D. Maria and Catarina have a pleasant chat in the supermarket. Language focus: formal and informal "you" Cultural note: D. is an abbreviation for Dona, which is an honorific, similar to Ms. or Mrs. You may hear some Portuguese speakers use Dona to respectfully address a middle-aged or older woman who is a homemaker, or who does domestic work, followed by her first name. However, it may be best to avoid using this title as a non-native speaker, as it can be difficult to know when it's...

As Portugal celebrates the 50th anniversary of the Carnation Revolution, let’s take a moment to remember one of its biggest heroes. Adapted from an article written by Lena Strang for Tomorrow Magazine.

On the western tip of the Algarve, the village of Sagres attracts surfers, hikers, and beach-lovers alike. Correction: The 2 routes mentioned should be Via Algarviana (not Algarvia) and Rota Vicentina

António tells Vítor about one of his favourite plays.

In the middle of the city of Viseu there is a structure that puzzles archaeologists to this day.

Explore relative pronouns in this passage about how Anabela began her new career.

Navigating bureaucracy in Portugal can be quite the adventure.

Mário compliments Helena’s cooking. Listen for examples of the passive voice through their conversation.

Global warming presents pressing concerns for humanity.

Learn about the Padrão dos Descobrimentos monument in Lisbon.

A man talks about what he did yesterday and today. Notice how different forms of the past tense are used throughout the story.

Zé invites Patrícia to a party. Notice how the verb dar is used in various idiomatic ways throughout their conversation.

Nuno talks to Helena about her sleeping problem.

There are 8 reasons why I love to travel.

Learn about the vibrant neighbourhood of Cais do Sodré, home of the famous “Pink Street”.

Don’t get caught off guard during a traffic stop in Portugal! Follow along to see how this driver communicates with authorities and learn useful vocabulary, such as the names of documents you may need to show. These “operações STOP” can be performed by a GNR officer (Guarda Nacional Republicana) or by a PSP officer (Polícia de Segurança Pública).

The São Bento train station is an important landmark in Porto.

Rivals Joaquim and Rita catch up and discuss their careers. How many Portuguese-English cognates do you notice throughout their dialogue?

Learning a new language has its ups and downs.

Learn more about a turbulent period of Portugal’s history: the French invasions and the revolution that followed.

As a storm rages in Portugal, Joca is convinced he can brave the elements. Keep an eye and ear out for many different uses of the preposition até.

Ana goes to the doctor for a checkup.

Zé tries some cheesy pick-up lines in an attempt to flirt with Cláudia.

Tiago’s mother goes away for a few days and calls her son to make sure he’s taking care of things at home. Need more practice with clitic pronouns? You’ll notice there are many examples of how to merge clitic pronouns throughout the dialogue.