Can you learn Portuguese in 90 days?
You won’t become fully fluent — but you can reach solid conversational level with consistent practice.
This 90-day Portuguese study plan gives you a structured roadmap designed specifically for English speakers.
It assumes:
• 20–40 minutes per day
• 6 days per week
• Consistency over intensity
Before you begin, make sure you’ve chosen your variant:
👉 Brazilian vs European Portuguese
Phase 1 (Days 1–30): Foundations
Goal: Build pronunciation accuracy and core grammar basics.
Week 1: Sound System & Basics
Focus on:
• Portuguese alphabet
• Vowel sounds
• Nasal sounds (ão, ãe, õe)
• Basic greetings
• Numbers 1–20
Daily structure:
• 10 minutes pronunciation
• 10 minutes vocabulary
• 10 minutes listening
Important:
Pronunciation is the foundation. Don’t rush this stage.
👉 Portuguese Pronunciation Guide
Week 2: Core Verbs & Sentence Structure
Focus on:
• Present tense of regular verbs
• Common verbs (ser, estar, ter, fazer, ir)
• Simple sentence formation
• Question structure
Goal:
Build short, correct sentences.
Example:
Eu sou americano.
Eu moro em Lisboa.
Keep sentences simple and repeat often.
Week 3: Daily Vocabulary & Listening
Focus on:
• 100–150 high-frequency words
• Food vocabulary
• Daily routine phrases
• Beginner listening practice
Add:
5–10 minutes of slow Portuguese audio daily.
You won’t understand everything — that’s normal.
Week 4: First Speaking Practice
By now, you should:
• Recognize core verbs
• Understand basic structure
• Know 200–300 words
Start:
• Practicing short introductions
• Booking short tutor sessions (15–30 minutes)
• Recording yourself speaking
Speaking early prevents fear later.
👉 Best Portuguese Tutors Online
Phase 2 (Days 31–60): Core Communication
Goal: Move from beginner to basic conversational ability.
Weeks 5–6: Expand Verb Control
Focus on:
• Irregular verbs
• Past tense (simple introduction)
• Describing experiences
• Expressing preferences
Practice:
Talking about:
• Your day
• Your hobbies
• Your background
Don’t chase perfection — chase clarity.
Weeks 7–8: Structured Listening & Conversation
Increase:
• Listening to beginner podcasts
• Watching slow Portuguese videos
• Having 1–2 tutor sessions per week
Goal:
Hold 5–10 minute conversations.
Expect mistakes. They are part of the process.
Phase 3 (Days 61–90): Conversational Growth
Goal: Build confidence and reduce hesitation.
Weeks 9–10: Real-Life Situations
Practice scenarios:
• Ordering food
• Asking directions
• Booking accommodation
• Talking about work
Start thinking in Portuguese for simple phrases.
Weeks 11–12: Fluency Foundations
Focus on:
• Linking sentences naturally
• Reducing translation
• Improving pronunciation accuracy
• Increasing listening speed
You should now:
✔ Hold 10–15 minute conversations
✔ Understand slow native speech
✔ Feel comfortable in basic interactions
That’s a strong 90-day outcome.
Weekly Study Template
Here’s a simple weekly structure you can follow:
• 2 days pronunciation + vocabulary
• 2 days grammar + sentence building
• 1 day listening focus
• 1 day speaking practice
• 1 rest / light review day
Consistency matters more than long sessions.
Tools That Can Help
You don’t need dozens of apps.
But structured tools can accelerate progress.
Common options include:
• Language learning apps
• Audio-based programs
• Online tutors
• Conversation exchanges
Compare structured platforms here:
👉 Best Apps to Learn Portuguese
👉 Babbel Portuguese Review
👉 Preply Portuguese Review
Tools should support your study plan — not replace it.
Common 90-Day Mistakes
• Switching between Brazilian and European variants
• Skipping pronunciation
• Studying too much grammar
• Waiting too long to speak
• Inconsistent schedule
Small daily progress beats occasional long sessions.
What You’ll Achieve in 90 Days
If you follow this plan consistently:
You won’t be fluent.
But you will:
✔ Understand basic conversations
✔ Introduce yourself confidently
✔ Handle travel situations
✔ Build a strong foundation
That foundation is what leads to long-term fluency.
What Happens After 90 Days?
After three months, shift to:
• More conversation practice
• More listening immersion
• Controlled grammar expansion
• Real-world exposure
If you’re just starting:
👉 Begin with How to Learn Portuguese
👉 Understand Difficulty Expectations
Portuguese fluency isn’t built in 90 days.
But 90 days of structure changes everything.