Of the foreign languages I speak, I adore Portuguese. I love everything about Portugal, and Madeira especially has long held a special place in my heart. I didn’t have an opportunity to study Portuguese for many years, but I finally had a chance to start learning the language, and I have no regrets.
As with most of my language learning adventures, I relied on many sources to help me master Portuguese, including language learning apps, language lessons, books, TV, music, and more.
I’ve found language-learning apps that teach Portuguese a great way to brush up when I haven’t had a chance to speak Portuguese for a while.
Let’s look at different learning apps and how each can help you perfect the Portuguese language.
My Personal Experience with Learning Portuguese
My husband and I had planned to move to Lisbon in 2023 because of his professional obligations. As such, I realized I needed to start learning Portuguese before the move so I could be prepared and communicate with locals.
I went for language lessons. It was a group of 5 students, and with a teacher, we focused on “Portugal” Portuguese or the European variant of the language. We studied twice a week via Zoom, and I had a mountain of homework to complete at the end of each lesson.
Within a couple of months, I learned a lot.
Sadly, the move didn’t happen but I continued learning Portuguese, in addition to reviewing my Italian and Turkish language skills on apps like Babbel, Mondly, and Duolingo (I like the fun element!). I’d say my Portuguese is at an A2 proficiency level.
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The Portuguese Language: It’s Roots & Uniqueness
Before I started learning Portuguese, I did some research – I wanted to know more about the origins and what makes this language unique to help me get in the right frame of mind for learning Portuguese.
Portuguese is a Romance language from the Indo-European language family, much like French, Italian, and Spanish, and it evolved from Latin, which dates back to 216 BC. The roots of Old Portuguese, called Medieval Galician or Galician-Portuguese, can be traced back to the 9th century BC, while Modern Portuguese emerged in the 15th and 16th centuries BC.
Portuguese was spoken in Lusitania, the area that eventually became known as Portugal. And when Portuguese settlers arrived in South America, they originally called Brazil “New Lusitania.”
Currently, more than 279 million people speak Portuguese as a native tongue, and countless more have learned Portuguese as an additional language.
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Important Features of Portuguese at a Glance
There are various features of the Portuguese language that makes it unique:
- Portuguese is a pluricentric language with two standard spoken and two standard written forms: European Portuguese and Brazilian Portuguese. However, in total, there are more than 10 dialects of Portuguese, including Mozambican Portuguese, Guinean Portuguese, and Angolan Portuguese. There are even dialects within Portugal, such as the Portuguese spoken in Lisbon, Azores, and Madeira.
- Pre-2009, the Portuguese alphabet didn’t include the letters “k,” “y,” and “w;” however, because of loanwords from English, these three letters have been added.
- While Brazilian Portuguese originated from Portugal Portuguese, the dialects are quite different. For example, they use the same diacritic marks and digraphs, but they differ in terms of pronunciation, grammar, and vocabulary.
- Portuguese has a variety of sounds with its rich vowel system that includes monophthongs, diphthongs, and triphthongs. There are also the 20+ consonants and various placements of the primary stress.
What Portuguese Dialect Should You Learn?
The dialect you should learn depends on 2 factors:
What Portuguese variant the locals speak.
If you aren’t learning Portuguese for specific travel purposes, pick a dialect.
For example, if you’re traveling to one of the Portuguese-speaking countries in Africa, it’s best to learn European Portuguese since these dialects are more closely related to that main variant.
However, if you are relocating to Brazil or South America, then Brazilian Portuguese should be the dialect on your learning plan.
My Experience with Portuguese Language-Learning Apps
Different language learning apps offer unique approaches, and which app works best for you will depend on the type of learner you are.
I prefer to use an app that offers great vocabulary, immersive learning, and extra motivation when I find myself getting distracted by all the other languages I am learning or reviewing.
Highly Recommended Apps
Babbel: A great app to use is Babbel, which has a wonderfully interactive approach, supporting immersive learning. You’ll soon be able to start conversing with locals.
- Mondly: Choose Portuguese or Brazilian Portuguese on Mondly, and use their augmented reality and virtual reality to practice speaking with locals in real-world scenarios.
italki: Get personalized tuition and practice with a native Portuguese speaker on italki, sign up for lessons, and manage your learning according to your needs.
Recommended but Average Apps
- HelloTalk: Enjoy a language exchange with Hello Talk where you are matched with a native Portuguese speaker who wants to learn your native language. What fun!
- Rosetta Stone: If you like immersive learning, use Rosetta Stone’s proven method of letting you master Portuguese in native Portuguese. No need to rely on the bounds of your native language to master Portuguese here.
- Memrise: Build an exceptional vocabulary and work on basic grammar lessons with Memrise’s mnemonic exercises to help you remember the finer points of Portuguese.
- Pimsleur: If you’re more an audio learner than one who prefers reading their lessons, then Pimsleur’s Portuguese lessons are ideal for long commutes, lunch breaks, and while walking your dog.
Less Recommended Apps
- Duolingo: Boost your motivation and learn for free with Duolingo’s freemium package that offers age-appropriate, 5-10 minute Portuguese lessons.
- Busuu: Connect with local Portuguese speakers on Busuu and develop advanced speaking skills while networking with locals on the community group.
Bluebird Languages: Personalize your language course by accessing quizzes, flash cards, and more. Learn online and offline, making it an ideal travel solution.
10 Tested Apps for Learning Portuguese
When I started learning Portuguese, I attended online classes but I also supplemented my learning with various other resources, such as language-learning apps.
I wanted to use the best possible apps, so I started my investigation. I looked at each app according to its learning method, user-friendliness, what Portuguese dialect it teaches, the cost of a subscription, and user reviews.
Here are the best apps you can use to learn Portuguese:
1. Babbel - The Best App for Learning Portuguese
Babbel is one of my favorites when I want to learn or review a language. The app has an interactive and practical approach to language learning, and all the courses are developed by language experts.
The focus is on getting you conversational and comfortable engaging with locals. After you complete the vocabulary builder exercises, you get conversation practice, showing you how the vocab is used in real-world situations.
What Portuguese Dialect Can You Learn with Babbel?
Brazilian Portuguese
Key Features
- Structured language course with extra exercises categorized by topic, ideal for newbies and intermediate students.
- Memory-training exercises to remember what you’ve learned.
- Offers different learning techniques with the use of index cards, gap text, multiple choice questions, and recorded dialog.
Costs
You can complete the first couple of Portuguese lessons on Babbel for free. If you like the app, subscribe:
- Babbel Self-Study (interactive lessons), starting at US$13.95 per month.
- Babbel Live (interactive and live group lessons), starting at US$99.00 per month.
2. Duolingo - The Best Cost-Effective App
Duolingo is one of the best-known language-learning solutions. The app works because it motivates you to engage with Portuguese every day with its reminders and features like Daily Streak.
The exercises are diverse, and you can redo them and use the Practice Hub for extra practice. While the app uses silly translations, it is a fun learning tool to use in addition to your other language-learning resources.
What Portuguese Dialect Can You Learn with Duolingo?
Brazilian Portuguese
Key Features
- Comprehensive lessons categorized in topics.
- Gamified learning experience with the League challenges, daily and friend quests, animated characters, and achievements.
- User-friendly interface, ideal for any age.
Costs
I love that I can learn any language at no cost on Duolingo, but the ads do hamper my learning progress.
To access premium features and get rid of the pesky ads, subscribe:
- Super Duolingo costs US$7.99 per month or US$47.99 per year.
- Duolingo Max costs about US$30.00 per month.
3. Rosetta Stone - The Best for Immersive Learning
Rosetta Stone has an amazing reputation in the world of language learning. Many universities, medical institutions, businesses, and even the U.S. military recommend Rosetta Stone as their app of choice when it comes to learning a new language.
With Rosetta Stone, you’ll learn Portuguese in Portuguese, which provides an immersion experience that’s similar to how you learned your native tongue as a young child. While there is a little bit of translation, it’s up to you to figure out what the new language you’re learning means and how it fits together.
What Portuguese Dialect Can You Learn with Rosetta Stone?
Brazilian Portuguese
Key Features
- Learn Portuguese naturally, but you’ll need to invest time with every lesson to do so.
- State-of-the-art speech recognition technology to help you perfect your pronunciation.
- Optional, add-on live lessons and one-on-one coaching.
Costs
You can’t check out Rosetta Stone without creating a profile and choosing a subscription. But the app has a 30-day money-back guarantee.
If you like the immersive environment Rosetta Stone offers, here’s how much a subscription costs:
3-month plan (for Portuguese only) at a once-off US$47.97.
12-month plan (for Portuguese only) at a once-off US$126.00.
Lifetime plan (for all 25 languages) at US$399.00.
Live lessons are available, but these cost extra.
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4. Mondly - The Best for Innovative Learning
Mondly is an award-winning tool that uses the newest technology to teach you Portuguese and 40+ other languages.
It’s similar to other apps where you complete interactive lessons, but what sets Mondly apart is the AI chatbot, augmented reality, and virtual reality lessons that immerses you in Portuguese and helps you practice your conversation skills.
What Portuguese Dialect Can You Learn with Mondly ?
Brazilian Portuguese
“Portugal” Portuguese
Key Features
- Complete the lessons from one topic to another, or choose topics that are relevant to what you know or want to know.
- New daily lessons with weekly quizzes and monthly challenges to keep you interested.
- Helps you develop and improve your speaking, writing, listening, and reading skills.
Costs
Mondly has a limited freemium version. I love Mondly, so I got the Lifetime Access plan at around US$100 in early 2024.
Here’s how much Mondly Premium costs:
- US$9.99 per month.
- US$47.99 per year.
5. Pimsleur - The Best for Improving Listening Comprehension Skills
Pimsleur is ideal for language students who learn best via audio input; however, there are many reinforcement activities, making Pimsleur suitable for everyone. Set aside at least 30 minutes for a Pimsleur Portuguese lesson.
What Portuguese Dialect Can You Learn with Babbel?
Brazilian Portuguese
European Portuguese
Key Features
- Teaches relevant vocabulary so you don’t feel overwhelmed.
- Learn via audio lessons, quiz games, reading exercises, and conversation trainers.
- Exposure to native speaker pronunciation so you can learn the correct intonation and how to say words in Portuguese.
Costs
Here’s the cost for a Pimsleur subscription:
Pimsleur All Access costs US$20.95 per month (learn all Pimsleur languages).
Pimsleur Premium costs US$150 per level (learn one language only).
Pimsleur Audio Only costs US$119.95 for 16 hours or one level (learn one language only).
6. Memrise - The Best for Diverse Content
Memrise has fun content and uses the interval repetition method to help you retain and recall the Portuguese that you’ve learned. With the platform, you’ll learn your new language via vocabulary builders and various listening and speaking exercises to develop and practice the 4 main language skills.
I really like that I can see the content I’m going to learn before the lesson starts.
What Portuguese Dialect Can You Learn with Memrise?
Brazilian Portuguese
European Portuguese
Key Features
- Complete the official Memrise Portuguese language course or choose from the many the community created.
- Listen and see how vocab is pronounced with the videos native speakers recorded.
- Use the AI chatbot to improve your conversation skills.
Costs
A few lessons are free on Memrise. Otherwise, if you like the app, subscribe:
- Pro Plan at US$27.99 per month or US$130.99 per year.
- Lifetime plan at US$199.99.
7. Bluebird Languages - The Best for Learning the Basics
Portuguese is one of the 164 languages that Bluebird Languages offer. The app uses the spaced repetition learning method to help you remember what you’ve learned.
You’ll learn via recorded lessons and quizzes, and you can learn at your own pace.
What Portuguese Dialect Can You Learn with Bluebird Languages?
Brazilian Portuguese
“Portugal” Portuguese
Key Features
- Learn online or offline.
- More than 40,000 hours of recorded content.
- Choose between 146 home languages, so you don’t have to speak English (for example) to learn Portuguese.
Costs
Bluebird Languages has a limited freemium version in which you can access daily lessons. With a Premium subscription, you can create personalized language courses and get access to quizzes, photos, bilingual subtitles, flashcards, and pronunciation analysis.
Here are the costs of a Premium Subscription:
- Monthly: US$13.99 per month
- Annual: US$144.99 per year
8. Busuu - The Best for Networking with Portuguese Natives
Language students love Busuu because they can learn and connect with natives who speak the language they’re learning. The app is user-friendly, and Busuu’s language courses are ideal for beginners and intermediate students.
What Portuguese Dialect Can You Learn with Busuu?
Brazilian Portuguese
Key Features
- Get language and culture insights from the Busuu Community.
- A structured language course to help you build your knowledge of Portuguese.
- Affordable subscription, though the app has free learning features, too.
Costs
Watch ads to unlock free lessons on Busuu. Otherwise, to access premium features like personalized practice, subscribe:
Premium subscription costs US$13.90 per month.
9. italki - The Best for Personal Portuguese Lessons
italki is the ideal platform to interact with Portuguese speakers. I know first hand how daunting it can be to speak with locals in Portuguese.
You can choose a tutor that matches your learning style and budget and get personalized lessons that focus on all the language skills or specific ones you want to practice.
What Portuguese Dialect Can You Learn with italki?
Brazilian Portuguese
“Portugal” Portuguese
Key Features
- The tutors meet your individual needs, making italki ideal for beginner to advanced Portuguese students.
- A choice of 400+ tutors.
- Take classes on the italki website or app.
Costs
Expect to pay between US$4 to US$80+ per lesson on italki.
Find out more information about language learning apps in my articles:
10. HelloTalk - The Best for Learning in Tandem
On HelloTalk, you can learn Portuguese in tandem, also called language exchange. You teach someone a language you speak (that they want to learn) while they teach you Portuguese. Both parties connect over a shared interest in language, and you can filter language partners according to hobbies and other criteria to find someone you’ll like.
What Portuguese Dialect Can You Learn with HelloTalk?
Brazilian Portuguese
“Portugal” Portuguese
Key Features
- Use text, video call, voice call, and other features to talk to your Portuguese language partners.
- Various tools like the translation one make communicating easier.
- Get language tips and cultural insights.
Costs
Some of the learning features on HelloTalk are free, but you can subscribe:
- VIP plan at US$12.99 per month or US$79.99 per year.
- Lifetime membership at US$149.99.
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My Final Thoughts About the Best Apps to Learn Portuguese
Learning apps are a great way to address specific learning challenges with Portuguese. However, you should never rely on just one app to magically make you speak Portuguese fluently.
Instead, use multiple apps, utilizing their best features, such as the excellent vocabulary of Memrise and the gamified appeal of Duolingo, while diving into immersive learning with Rosetta Stone.
You should also source as many Portuguese resources as possible so you can truly let your mind soak up the language and culture. I love cooking with Portuguese recipes, and it’s fun to listen to Portuguese podcasts and watch clips on YouTube.
Become the director of your own learning progress, and use what you learn as soon as you learn.
Happy learning.
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Disclaimer: I select and review independently. If you buy through affiliate links, I may earn commissions that help support my testing at no extra cost to you. Please read my full disclosure for more information.
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