Whether you’re just starting out or already doing a City Lit course, there are plenty of ways to enrich your Portuguese outside the classroom. From dictionaries and online tools to magazines, podcasts, language-learning apps, and streaming platforms, this guide offers a wide range of online resources to support your learning and deepen your connection with Brazilian culture.
Dictionaries, grammar and vocabulary tools
Dictionaries and translation tools
Start here if you need to look up words or check quick translations.
Bilingual (Portuguese ↔ English)
- Collins Reverso Portuguese-English Dictionary – A free bilingual tool that works both ways (Portuguese ↔ English). It not only provides translations but also authentic examples of words and phrases in context.
- DeepL Translator – Produces natural-sounding bilingual translations, useful for comparing sentence structures and idiomatic expressions.
- Google Translate – Quick and convenient, but best used with caution and alongside trusted dictionaries.
Monolingual (Portuguese-only)
- Dicionário online de Português – A free, user-friendly dictionary with definitions, synonyms, antonyms, verb conjugations, and examples.
- Dicionário Informal – A collaborative dictionary for informal Brazilian Portuguese, including slang and regional words, such as oxente (Northeast, “what!”), muvuca (crowd/commotion), and sextou (celebrating Friday). Dicionário Informal
- Priberam Dicionário da Língua Portuguesa – A comprehensive dictionary with the option to toggle between Brazilian and European Portuguese.
Grammar
Resources to help you understand verb conjugations and grammar rules.
- Conjugação de Verbos em Português – Look up any verb and see its full conjugation across all tenses and moods, in both Brazilian and European variants.
- Português.com.br – A free site with grammar explanations, vocabulary, verb conjugations, reading comprehension, and writing tips.
Vocabulary and pronunciation tools
Perfect for building your vocabulary and improving your pronunciation.
- Forvo Pronunciation Dictionary – Hear how native speakers pronounce words across different regions of Brazil.
- Quizlet – A flashcard-based tool to practise vocabulary, idioms, and verb forms. You can create your own sets or use ready-made ones.
Magazines and newspapers
Reading Brazilian journalism and magazines is an excellent way to explore contemporary vocabulary, culture, and different registers of Portuguese.
- BBC Brasil – News and analysis in clear, accessible Portuguese.
- G1 (Globo.com) – Brazil’s largest news website, with straightforward reporting on national and international events.
- Folha de S. Paulo – One of Brazil’s leading newspapers, with a wide range of content.
- Gama Revista – A weekly digital magazine with cultural features, essays, interviews, and recommendations.
- Revista Piauí – Long-form articles, essays, and humour, offering more advanced reading.
Tip: G1 and other Globo platforms often include short video clips or audio options. Try listening while reading the same story to practise your comprehension and pronunciation.
Podcasts with transcripts
Podcasts let you immerse yourself in authentic Brazilian Portuguese. Many now include transcripts, so you can read and listen at the same time — ideal for building vocabulary and training your ear.
Beginner-friendly
- Café da Manhã (Folha de S. Paulo) – A short daily news podcast in accessible Portuguese. Great for building a listening habit.
- Durma com Essa (Nexo Jornal) – A concise evening podcast that explains one major issue of the day in clear, well-structured language.
Intermediate to advanced
- Rádio Novelo – Innovative storytelling and journalism. Many shows include full transcripts, which makes following easier.
- Ilustríssima Conversa (Folha de S. Paulo) – A cultural podcast with interviews featuring Brazilian writers, intellectuals, and artists.
- Foro de Teresina (Revista Piauí) – A weekly politics podcast with sharp analysis of Brazil’s main events. More demanding, but excellent for expanding vocabulary around politics and current affairs.
Tip: Listen once without the transcript, then again while reading along. You’ll catch details you missed the first time.
Portuguese learning apps
Apps are a great way to practise anytime and anywhere. They won’t replace a structured course, but they can be excellent for daily reinforcement and keeping up your motivation.
- LingQ – Ideal for reading and listening comprehension. It offers graded content such as mini-stories, podcasts with transcripts, and interactive vocabulary review.
- Memrise – Best for building vocabulary through spaced repetition and video clips of native speakers. A good option if you want to expand your vocabulary quickly.
- Duolingo – A popular free app with lessons that are short and easy to fit into your daily routine. Particularly useful for beginners.
Tip: Use apps for quick practice on the bus or during a coffee break, and combine them with deeper resources (books, podcasts, classes).
Audiovisual resources
Watching Brazilian films, series, and TV shows is one of the most enjoyable ways to learn about the country and its culture. With streaming platforms, you can now watch with Portuguese subtitles — a great way to reinforce vocabulary and connect spoken and written forms of the language.
- Netflix – Offers a wide range of Brazilian films and series. Turn on Portuguese subtitles while listening in Portuguese to enhance both your reading and listening skills.
- TV Cultura (YouTube) – A São Paulo–based public TV channel with children’s shows, cultural debates, and educational content. Many full episodes are available to watch for free.
- TV Brasil (YouTube) – Brazil’s national public broadcaster. Their YouTube channel offers news, documentaries, cultural programming, and educational shows.
- Music videos with lyrics – Listening to Brazilian music while reading the lyrics helps with rhythm, vocabulary, and pronunciation.
Tip: Start by watching with Portuguese subtitles switched on. Once you feel confident, try watching without subtitles to train your ear.
PinT Book Club
If you’d like to go further, join PinT (Portuguese in Translation) Book Club — a free, bi-monthly, bilingual (Portuguese–English) online group where readers discuss books from across the Portuguese-speaking world with the author and their translator. It’s a fantastic way to practise your Portuguese and connect with a global community.
Explore the book list, find out more, and watch clips from past sessions.
How to learn Brazilian Portuguese as an adult: tips for getting started
Many learners come to Portuguese as adults — for travel, music, literature, or to reconnect with their family roots. While it can feel daunting, it’s absolutely possible with the right tools and community.
Here are a few tips:
- Set small, realistic goals (e.g. 10–15 minutes a day of reading or vocabulary).
- Mix your resources – combine podcasts, news, dictionaries, and streaming.
- Join a structured course for feedback and motivation.
- Immerse yourself – listen to Brazilian music, watch films and series, and follow Brazilian media.
- Practise with others – conversation groups and book clubs can keep you motivated.
Learn Portuguese at City Lit
At City Lit, we offer in-person classes in London as well as online courses in Brazilian Portuguese, taking you from complete beginner to advanced speaker.
