Years of study and practice and I finally know how to say “there”, in Portuguese 🤠. I never thought that something so simple could become so complicated. I’m going to show you this with out the frustrating grammar-talk that most books will throw at you just to learn how to choose the right “there” !
Read more...
The LH in the middle of a word is one of the trickiest pronunciations. Really though, it’s not that hard. You just need to remember to half-pronounce the ‘L’. So, it’s not trabayar it’s, trabaLHar. Feel yourself saying the L. But don’t dwell on it. As soon as you feel the L, continue right into…
Read more...
One of the many curiosities about the Portuguese language is the fact that there are TWO ways to say “we.” “A gente” can be used almost interchangeably with “nós.” A gente (we) is a colloquial form and is usually used in the spoken language instead of nós (we). Even though it means we, it’s a…
Read more...
We’ve written about ACABAR de before — because it’s such a useful combination. When you place a de after acabar, it takes on the meaning of, to have just. ACABAR in Portuguese by itself means: to end, to end-up, to finish. Everyone gets these mixed-up (confundida) ~ That DE makes all the difference! Use ACABAR…
Read more...
The Preterit Indicative (often called the “simple past”) is by-far, the most important past-tense to know. Let’s look at the most common irregular verbs in this tense: fazer, ter, ir, ser, estar, querer & dizer. There are many more irregulars, but most of them will follow similar patterns to these common examples presented here.
Read more...
What’s so special about the verbs PARAR & COMEÇAR? For starters you’ve probably noticed that you always have to treat these verbs a little differently. For example, you can’t say “I stopped eating sugar” like this: eu parei comer açucar (NÃO!) — you need to include a de like this: Eu parei de comer açucar….
Read more...
The meaning of PODER in Portuguese is similar to other verbs CONSEGUIR, DAR, and TER. While PODER is most common, knowing how to use others will give you super-powers. This post will show you the best, most common ways all of these verbs are used to say that something is possible or, can be done.
Read more...
One of the first things you’ll notice in Brazil is the word “mesmo.” You’ll hear it everywhwre! It has a few common uses: as “really” to emphasize, as “even though” triggering the subjunctive, and as “the same”. This post will show how to use ” mesmo”, and when it needs to become “mesmA” 😉
Read more...
Is it Muito or Muita? In Portuguese, when talking about degree or intensity, always use “muito.” It’s the DEFAULT. For quantities you have to match the the subject. Below, I’ll help you decide when the situation is talking about degree/intensity, or quantity. When it’s not clear, ask yourself: is this about the quantity of something?
Read more...
In Portuguese, expressing something, nothing, and anything can be confusing 😵💫. In this post I will show you how to navigate the phrases and words in-context that Brazilians use daily to express these “indefinite pronouns”.
Read more...
“Gringo” is not a bad word in Brazil. It’s used as a kind label for any foreigner. DO NOT be offended when someone calls you a gringo! In these next two dialogs we’ll learn some very useful new vocabulário. Whenever you’re getting new vocab in a story with rich context, it’s supremely memorable!
Read more...
Faltar in Portuguese is one of those insanely useful verbs. You can say something is “em falta” to describe something that’s lacking or missing ➔ A cidade está em falta de água. (The city is lacking water.)
Read more...
When first learning Portuguese I was immediately tripped up by saying “what.” It turns out there are different ways to express it: “como,” “oi,” or “o quê.” Regardless of which option you choose, the goal is to prompt others to repeat what they just said. Here are some useful phrases to achieve exactly that.
Read more...
The phrase “Um ao Outro” in Portuguese can be translated as “each other” or “one another.” In this post you’ll see exactly how it’s commonly used, and how to deal with different genders and variations. “Um ao Outro” is crucial for expressing reciprocal actions or relationships in Portuguese, allowing for more accurate and natural communication.”
Read more...
The Portuguese verb “tomar” can be confusing because it encompasses the meanings of “to take,” “to drink,” and “to consume.” Similar to “beber,” Brazilians specifically use “tomar” when something becomes part of their being or changes them internally. For instance, they “take” breakfast and coffee, but not lunch or dinner. Let me explain…
Read more...
Let’s take a look at the different uses of ‘mais’ in Portuguese. It can compare one thing to another or simply mean ‘most’ or ‘more.’ You can use it to describe objects, or you can talk about the quantity of something, but using it correctly can be a challenge. As usual, in-context examples quickly bring this important word into focus.
Read more...
Understanding how Brazilians use QUEM (who) & QUAL (which) is key to navigating the conversation ➜ quem é? qual é? … Do you know how to use these?
Read more...
Important verbs that are irregular in the PRESENT tense: dar, ficar, dizer, fazer, ler, perder, querer, saber, trazer, ver, conseguir, dormir, pedir, sair, vir
Read more...
Portuguese verb TER in the present tense is a huge enabler. Besides saying you have/ she has &ETC you can also express or ask if something EXISTS. We” present more examples of TER in action and how it expresses ‘to have to’ and ‘to be able to/have a way to.’
Read more...
The combination of the Portuguese verb DAR + para is one of the most powerful you will find. Let me show you how to convey possibilities and abilities. With lots of real-world examples, from making a meal to to asking if something is doable. It’s a unique construction that, along with other special verbs like FICAR, IR, and TER, accelerates language learning and aids in natural conversations.
Read more...
Discover the different ways Brazilians express “about” in Portuguese, from “regarding” to “approximately.” Getting a grasp on these expressions is a matter of learning them in-context and with good examples. 🇧🇷
Read more...
Pode ser is one of those phrases that finds it’s way into just about every Brazilian conversation. “Pode ser” in Portuguese, can express “maybe,” “could be,” or “possible,” and using it correctly will put you in charge of the conversation.
Read more...
Antes & depois in Portuguese (before & after) work best when followed by a “de”. Put it to work: Vamos para o Brasil antes de Junho – antes do Carnaval!
Read more...
Brazilians use CONSEGUIR in Portuguese to say: to be able to / can.
ISN’T THIS THE SAME AS PODER? Brazilians use CONSEGUIR rather than PODER to say for example,
Read more...
Pode deixar in Portuguese translates generally as: leave it to me. It’s one of those phrases that finds it’s way into just about every conversation here. Let’s look at the most popular ways that real Brazilians use this one.
Read more...
In Portuguese, the fastest way to start talking about the future is with the verb IR. All you need to know is how to conjugate IR in it’s present tense. This will give you superpowers to construct useful sentences like “I’m going to swim later today,” “She’s going to be mad!,” and “We’re going to buy the nuclear powered scooter.” Embrace the potential of IR – combine it with ANY VERB and say what’s GOING to happen.
Read more...
The Portuguese preposition DE shows up in some unexpected places. DE does the heavy lifting of tying words together and shifting meanings. The best way to get up-to-speed on the superpowers of “de” are by example and CONTEXT🧑🏼🔬.
Read more...
Where’s it at? Nowhere to go. Where you from? Where to? ONDE In Portuguese can have these same superpowers. The key to discovering them is in examining real examples in real context.
Read more...
The Portuguese Imperative can be confusing! Brazilians simply do not use the imperative in a consistent way! There is however, a method to the madness. Let me explain. The conjugation of the imperative (used when giving a command) is the same as the present tense WHEN using the informal “tu” form. In other words…
Read more...
There are 3 ways that Brazilians use to say that something hard to wait for. The most common is with “mal posso esperar” – “badly able to wait” (literally). We usually say “I can hardly wait” and Brazilians say, “Eu mal posso esperar”.
Read more...