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    Learn Portuguese with Rosetta Stone

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    Portuguese is spoken by more than 250 million people worldwide – and in Brazil alone, over 200 million people use it every day. Brazilian Portuguese is lively, musical, and full of regional variety. Learning it connects you to Brazil’s culture, from samba and bossa nova to literature, film, and everyday conversation.

    Whether you’re learning for travel, career, or personal growth, you can start building real communication skills right away. You don’t have to be perfect – you just have to begin. With the right tools, progress comes faster than you think.

    Why learn Portuguese?

    Portuguese is the sixth most spoken language in the world and Brazil is home to the largest community of Portuguese speakers. It’s also one of the fastest-growing global languages, making it valuable for travel, business, and cultural exchange.

    Whether you’re visiting Rio de Janeiro, expanding your career opportunities, or connecting with Brazilian friends, learning Portuguese helps you participate fully and confidently.

    Top reasons to learn Portuguese

    • Speak with millions: Over 200 million people in Brazil speak Portuguese every day.
    • Travel smarter: From São Paulo to Salvador, Portuguese makes traveling in Brazil richer and easier.
    • Grow your career: Brazil is a major economy with growing influence in global trade and business.
    • Access culture: Enjoy Brazilian films, literature, music, and festivals in their original form.
    • Learn for life: Mastering Portuguese boosts memory, confidence, and communication skills.

    Portuguese language basics

    Where is Portuguese spoken?

    Portuguese is the official language of Brazil, Portugal, Angola, Mozambique, Cape Verde, Guinea-Bissau, and São Tomé and Príncipe. Brazilian Portuguese is the most widely spoken variety, known for its warm, expressive sound.

    How long does it take to learn Portuguese?

    It depends on your goals, but daily practice makes a big difference. Even short sessions (10–15 minutes a day) help you improve. With consistent practice using Rosetta Stone, you can understand and speak basic Brazilian Portuguese within weeks.

    Friends sitting at a lively street café, chatting in Portuguese while enjoying coffee, caipirinhas, and snacks.

    Portuguese proficiency: from beginner to advanced

    Beginner

    • Learn greetings and simple phrases: Oi (Hi), Obrigado/Obrigada (Thank you)

    • Introduce yourself and ask basic questions

    • Practice essential verbs like ser (to be), ter (to have), querer (to want)

    Intermediate

    • Use present, past, and future tenses

    • Order food at a churrascaria, ask for directions, and manage everyday conversations

    • Write simple texts and hold short conversations

    Advanced

    • Express opinions, emotions, and abstract ideas

    • Use complex grammar and nuanced vocabulary

    • Read Brazilian literature, follow the news, and enjoy films without subtitles

    Core Portuguese skills

    Pronunciation tips

    Brazilian Portuguese pronunciation has a few unique features:

    • Nasal vowels:

    Words like pão (bread) and mãe (mother) use nasal sounds made through both nose and mouth.

    pãomãe
    • Open vs. closed vowels:

    Vowel quality changes meaning. For example, avó (grandmother) vs. avô (grandfather).

    avóavô
    • R sounds:

    At the start of words or in “rr,” it’s pronounced like a throaty h – for example, rio (river). Between vowels, it becomes softer, closer to an English d/t or light flap – for example, caro (expensive).

    riocaro
    Families and friends celebrating Carnival, speaking Portuguese while dancing and waving flags.

    Vocabulary and origins

    Portuguese comes from Latin and shares roots with Spanish, French, and Italian. Brazilian Portuguese also includes influences from Indigenous languages, African languages, and more. Examples include:

    • família (family)
    • cidade (city)
    • história (history, story)

    Useful phrases

    • Oi – HiOi
    • Tudo bem? – How’s it going?Tudo bem?
    • Obrigado/Obrigada – Thank you (male/female speaker)ObrigadoObrigada
    • Por favor – PleasePor favor
    • Você pode me ajudar? – Can you help me?Você pode me ajudar?

    Portuguese verbs

    Brazilian Portuguese verbs change by tense, mood, and person. For example:

    • Eu falo – I speak
    • Ele falou – He spoke
    • Nós falaremos – We will speak

    Nouns and gender

    Portuguese nouns have gender: masculine (o carro – the car) and feminine (a casa – the house). Articles and adjectives must agree with the noun in gender and number.

    Best ways to learn Portuguese

    • Online: Study anytime with Rosetta Stone on desktop or mobile. Sign up now!
    • Classroom learning: Structured group practice with peers.
    • Private tutoring: 1-on-1 lessons focused on Brazilian Portuguese. Browse Portuguese tutors on Wyzant, the nation’s largest tutoring network.
    • Language exchange: Speak with Brazilian native speakers.
    • Immersion: Travel or live in Brazil to practice in real-world situations.

    Media and tools to support learning

    • Books: Start with children’s stories or simplified novels in Portuguese.
    • Music & podcasts: Listen to bossa nova, MPB, sertanejo, or learner-friendly podcasts.
    • TV & films: Watch Brazilian shows with Portuguese subtitles for vocabulary practice.
    • Quick assessments: Use speaking and writing tests using Emmersion to track progress.

    Learn Portuguese with Rosetta Stone

    Rosetta Stone helps you build confidence and fluency in Brazilian Portuguese:

    Real-world speaking practice

    Voice recognition fine-tunes pronunciation.

    Clear grammar support

    Learn step by step, without overwhelming rules.

    Smart review

    Spaced repetition helps you remember vocabulary and grammar.

    Cultural insights

    Discover Brazilian traditions, expressions, and everyday life.

    A Brazilian family enjoying a backyard lunch together, speaking Portuguese while sharing feijoada, pão de queijo, and fresh fruit.

    Take the first step

    Rosetta Stone offers a free first lesson so you can start immediately. Whether you’re learning Portuguese for work, school, travel, or personal enrichment, Rosetta Stone will guide you every step of the way.

    Get started

    What’s included with your subscription

    Achieve fluency faster with Rosetta Stone’s expert-designed Dynamic Immersion courses.

    Perfect your accent with TruAccent speech recognition technology and sound like a native speaker.

    Access to Rosetta Stone on web or mobile—learn anytime, anywhere!

    What our customers are saying

    Customer photo for review of Rosetta Stone.

    I absolutely love the approach that Rosetta Stone utilizes. It feels like a natural and fun way to learn a new language. I also appreciate that I’m able to squeeze lessons in when I only have 10 minutes… and it’s a more productive and enjoyable activity than getting sucked into online scrolling just to distract myself. Why not learn a new language instead?

    - Turner
    Customer photo for review of Rosetta Stone.

    I have been using Rosetta Stone for over 30 years. By far, this is the best application for language learning. There are no language crutches, only immersion. You learn in a natural way and move forward quickly. Apps with games are fun, but you learn more slowly, and you are always “translating,” not immersing. Rosetta Stone makes language learning interesting and efficient.

    - Graham