference for Languages \u200b\u200buses the Guided Learning Hours framework to estimate the total classroom time required to reach B2 level. Students are expected to spend two hours of independent study time for every hour of study time. As a result, this is from 1000 to 1200 hours.
- One 3-hour Portuguese lesson per week for 8 weeks of courses, plus weekly homework (1 hour) and any type of independent practice (2 hours). 3 courses per year. You will need 25 to 30 courses. With 3 courses per year, it takes 8.3 to 10 years to reach the intermediate level.
- One year of studying Portuguese in a language group (4 hours a week + 2 hours of homework + 2 hours of independent practice X 12 weeks X 2 semesters). From 5-6.25 years old to intermediate.
- Specialized self-study (1 hour per day). Approximately 3 years to reach the Portuguese intermediate.
- General active dive (8 hours a day). Approximately 3 months to reach average.
Although many factors are not taken into account in this calculation, it is still not a very accurate way to determine how long it will take you to learn Intermediate Portuguese.
Portuguese Tutor
To truly learn a language, you need to pay equal attention to vocabulary, grammar, reading, writing, speaking and listening, which many online programs cannot. The main goal of any person learning a language is to speak it fluently. Therefore, it makes sense to find a tutor, for example, on, make friends on social networks who know Portuguese, talk to yourself - the most important thing is not to sit silently at the computer! The tutor will create a lesson plan for you that does not take into account relativity or spontaneity, it will be easier to adapt each lesson to your wishes or needs. At any time, you can interrupt the teacher and ask him to explain what you do not understand.
Self-guided at home
Regardless of which method you end up using, it may be the classic "paper" version, namely a tutorial or textbook, motivation, diligence and regularity are prerequisites. There is no magic program, website, teacher or strategy that will magically make you speak Portuguese fluently in just a few weeks or even months.
Portuguese without an accent. Initial course, Alexander Yarushkin
The rise of technology has changed the way people learn and access education. This is especially true for languages \u200b\u200bwhere the explosive growth of mobile applications and interactive software has provided choices for a number of people who previously did not have access to education in foreign languages.
But all languages \u200b\u200bare in a state of constant transformation, with new pop culture references and idioms. And even with literally thousands of language learning resources that may exist on the Internet, nothing beats a real person to make sure you learn to say “cool” correctly and avoid awkward, albeit technically correct phrases.
Study online
- Bab.la: free online dictionary, verb conjugation
- Portuguese alphabet (pronunciation)
- (Brazilian Portuguese)
- Glossika uses the "multiple sentences method" in combination with the spaced repetition system
- Forvo - online dictionary helps you learn how to pronounce any Portuguese word
- Reverso - online dictionary for words, phrases, idiomatic expressions
- WR Wordreference - all words in this dictionary contain a discussion thread about their meanings
Portugal is a beautiful country with a rich historical and cultural background. This was undoubtedly reflected in the manner of speaking. It is based on the familiar Latin alphabet and belongs to the group of Romance languages, which contributes to the ease and relative simplicity of its study.
Portuguese is a state language in 9 countries, which is more than 230 million people. And in terms of sound and grammatical features, it is very similar to classical Spanish.
Linguists distinguish 2 types of Portuguese: classical and Brazilian. They are quite different from each other in phonetics, spelling and grammar. There are many words, which translate into 2 different variants. This is due to the stability of the language in the territory of modern Portugal and with regular changes in pronunciation and spelling in other countries. Further we will talk about the classic book version, in 2008 the last significant changes were made at the state level.
If you study regularly 2-3 times a week and repeat the material regularly, it will be quite tolerable to explain yourself on everyday topics in 2-3 months. And in a year you can reach a pretty decent level - conversational with a dictionary. Learning Portuguese on your own is as difficult as any other, it takes a lot of time and powerful motivation.
Portuguese by yourself
Learning Portuguese is easy enough, especially if you have a background in other languages \u200b\u200band experience with the exercises. It is quite simple, there are only feminine and masculine gender, the minimum number of incorrectly inflected verbs.
In general, the process of learning any language consists of interrelated stages that must be performed sequentially, adding complexity gradually. Difficult tasks in the early stages of learning can kill any enthusiasm completely. The results of each school day should be tangible - it can be a new word, a rule, or an analysis of a famous song. It is best to share your achievements with like-minded people.
At the first stage, they traditionally get acquainted with the pronunciation and "try" the sound of words by ear. Usually, a minimum of text is used here, a maximum of graphic materials:
- the alphabet and pronunciation of some letters and syllables;
- learning simple monosyllabic words and concepts, most often as examples of the sound of individual letters;
- audio materials - music, simple children's rhymes and rhymes in Portuguese.
All exercises are aimed at gradually getting used to the sounds of speech, setting pronunciation and expanding horizons. Further, text materials and more complex tasks are added, aimed not only at sound, but at reading and understanding the written text. The following exercise is added:
- written assignments related to the sound of individual words;
- reading simple phrases and short, simple sentences from a sheet;
- analysis of syllables and diphthongs obtained by combining two vowels or a vowel and a consonant.
At this stage, it is possible to diversify the teaching with video materials for children with Portuguese subtitles to consolidate the perception of sound, pronunciation and context. It is still difficult to pronounce meaningful phrases and expressions here. But a personal dictionary appears with the first words in Portuguese and a translation, it is he who will help to periodically refresh the information already studied in the memory. It may take several months by the time you read the first simple sentences. A little later, you need to add to the training:
- writing letters and simple monosyllabic words to consolidate the material using mechanical memory;
- reading short texts of a basic level of difficulty with a gradual increase in the level;
- videos with subtitles in Portuguese to get used to speaking.
Reading texts should cause some difficulty and the need to use a dictionary; ideally, to learn new things, you need to understand about 70% of the text. At 90% or more, the complexity of the texts needs to be increased. Methodological materials and a variety of written exercises will already be required to develop motor skills and consolidate the material studied.
Only after passing the basic stages with a good result, you can proceed to reading books, studying grammar and spelling rules, watching films in Portuguese. The final stage can last indefinitely, you can improve the language all your life, because even the Portuguese themselves do not know it 100%. At this stage, you can use a complex of text, audio and video materials, you will need:
- audiobooks and music in Portuguese;
- adapted books from basic to advanced;
- a variety of video materials (it is better to watch videos on interesting topics);
- communication with native speakers in language centers, on special forums or other network resources.
These materials are available online or on the shelves of bookstores, so you don't have to attend a language school regularly to learn from books. But at the first stage, the teacher's help will save you both nerves and time. Establishing a pronunciation for yourself is a very difficult event; it is almost impossible to study the phonetic features of a language on your own.
How can you learn Portuguese?
You will have to go through these mandatory, or basic, steps, whichever of the training options you choose. Without phonetic foundations, it is difficult to pronounce words correctly, and without pronunciation of letter combinations it is almost impossible to learn to read books. There are several options for learning Portuguese (just like any other) with the help of a teacher or a native speaker. The most popular ones are:
- language schools and language courses with experienced teachers and homework;
- online courses where you can get advice, help and support at all stages of training;
- specialized chats and forums, where teachers and native speakers themselves often offer their help;
- personal lessons with a teacher - they are much more expensive than any other options, but great for emergency study;
- armed with a phrasebook and a dictionary of the Portuguese language, go to Portugal.
A trip to a country where everyone speaks Portuguese can cost a lot, but it can also bring more results than a couple of years at a language school. Here you should choose according to your capabilities and desire, and also proceed from the timing and purpose of training. A single work trip requires one level of language proficiency, while living in a country and working in a technical profession is a completely different matter.
Resources for learning Portuguese from scratch to conversational level
In addition to traditional books and teaching materials, modern technologies offer various sites and applications that can greatly facilitate the entire learning process. Somewhere methodical literature is freely available, someone offers online assignments and tests, and on some sites you can watch video and audio materials.
The following 10 options can be distinguished from online services:
Duolingo.com is a great resource, very popular with students and young people. Here you can choose the level for yourself and learn the language in the form of a game, including through a mobile application for a smartphone.
- Popular service for accelerated learning - Language marathon Language Heroes ... Both native speakers and those wishing to improve their knowledge and communicate with like-minded people gather here.
- A site where you can improve your grammar knowledge, or the semantica-portuguese.com blog. There are a large number of articles on various topics about the country, cultural characteristics, national holidays, various rules of speaking and writing Portuguese.
- You can sing karaoke songs and just listen to your favorite performers on the website www.ouvirmusica.com.br ... Convenient navigation, a large number of well-known compositions broken down by genre and artist, lyrics.
- Online radio for PC or smartphone Tunein , here you can select the radio station of any region of the country of interest and listen to programs in real time.
- Everyday phrases, colloquial Portuguese can be improved using an online resource SempreFamilia ... Here you can read articles, do exercises and supplement your speech with simplified everyday vocabulary.
- Podcasts from native speakers can help you understand spoken language. On the site Audio-lingua materials are presented in 13 popular European languages.
- Excellent exercises in Portuguese phonetics, recorded by native speakers from Brazil and other countries, an interesting pronunciation guide Forvo.
- Service for passing online courses - Memrise , including classes in phonetics, vocabulary and spelling. Here you can choose tasks in accordance with your level.
- For those who want to learn the language from books or read famous works in the Portuguese interpretation, the following online resources are suitable: Library of books and light reading on various everyday topics - online magazine Veja.
- There are dozens of apps on the Play Market and App Store to help you learn Portuguese from any level. These links will be enough to get you started, and advanced students will already find additional resources to help.
Regular classes. If you want to learn something, you need to do regular and fairly frequent classes. As for language learning, at least 2-3 times a week you need to spend 2-3 hours learning new material. Or every other day, but for 40-50 minutes. If less often - everything learned is forgotten, more often - learning quickly becomes boring
- Self-motivation and fun... Textbooks and pointers will bore even the most motivated student. Diversify the process by watching funny videos, reading materials that are interesting to you and communicating with like-minded people.
- Tasks for daily repetition. Come up with traditions or games for yourself to memorize the material: word of the day, Portugal day, 2 books per month with writing a review, etc.
- Begin by reviewing what you have learned. A vocabulary and a personal workbook will help you not to miss the important and remember all the words. When there is a lot of material, repeat selectively from different parts.
- Take every opportunity to exercise... It can even be a conversation with loved ones, communication on a forum or in a group, skype calls - speaking helps to start thinking close to the original and to understand unfamiliar words in the context of a conversation.
- Come up with a grading system for yourself. Treat yourself to your favorite cake after finishing a big topic, or treat yourself to a new blouse if you pass the test. This will help connect boring and challenging studies with prizes and enjoyable moments. Psychologically, it is easier to go through difficulties complete with joyful events.
- Don't quit learning at the first sign of boredom. Learning a language for yourself has an unpleasant side - you can quit at any time. If the motivation is your momentary desire, then the fuse will quickly pass, and the pleasure from understanding speech in a foreign language will come no earlier than six months or a year later. Holding on to this period and actively absorbing educational material is a difficult, but quite doable task.
Learning any language is impossible without immersion in the history and culture of the country and people. Portugal is a country capable of presenting you with many surprises. Lisbon is a great old city with many beautiful buildings and architectural monuments. Impulsive and very active Portuguese people will love those who like to chat and express their emotions. Culture, holidays, traditions and customs - they are very different from Russians in all directions. And the beauty of architecture and a large number of attractions will definitely attract you on a tourist visit. Learn Portuguese on your own and with pleasure and this country will surely reciprocate.
