Portuguese - Português
Why learn Portuguese?
Portuguese is the sixth most widely spoken language in the world for number of L1 (native language) speakers, and it is the official language in ten countries. Although the majority of speakers live in Brazil, Portuguese originated from Latin in Portugal, the oldest nation state in Europe.
Brazilian Portuguese and European Portuguese differ in a similar way to American and British English - in pronunciation, grammar and vocabulary - but are essentially the same language.
Portuguese will be easier to learn if you have knowledge of other Romance languages like French, Italian or Spanish, and it will be equally helpful if you are thinking of studying one of those languages in future. Interesting fact: a bookshop in Porto, northern Portugal, and its imposing staircase, is thought to have inspired author J K Rowling, who lived in the city for two years, to develop ideas for the first Harry Potter book she was writing at the time.
What are some key phrases?
Olá (PT) |
Hello |
Bom dia |
Good morning/Hello |
Tudo bem? |
How are you? |
Sim |
Yes |
Obrigado |
Thank you |
Por favor |
Please |
Are there any words I might recognise?
You may have heard of the Portuguese words “fado”, whose traditional meaning is “fate” and is a traditional form of music, or “janeiro”, for ‘January’. Also, in many cases you can easily create the Portuguese equivalent, for example of English words ending in “-ty” by replacing the suffix with “-dade”, as in: city -> cidade, velocity -> velocidade, simplicity -> simplicidade and so on.
Get started today...
Our full timetable can be found on the registration page. Information on fees can be found on our payment and costs page.
We offer a range of levels for most languages from beginner to advanced. Our courses match the standard Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) levels - from A1 to C2.
- Beginner (A1) - A solid start to learning the language.
- Post-Beginner (A1+) - Gain in confidence with the basics.
- Improvers (A2) - Start to hold longer, routine conversations.
- Language and Culture (B1 to B2) - New topics each semester to develop to a higher level.
- Advanced (C1) - Use the language in more extended and complex situations.
As well as this language, we offer over 30 other languages. Can’t decide which language to learn? Try one of our free Intro Sessions where we’ll teach you the basics and you can decide if it’s for you. Learn how to join an intro session.