Do you want to learn Brazilian Portuguese but don’t know where to start? 😊 This article is for those of you at A1 level Brazilian Portuguese!
A1 level, you are taking your very first steps in Brazilian Portuguese 🎯 And the great news is that you don’t need to learn everything at once — you just need to learn the right things!
So, let’s go!
1. What is A1 Level in Brazilian Portuguese?
A1 is the most basic level of the CEFR — the European reference system for languages.
At A1 level, you can:
- Introduce yourself
- Greet and say goodbye to people
- Understand and use simple everyday words and phrases
- Ask basic questions
- Talk about where you live and people you know or family
✨ It’s the perfect starting point for an incredible journey in Portuguese!
2. Essential Greetings
The first thing you need to learn at A1 are greetings!
Here are the most used expressions in Brazil:
🔹Oi! / Olá! — Hi! / Hello!
🔹Bom dia! — Good morning!
🔹Boa tarde! — Good afternoon!
🔹Boa noite! — Good evening / Good night!
🔹Tudo bem? / Tudo bom? — How are you? / Everything good?
🔹Tudo bem, obrigado(a)! E você? — I’m fine, thank you! And you?
🔹Tchau! / Até logo! — Bye! / See you soon!
💡 In Brazil, “Oi!” is much more common than “Olá!”. Brazilians love warm greetings!
3. Introducing Yourself
After greetings, you need to learn how to introduce yourself!
Essential phrases for introductions:
🔹 Meu nome é… / Me chamo… — My name is…
🔹Eu sou de… — I am from…
🔹 Eu moro em… — I live in…
🔹 Eu tenho ___ anos. — I am ___ years old.
🔹 Eu falo inglês. / Eu estou aprendendo português brasileiro. — I speak English. / I am learning Brazilian Portuguese.
🔹Muito prazer! — Nice to meet you!
📝 Example dialogue:
A: Oi! Meu nome é Sarah. Eu sou da Inglaterra e moro em Salvador, na Bahia. E você?
B: Olá, Sarah! Muito prazer! Eu me chamo Carlos. Eu sou do Brasil, de Belo Horizonte.
A: Hi! My name is Sarah. I am from England and I live in Salvador, Bahia. And you?
B: Hello, Sarah! Nice to meet you! My name is Carlos. I am from Brazil, from Belo Horizonte.
4. The Most Important Verbs at level A1
Verbs are the heart of any language!
At A1 level in Portuguese, you need to know these essential verbs in the present tense:
🔹Ser — to be (permanent) — Eu sou brasileira. (I am Brazilian.)
🔹Estar — to be (temporary) — Eu estou bem. (I am fine.)
🔹Ter — to have — Eu tenho um gato. (I have a cat.)
🔹 Morar — to live — Eu moro em Florianópoles. (I live in Florianópoles.)
🔹Falar — to speak — Eu falo inglês, francês e português. (I speak English, Franch and Portuguese.)
🔹Gostar de — to like — Eu gosto de café. (I like coffee.)
🔹Querer — to want — Eu quero aprender português brasileiro. (I want to learn Brazilian Portuguese.)
💡 In Portuguese, we use two verbs to say “to be” in English: SER and ESTAR. This is one of the first big differences students learn!
5. Numbers and Basic Questions
Numbers from 0 to 10:
0 – zero, 1 – um/uma, 2 – dois/duas, 3 – três, 4 – quatro,
5 – cinco, 6 – seis, 7 – sete, 8 – oito, 9 – nove, 10 – dez
Essential Portuguese level A1 questions:
🔹Qual é o seu nome? — What is your name?
🔹De onde você é? — Where are you from?
🔹Onde você mora? — Where do you live?
🔹Quantos anos você tem? — How old are you?
🔹Você fala português? — Do you speak Portuguese?
🔹Como se diz ___ em português? — How do you say ___ in Portuguese?
6. Everyday Vocabulary for A1
Here are some essential vocabulary categories for A1:
Family in Brazilian Portuguese:
🔹pai / mãe — father / mother;
🔹irmão / irmã — brother / sister;
🔹filho / filha — son / daughter;
🔹avô / avó — grandfather / grandmother
Brazilian Portuguese Colours:
🔴 vermelho — red;
🟢 verde — green;
⚪ branco — white;
🔵 azul — blue;
🟡 amarelo — yellow;
⚫ preto — black;
🟤 marrom — brum;
🌸 rosa — pink
Days of the week in Portuguese:
segunda-feira, terça-feira, quarta-feira, quinta-feira, sexta-feira, — Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday,
sábado, domingo — Saturday, Sunday
7. Your Portuguese level A1 Learning Plan
Now that you know what to learn at Portuguese level A1, here is a simple plan to get started:
- Week 1: Greetings and introductions
- Week 2: Essential verbs
- Week 3: Numbers, colours and physical and psychological descriptions
- Week 4: Basic questions and review of the vocabulary covered so far
🎯 Even if you study just once a week, you’ll make progress at your own pace!
Ready to start your journey at A1 level in Portuguese? 🚀
Learning Brazilian Portuguese at A1 level is an incredible adventure! 🇧🇷
Every new word, every sentence you learn, brings you closer to fluency!
😊 Remember: the secret is not to study a lot at once — it’s to study regularly and enjoy the process!
Keep practising!
📚 Want to Practise Your Portuguese with a Brazilian Portuguese Workbook?
Now that you know the first steps of Portuguese level A1, how about having a support material to practise with more confidence?
The Vamos Praticar workbooks were created especially for Brazilian Portuguese students — with practical exercises, essential vocabulary and plenty of everyday content!
- ✏️ Practical exercises to consolidate level A1 and A2 vocabulary and grammar;
- 📖 Perfect for studying alone or with your teacher
👉 Discover the “Vamos Praticar” workbooks: https://speakbrazil.pt/vamospraticar/
Speak more naturally and with greater confidence! 📚😊
Keep learning more!
Check it out here — just click the link:
FAQ
What is A1 level in Brazilian Portuguese?
A1 is the beginner level of the CEFR (Common European Framework of Reference for Languages). At this level, you can introduce yourself, use basic greetings, understand simple phrases, and communicate in everyday situations with familiar words.
How long does it take to reach A1 in Brazilian Portuguese?
With consistent week practice of 2 hours, most learners can reach A1 level in 15 to 20 weeks. The most important thing is regularity — a little every day makes a big difference!
What should I learn first at A1 Brazilian Portuguese level?
Start with greetings, self-introductions, the essential verbs (ser, estar, ter, morar, falar), numbers 1–10, and basic questions. These are the building blocks for everything else in Portuguese!
I’m so happy to be part of your journey! If this content helped you learn and practice, you can make a small donation by clicking the button below! Thank you! ✨☕😃👇✨
