Unit 1 – Greetings, introductions and meeting people
This guide follows the typical progression of Portuguese Government A1/A2 courses. Your textbook may introduce some topics in a slightly different order, but the language and skills covered are broadly the same.
The first topics covered in most A1 Portuguese courses usually include greetings, self-introductions, and asking for basic personal information.
In this section, you’ll find resources to help you review topics such as:
- how to say your name and ask someone’s name;
- how to greet and say goodbye;
- how to introduce other people;
- basic personal information;
- personal pronouns;
- numbers;
- days of the week;
Resources on The Sounds of Portuguese:
Your textbook will have examples of conversations in which people greet/ introduce themselves or others, and say goodbye.
Key verbs for this unit
- Chamar-se
- Ser
- Conhecer
Essential conversations
- Hello in Portuguese
- Portuguese Greetings: To kiss or not to kiss
- Greet someone in Portuguese
- Practise Your Portuguese Greetings – Speaking Practice (works using Chrome)
- Say Goodbye in Portuguese
If you would like to take your learning a little further, explore Festive Greetings in Portuguese and Small Talk in Portuguese, which includes audio examples.
Vocabulary
The vocabulary section of this unit usually includes numbers from 1 to 20 and the days of the week. Use the resources below to learn and practise this vocabulary.
Grammar you’ll need
You will also begin learning how Portuguese sentences are formed. The resources below will help you understand verbs, personal pronouns and the present tense.
- Verbs in Portuguese
- Present Tense
- Chamar-se
- Ser
- Conhecer
- Personal Pronouns
- Grammar Terms for European Portuguese Learners
Question Words
In this unit, you will begin using como (how) and quem (who) to ask simple questions and get to know other people.
You will gradually learn more question words throughout your course, including o que (what), onde (where), quando (when), porque (why) and qual (which/what).
For a complete guide with examples and pronunciation, visit: Portuguese Question Words
Pronunciation
Different textbooks introduce Portuguese pronunciation in different ways, so the sounds covered in your course may not appear in the same order. For this unit, I have chosen to focus on The Portuguese Alphabet. If your course is working on a different sound, you can find more lessons on my Portuguese Pronunciation page.
The Portuguese Alphabet – O Abedcedário
Learn through listening and context
Grammar explanations and vocabulary lists are useful, but they are only part of learning a language. One of the most important skills to develop is listening.
When you listen to Portuguese in meaningful contexts, you begin to connect sounds, words and ideas naturally. This helps you become familiar with the language’s rhythm and understand Portuguese without translating every word into English.
This is why I create Comprehensible Input stories and mini-lessons. They use simple language, visual support, repetition and context to help you understand Portuguese as you listen.
You can pause, replay and listen again as often as you need. There is no need to understand every word immediately. The goal is to become gradually more familiar with the sounds and vocabulary of Portuguese.
The A0 stories are very short and simple, while the A1 stories include more vocabulary, detail and longer sentences.
Below, you will find examples from both levels. If you enjoy learning through stories, you can explore the full libraries using the links below. Some lessons also include optional premium activities and resources. You can find out more about how access to premium content works here.
Browse through the story libraries:
🎧🌱 A0 / A1 Listening Practice
I also have a growing collection of audio lessons designed to help you train your ear and become more familiar with natural European Portuguese.
As you listen, you will begin to notice how sounds and words connect in natural speech. You do not need to understand everything at first. Regular listening will gradually make Portuguese easier to recognise and understand.
Choose the level that feels most comfortable for you:
Portuguese Culture
Learning about Portuguese culture is another enjoyable way to build your vocabulary and connect with the language beyond the textbook.
Many Portuguese A1/A2 courses begin in September or October, so this is a great time to explore seasonal traditions, celebrations, food and everyday life in Portugal. Browse the pages below for cultural content connected to these months.
Happy studying! Take your time, revisit the resources whenever you need to and remember that learning a language is a gradual process. I hope you enjoy your course and find these resources helpful throughout your studies.
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