Basic Portuguese in 30 Days 2026
Learn basic Portuguese in 30 days. This plan covers all 30 beginner lessons (CEFR A1) at one lesson a day, about 25 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.
Quick answer
This free course has about 750 minutes of lessons, 30 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.
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.
- Read the lessons30 lessons, about 750 min
- Day 1: Sounds and letters10 questions
Lessons: Unit 1: Sounds and letters
- Day 2: Hello and goodbye10 questions
Lessons: Unit 2: Hello and goodbye
- Day 3: About me10 questions
Lessons: Unit 3: About me
- Day 4: Numbers 0–10010 questions
Lessons: Unit 4: Numbers 0–100
- Day 5: Days and dates10 questions
Lessons: Unit 5: Days and dates
- Day 6: Telling the time10 questions
Lessons: Unit 6: Telling the time
- Day 7: Family10 questions
Lessons: Unit 7: Family
- Day 8: Describing people10 questions
Lessons: Unit 8: Describing people
- Day 9: Home10 questions
Lessons: Unit 9: Home
- Day 10: Food and drink10 questions
Lessons: Unit 10: Food and drink
- Day 11: Shopping and prices10 questions
Lessons: Unit 11: Shopping and prices
- Day 12: At a café10 questions
Lessons: Unit 12: At a café
- Day 13: In town10 questions
Lessons: Unit 13: In town
- Day 14: Getting around10 questions
Lessons: Unit 14: Getting around
- Day 15: Weather and seasons10 questions
Lessons: Unit 15: Weather and seasons
- Day 16: My day10 questions
Lessons: Unit 16: My day
- Day 17: Work and jobs10 questions
Lessons: Unit 17: Work and jobs
- Day 18: Free time10 questions
Lessons: Unit 18: Free time
- Day 19: Health10 questions
Lessons: Unit 19: Health
- Day 20: Clothes and colours10 questions
Lessons: Unit 20: Clothes and colours
- Day 21: Phone and appointments10 questions
Lessons: Unit 21: Phone and appointments
- Day 22: Asking questions10 questions
Lessons: Unit 22: Asking questions
- Day 23: Yesterday10 questions
Lessons: Unit 23: Yesterday
- Day 24: Plans10 questions
Lessons: Unit 24: Plans
- Day 25: Can you help me?10 questions
Lessons: Unit 25: Can you help me?
- Day 26: Services10 questions
Lessons: Unit 26: Services
- Day 27: Renting a home10 questions
Lessons: Unit 27: Renting a home
- Day 28: Emergencies10 questions
Lessons: Unit 28: Emergencies
- Day 29: Small talk10 questions
Lessons: Unit 29: Small talk
- Day 30: Review10 questions
Lessons: Unit 30: Review
- Final exam40 questions, 45 min · Score 80% or more
Day 1: Sounds and letters
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Question 1 of 10
Show answer
Answer: C. til
The wavy mark ~ is the til. It makes the vowel nasal, as in mãe and pão.
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Question 2 of 10
Show answer
Answer: D. How do you spell it?
Como se escreve? literally means 'How is it written?'. People use it to ask you to spell a word.
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Question 3 of 10
Show answer
Answer: C. H
Agá is the name of the letter H. In words, h at the start is silent.
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Question 4 of 10
Show answer
Answer: A. almoço
The cedilha is the small hook under the c (ç). It makes the c sound like s, as in almoço.
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Question 5 of 10
Show answer
Answer: A. Like 'lli' in 'million'
The letters lh sound like 'lli' in million. The 'ny' sound in canyon is written nh, as in vinho.
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Question 6 of 10
Show answer
Answer: D. It is silent.
In Portuguese, h at the start of a word is always silent, so hotel sounds like 'otel'.
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Question 7 of 10
Show answer
Answer: D. Like 'sh' in 'shop'
In European Portuguese, s at the end of a word usually sounds like 'sh': três, dois.
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Question 8 of 10
Show answer
Answer: C. Joana
She spells J, O, A, N, A, so her name is Joana, with one n. Juana is the Spanish form.
Transcript
Chamo-me Joana. Escreve-se J, O, A, N, A.
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Question 9 of 10
Show answer
Answer: C. Gonçalves
In Portugal, apelido means last name and nome próprio means first name. Her last name is Gonçalves.
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Question 10 of 10
Show answer
Answer: B. Sousa
Marta spells S, O, U, S, A, so her last name is Sousa, with s in the middle.
Transcript
Rui: Como se escreve o seu apelido?
Marta: Escreve-se S, O, U, S, A.
Keyboard: 1–4 to answer, Enter for the next question.
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.
Sources
- Council of Europe – CEFR global scale (Table 1)
- Camões, I.P. – Referencial Camões PLE
- CAPLE, University of Lisbon – Portuguese as a foreign language exams
- CAPLE – ACESSO (A1)
- European Commission – 112, the European emergency number
- CAPLE – CIPLE (A2)
- PSP – Polícia de Segurança Pública (emergency number 112)
- GNR – Guarda Nacional Republicana (SOS Emergência 112)