What is the most defining moment you will face this year? From memories that you immortalize in a million photographs, to days you never wish to remember, one thing's for certain: big life events change you. The great poet, Bukowski, said, "We are here to laugh at the odds and live our lives so well, that death will tremble to take us." The older I get, the more I agree with him! Talking about significant events in our lives is part of every person's journey, regardless of creed or culture. If you're planning to stay in for more than a quick visit, you're sure to need at least a few 'life events' phrases that you can use. After all, many of these are shared experiences, and it's generally expected that we will show up with good manners... Show more

Did you know that every minute of the day, one billion tons of rain falls on the earth? Hard to believe, considering the climate crisis! Of course, all that rain is not equally shared across the planet. So, would you mention this fascinating fact to your new acquaintance? Well, small talk about local weather is actually a great conversation-starter. Everyone cares about the weather and you’re sure to hear a few interesting opinions! Seasons can be quite unpredictable these days and nobody knows the peculiarities of a region better than the locals. PortuguesePod101 will equip you with all the weather vocabulary you need to plan your next adventure. The weather can even be an important discussion that influences your adventure plans.... Show more

International Women’s Day in Brazil is a holiday dedicated to valorização da mulher, or "woman appreciation." In this article, you’ll learn all about special traditions for Women’s Day in Brazil, some history behind the holiday, and relevant vocabulary! Let’s get started. 1. What is International Women’s Day? On Women’s Day, Brazil focuses on showing appreciation, respect, and love for women. This is an important holiday around the world, and the same is true in Brazil. Looking at the International Women’s Day history, the first celebration was in the United States in 1909. The Socialist Party of America hosted an event for women in New York, and the idea quickly caught on in Europe, which had its first Women’s Day in... Show more

A tourist in Rio de Janeiro can ignore Brazil’s etiquette. A devoted learner can’t. In fact, understanding Brazil customs and etiquette—and some of their roots—is a solid path to richer contact with the language. Because the etiquette of Brazil is fairly different from Portuguese etiquette, learning cultural etiquette in Brazil is a great opportunity to understand Brazilian people. After all, meeting new people and hearing different perspectives contributes to a richer life experience! Traveling and getting to know different realities often reveals unthinkable life conditions and habits. Even though the cultures, concerns, and consumption habits worldwide tend to assume a growingly homogenic behavior in comparison to decades ago,... Show more

Do you sometimes wish the weekends had more days? When are your next vacations? Do you know your best friend’s birthday? If you want to answer any of those questions in Portuguese, you first need to learn how to talk about dates in Portuguese. Then, you’ll be able to do many more things, like making plans, arranging meetings and celebrating anniversaries! Talking about dates is a part of everyday interactions. Every time you need to solve some bureaucracy, you need to write your date of birth or indicate today’s date. When making plans with your friends, you better know the days of the week to avoid mix-ups. And if you are a history buff, then you know dates are a must-know!  Today, you will learn how to write the date in Portuguese,... Show more

Whether it’s a Christmas celebration, a birthday party, or a simple barbecue (churrasco!), there’s a family gathering just about every month in Brazil. Yes, those events where small cousins are running around, grandmother asks about your love life, and there’s more food than people can handle. Learning how to talk about family in Portuguese is essential, even if you don’t attend one of these family gatherings in Brazil (which we recommend you do!). After all, this is a topic that always comes up in conversations. People will ask you about your family, or tell you stories about their own family involving multiple relatives. In this article, we’ll go over the vocabulary you need to know to talk about all kinds of families, as well as... Show more

Travel: Is there any other activity that demands so much planning, money, and time...or that generates so many interesting and fulfilling discoveries? Yes, traveling can be both a pleasure and a challenge. Leisure in newfound places walks hand in hand with language and cultural barriers. Learning Portuguese basics for travel can be helpful, but it might not be enough to help you generate a truly rich and comfortable experience. There are many sources online with common Portuguese travel phrases, but many of them fail to illustrate the nuances of the daily vernacular you’ll actually be hearing on your trip. It’s not uncommon to learn some Portuguese travel phrases but neglect to brush up on local manners and signs of politeness. After... Show more

Learning the numbers in Portuguese solves many problems. You can ask for caipirinhas (a Brazilian cocktail) for you and your buddies. Or count the goals in a soccer match. Or know how much a ticket from Sao Paulo to Rio will cost... You can also negotiate your salary, answer how many months (or years) you plan to stay in the country, and tell people your age. Like in any other language, it’s important that you learn at least the numbers to ten in Portuguese right at the start. That will solve some communication problems when you’re speaking to a Brazilian or Portuguese person who doesn’t speak English. Exciting, isn’t it? When do we begin? Well, sit down, take it easy, breathe—count to ten. → Want to review numbers vocabulary in... Show more

Making mistakes is a part of life. There’s no way around it, and that’s why knowing how to apologize is a must. Whether we inadvertently make a mistake or say something we didn’t mean, saying "I’m sorry" is always necessary. It doesn’t mean it’s an easy thing to do, but it’s something we have to deal with. Now that you’re learning a new language, it’s also a good idea to expand your vocabulary and include ways to say sorry in Portuguese. After all, mistakes in pronunciation, word choice, or comprehension is a part of the process. That’s totally okay! By using the right words to apologize, you can make the process smoother. As you gain more experience with the Portuguese language, there will be more situations in which you might need... Show more

Each year, Brazilians take it upon themselves to celebrate and pay tribute to the patroness of Brazil, Our Lady of Aparecida. This is a major religious observance for Catholics, who often make a journey to the Basilica of Our Lady of Aparecida on this day. In this article, you’ll learn about the Our Lady of Aparecida apparition, one of her most famous miracles, and the most common traditions associated with this holiday. At PortuguesePod101.com, we hope to make every aspect of your language-learning journey both and informative! 1. What is Our Lady of Aparecida Day? On Our Lady of Aparecida Day, Brazil pays tribute to its patron saint, who is sometimes also referred to as the Virgin of Aparecida or the Lady of the... Show more