Basic Portuguese in 10 Days 2026

Learn basic Portuguese in 10 days. This plan covers all 30 beginner lessons (CEFR A1) at 3 lessons a day, about 75 minutes daily. Each day you read the lessons, listen to the phrases and take that day's quiz. The final assessment draws 40 questions at random from the whole course; score 80% or more to download your certificate.

Course
Portugal
300 questions
Checked October 13, 2026
Language-reviewed October 13, 2026

Quick answer

This free course has about 750 minutes of lessons, 10 untimed topic quizzes (300 questions in all) and a timed final assessment of 40 questions drawn at random. Score 80% or more on the final assessment to download a certificate of completion (private, not accredited). Checked against official sources on October 13, 2026.

Start with the lessonsBasic Portuguese: 30 Lessons: about 750 minutes of reading. Every test question is covered in the lessons.

What you will learn

Greet people and introduce yourself, choosing tu or the polite o senhor / a senhora
Spell your name and say numbers, prices, dates and clock times
Talk about your family, your home, your work and your free time in short sentences
Order at a café, shop for food and clothes, and pay at the checkout
Ask for directions, buy a train or bus ticket and talk about the weather
Make an appointment and handle a short phone call
Say what you did yesterday and what you plan to do
Ask for help in an emergency

Score 80% or more to download your certificate.

Your study plan

Read each lesson, take its topic quiz (untimed, with explanations), then the timed final assessment. A new mix of questions is drawn every time. Your progress is saved in this browser.

Day 1: Sounds and letters, Hello and goodbye and About me

What to know before the test

The Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) calls levels A1 and A2 “basic user” levels.
At CEFR level A1, a learner can understand and use familiar everyday expressions and very basic phrases, introduce themselves and others, and ask and answer questions about personal details, such as where they live, people they know and things they have. They can interact in a simple way if the other person talks slowly and clearly and is ready to help.
Camões, I.P. (the Camões Institute) publishes the Referencial Camões PLE, a teaching guide for Portuguese as a foreign language. It is based on the CEFR, covers the six levels from A1 to C2, and can be downloaded free as an ebook from the Camões Digital Library.
CAPLE, the centre for exams in Portuguese as a foreign language at the University of Lisbon, offers exams for people whose first language is not Portuguese and who want to prove their Portuguese for study, work or other reasons. Its general (non-school) exams are open to people aged 16 or older.
CAPLE’s ACESSO exam (Acesso ao Português) corresponds to CEFR level A1. It has four parts: reading, writing, listening and speaking.
112 is the emergency number everywhere in the European Union. It is free and works from fixed and mobile phones. Portugal is one of the countries where 112 is the only national emergency number. In many countries, operators can also answer in English or French.

Frequently asked questions

Which plan should I choose: 7, 10, 15 or 30 days?

All four plans have the same 30 units and the same questions. Only the daily load changes: about 4–5 units a day in 7 days, 3 a day in 10 days, 2 a day in 15 days, and 1 a day in 30 days. Choose the plan that fits the time you have each day.

What level will I reach?

The course covers the basics of level A1 of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR): everyday phrases, simple questions and answers, and short conversations when people speak slowly and clearly.

Is this an official Portuguese certificate?

No. This is an independent practice course. It is not an official language exam and is not connected to Camões, I.P., CAPLE or any other testing body. If you need proof of your Portuguese, take an official exam such as CAPLE’s ACESSO (A1) or CIPLE (A2).

Is this European or Brazilian Portuguese?

The course teaches European Portuguese, the Portuguese spoken in Portugal. Brazilian Portuguese is the same language, but it sounds different and uses some different words and forms, such as você, trem and ônibus. Tips in the lessons show the main differences.

How do the listening questions work?

Press the play button and your device reads the Portuguese text aloud with a computer voice. You can play it again. After you answer, you can read the text.

What should I do after this course?

Keep practising every day: review the units, read and listen to simple Portuguese, and speak with other people. Then move on to level A2, or take an official A1 exam if you need a certificate.

Is the certificate accredited or officially recognised?

No. It is a private certificate of completion for knowledge only. It is not recognised, accredited or approved by any government, licensing body, regulator or educational institution, and it does not replace any licence, certification or training required by law.