Learning a new language is an exciting journey, but sometimes it can also prove challenging. Many students who speak Spanish or other Romance languages and try to learn Portuguese experience this. The two languages seem very similar, but in reality, there are profound differences in their pronunciation, rhythm, and sound flow.
As a language lover, I’ve gone through this same experience. I can speak and understand Spanish, but since I started learning Portuguese—especially Brazilian Portuguese—I’ve realized it’s not as easy as I thought.
The Impact of a Spanish Background: When Similarity Makes It Difficult
Since I’ve been speaking Spanish for years, when I started reading Portuguese, I unconsciously began reading it with a Spanish accent. This habit persisted even while studying French and Italian. As a result, I was able to read and write Portuguese, but when it came to speaking, my Spanish accent was clearly evident. It was a strange situation—I understood the language, but when I spoke, my “Spanish identity” couldn’t be hidden.
Listening and Speaking Challenge: Difficulty Catching the Flow of Words
Portuguese has a unique flow and rhythm. Words connect with each other, sounds blend, and sometimes some letters aren’t even pronounced. I listened to many podcasts and YouTube videos to better understand the pronunciation, but when I tried to speak myself, I couldn’t achieve that natural flow. It felt as if I knew the words, but couldn’t form them into the right sounds.
This experience didn’t occur with other languages. I had also learned more difficult languages like Korean and Russian, but didn’t face such a struggle. Perhaps the most difficult part was adapting to the sweetness and flexibility of Portuguese sounds.
Brazilian vs. European Portuguese: Which is Easier?
There are two major styles of Portuguese—Brazilian Portuguese (PT-BR) and European Portuguese (PT-PT).
Many people believe that European Portuguese is closer to Spanish, while others say that Brazilian Portuguese is pronounced clearer and easier to understand.
In fact, the differences between the two are so great that even if you learn one, you may be confused when listening to the other.
Brazilians often pronounce every vowel clearly, while in Portugal many vowels are “swallowed.”
For example, “futebol” in Brazil is pronounced “fu-chi-baw,” while in Portugal it becomes “fut-bol.” This pronunciation difference poses a major challenge for many learners.
Practical Tips to Improve Pronunciation
1. Use websites like Forvo
Forvo.com is a great platform where you can hear the actual pronunciation of any word from local speakers. From there, you can also understand the accents of different regions—whether it’s São Paulo or Rio de Janeiro.
2. Learning through music
Brazilian music is a fun and effective way to learn Portuguese. Listen to the works of veteran samba artists like Cartola, Adoniran Barbosa, and Dorival Caymmi. Their songs capture the authentic flavor of the language. Humming along to songs not only improves pronunciation but also helps the rhythmic flow of words.
3. Use podcasts and audio resources
A podcast called “Tá Falado” is specifically designed for Spanish speakers who want to learn Brazilian Portuguese. “Speaking Brazilian by Virginia” is another useful resource that focuses on pronunciation and speaking practice.
4. Record Your Own Voice
Listening to yourself is an excellent way to improve. When you record your voice and compare it to a native speaker’s pronunciation, you discover your shortcomings. This is the most effective form of self-assessment.
5. Practice with Dialogues and Subtitles
First listen to any Portuguese dialogue and then read it along with it. By doing this repeatedly, your brain learns to associate sounds and words together. Highlight difficult words and pay special attention to their pronunciation.
Immerse yourself in the language: The importance of a complete experience
The best way to understand any language is through complete immersion.
Watch television shows, movies, and Brazilian vlogs.
Watch with subtitles at first, then gradually try watching without subtitles.
Also, get into the habit of reading aloud. When you speak words, your tongue and lips begin to adapt to the rhythm of the language.
Stick to a single accent
Brazil has many regional accents—Carioca, Paulista, Mineiro, etc.
Initially, choose one accent and focus on it.
If you change accents frequently, your pronunciation will become unstable.
Many people start with the “Paulista accent” because it is somewhat similar to Spanish and relatively simple.
Patience and constant practice: The key to success
The hardest part of any language is not “speaking,” but “listening and understanding.”
When you listen and speak regularly, your brain gradually adapts to new sounds.adapts to the language.
Let go of initial hesitation and make mistakes—because these mistakes lead you to improvement.
Practice a little bit every day, whether it’s a song, a dialogue, or a short segment of a podcast.
Conclusion: Learning a language is a journey, not a destination
Portuguese, whether Brazilian or European, is a beautiful language rich in music, emotion, and culture.
It’s natural to struggle while learning it—especially if you already have experience with a similar language.
But this struggle is what makes you better.
If you consistently listen, speak, and live in the language, one day that fluency and confidence will come naturally.
This journey of learning a language doesn’t just teach you new words, it also gives you a new perspective, a new culture, and a new identity.
