Discover practical tips and insights for living in Portugal while improving your European Portuguese. This category covers daily life topics such as housing, transportation, shopping, healthcare, and navigating Portuguese bureaucracy. Ideal for learners and imigrants/expats, these lessons help you understand real-life Portuguese language, customs, and culture, so you can communicate confidently and adapt smoothly to life in Portugal.
It was the UN General Assembly that proclaimed the 15th of May as International Family Day: O Dia da Família. And was celebrated for the first time in 1994. The celebration aims, among other things, to highlight the importance of family structure and its prominence as the basis of early childhood education. So to celebrate … Read more
The current National Anthem of Portugal was composed in record time right before the Portuguese revolt of January 31st, 1891, by Alfredo Keil and lyrics by Henrique Lopes de Mendonça. Today, it is one of Portugal’s national symbols. The song itself was born as a patriotic song in response to the British ultimatum to abandon … Read more
Today we’re learning how to unsalt Portuguese cod! Maybe you’ve always wanted to try your hand at making a Portuguese codfish dish but were unsure where to start or what to buy. Cooking traditional Portuguese salt cod is not something you decide you want that day and cook it yourself – that day. There are … Read more
Although it was a Portuguese queen who set the trend of tea drinking in England, the Portuguese themselves did not drink much tea at all. At least not socially. Certainly not black tea with milk. So it’s very likely that when you ask for black tea in Portugal, chances are, no milk will arrive with … Read more
Coffee is everywhere in Portugal – it’s more than a drink, it’s part of daily life and culture. Whether you’re meeting someone for a quick chat or taking a break at your favourite pastelaria, knowing how to order the right coffee with the right name will make you feel confident and at ease. After reading … Read more
Boas Festas, everyone! As we enter the holiday season, let’s explore Advent in Portugal and three customs observed here. The word ‘Advent’ itself derives from the Latin ‘adventum,’ meaning “arrival,” signifying the four weeks preceding December 24th. This period is marked by preparation and expectant waiting for the arrival of the Child Jesus. The Advent … Read more
In this lesson, you’ll learn about São Martinho in Portugal through two comprehensible input videos. The first tells the legend with repetition and circling. The second explores the Magusto tradition, including castanhas, jeropiga and vinho novo. In Portugal, we celebrate Saint Martin’s Day – Dia de São Martinho on the 11th of November. Traditionally, we … Read more
Today is International Spicy Food Day, and the purpose of the holiday is to spice up our lives by giving our taste buds the chance to experience a variety of flavourful ingredients. Remember that variety is the spice of life! Prepare food with ingredients such as chillis, pepper and cumin to give today’s food some … Read more
Today is International Thank You Day. It’s a relatively unknown holiday and its origins are not known for sure. However, it’s speculated to have started on the internet. 11 de Janeiro It’s an annual celebration on January 11th and simply serves to remind us to be thankful and count our blessings. The motto for today … Read more
What are the different beef cuts in Portugal? 🐄Beef is cut in many different ways around the world, and Portuguese beef cuts can be quite different from those you may know in English-speaking countries. In this lesson, we’ll look at the most common cuts of beef used in Portugal and their approximate equivalents in English. … Read more