In this episode, I talk about my relationship with coffee — how it started in Portugal, how it changed after moving abroad, and how my morning coffee became a daily ritual. From the perfect Portuguese expresso to my current café de cafeteira, I share how my habits (and taste!) evolved over time.

New Words

• expresso = espresso
• cafeteira = coffee maker (filter coffee machine)
• abatanado = long espresso
• garoto = small espresso with milk
• leite vegetal = plant-based milk

☕ You can support this podcast by buying me a symbolic coffee here: buymeacoffee.com/slowportuguesewithmaria.

💬 And if you’d like to book Portuguese conversation classes with me, you can do it on my website: https://slowportuguesewithmaria.com

Muito obrigada for listening and até à próxima! 💛

In this episode I talk about three famous Portuguese people and who inspire me: Cristiano Ronaldo, Joana Vasconcelos, and Catarina Furtado. Each of them represents a different area — sport, art, and communication — and all show the best of Portugal in different ways.

New Words

• jogador de futebol = football player

In this episode I talk about some common “false friends” between Portuguese and English — words that look similar but mean something very different.

A fun way to avoid mistakes when speaking Portuguese!

New Words of the Episode:

If you’d like to practice speaking Portuguese with me, you can book conversational classes through my website https://slowportuguesewithmaria.com

And if you’d like to support this podcast, you can do so here: https://buymeacoffee.com/slowportuguesewithmaria

Olá! In this episode, I share with you one of the most famous and dramatic love stories in Portuguese history: the story of Pedro and Inês de Castro.

This is a tale of love, politics, betrayal, and tragedy that happened in the 14th century and that still shapes Portuguese culture and identity today. I take you back to medieval Portugal to discover how a forbidden romance turned into one of the greatest legends of the country.

📖 Here's the book I recommend - the historical novel Inês de Castro by Isabel Stilwell. You can find it ⁠here on Amazon⁠.

New Words​

• ​século – centur​y
• ​príncipe – princ​e
• ​rainha – queen
• ​túmulo – tom​b
• ​mosteiro – monastery

☕ You can support this podcast here: buymeacoffee.com/slowportuguesewithmaria.

💬 And if you’d like to book Portuguese conversation classes with me, you can do it through my website: https://slowportuguesewithmaria.com

Obrigada for listening, and até ao próximo episódio!

Olá! In this episode, I talk about my closest friends. I use fictitious names, but I tell you what they do, where they live, and how their lives are. From a nutritionist in Porto to a graphic designer who surfs every day, from a banker in Singapore to an architect in Rome, and even a psychologist in Lisbon and a programmer by the beach — each friend has her own unique story. I also share how important these friendships are to me, even though we live far apart.

New Words:

☕ You can support this podcast here: buymeacoffee.com/slowportuguesewithmaria.

💬 And if you’d like to book Portuguese conversation classes with me, you can do it through my website: https://slowportuguesewithmaria.com

Muito obrigada for listening, and até ao próximo episódio!

On this episode of the Slow Portuguese With Maria, I will tell you things that I like and things that I don't like.

Hope you like it!

☕ You can support this podcast by buying me a symbolic coffee here: buymeacoffee.com/slowportuguesewithmaria.

💬 And if you’d like to book Portuguese conversation classes with me, you can do it on my website: https://slowportuguesewithmaria.com

Muito obrigada for listening and até à próxima! 💛

Olá! In this episode, I tell you all about my amazing weekend in Sweden. From visiting a second-hand market in Stockholm, to swimming in a lake, running a 10 km night race, and then spending Sunday in the countryside at my boyfriend’s uncle’s traditional Swedish wooden house — it was unforgettable! We picked mushrooms, rowed on the river, swam in an abandoned mine, and I even found great second-hand clothes for just seven euros.

New Words:

• feira – fair / market
• ressaca – hangover
• mina – mine (place where minerals are extracted)
• cogumelos – mushrooms
• camisola de manga comprida – long-sleeved shirt

☕ You can support this podcast by buying me a symbolic coffee here: buymeacoffee.com/slowportuguesewithmaria.

💬 And if you’d like to book Portuguese conversation classes with me, you can do it on my website: https://slowportuguesewithmaria.com

Muito obrigada for listening and até à próxima! 💛

Olá! In this episode, I talk about some very interesting Portuguese words that change meaning depending on the context — like banco, vela, or manga. This can be confusing at first, but it’s also one of the most fun parts of learning a language! I share lots of examples so you can recognize these words in real conversations and know which meaning is correct.

New Words:

• banco – bank / bench

• vela – candle / sail

• manga – sleeve / mango

• molho – sauce / bunch (of herbs, flowers…)

• cara – face / expensive (feminine)

☕ If you’d like to support my work, you can buy me a symbolic coffee here: buymeacoffee.com/slowportuguesewithmaria – it truly helps me keep making this free content.

You can also book private Portuguese conversation lessons with me on my website: https://portuguesewithmaria.carrd.co.

Muito obrigada for listening and for learning with me. Até já! 💛

Olá! In this episode, I teach you a super useful expression in Portuguese: "daqui a" — which we use all the time to talk about things happening in the future, like “daqui a cinco minutos” or “daqui a dois dias”. It’s simple, practical and very common in everyday life. I give lots of examples, tips, and comparisons so you can start using it naturally too!

New Words:

• daqui a – from now / in (time expression)

• meia hora – half an hour

• ligar – to call (on the phone)

• uns dias – a few days

• férias – holidays / vacation

Big news: I just launched my YouTube channel! You can now see me and hear me as I explain Portuguese. I’ll post podcast-style videos, but also new types of content to help you learn. Search for Slow Portuguese with Maria on YouTube, subscribe, like, and leave me a comment!

☕ Want to support this podcast? You can buy me a symbolic coffee here: buymeacoffee.com/slowportuguesewithmaria – it really helps me keep creating this free content.

And if you’d like to book private Portuguese conversation lessons with me, go to my website:
👉 https://portuguesewithmaria.carrd.co

Muito obrigada for being there and for learning Portuguese with me. Até já! 💛

Olá! In this episode, I talk about  the five senses.
I’ll take you through how we use vision, hearing, smell, taste and touch in our daily lives — and how important they are for our memories, emotions, and relationships.

New words:

• visão – vision
• audição – hearing
• olfato – smell
• paladar – taste
• tato – touch

💛 Muito obrigada to Edward and Paul for becoming monthly supporters, and to Chelsea for the coffees!
If you like this podcast and want to support it, you can buy me a coffee. It really means a lot and helps me keep going ☕💛

🎓 I also give private online lessons if you want to practice your Portuguese with me. You can book here

Obrigada por ouvires, até já! 💛

Hi friends! In this episode, I talk about something I really love: travelling. I’ll tell you about the continents and countries I’ve already visited — and the places I still dream of going. From the history and beaches of Europe to the food and culture of Southeast Asia, and my dream of doing a safari in Africa or dancing in Brazil... I share a bit of everything!

New words:

• continente – continent
• mota – motorbike
• passadeira – pedestrian crossing
• hipopótamos– hipo
• peões – pedestrians

💛 Muito obrigada to Caroline, Mark, Paul, Ygor — and Douglas, my first monthly supporter!If you like this podcast and want to support it, you can buy me a coffee. Every little bit helps me keep going.

And if you'd like to practise speaking with me, I also give private lessons online - portuguesewithmaria.carrd.co

In this episode, I talk about one of the most common mistakes my students make: confusing the verbs "pedir" and "perguntar" in Portuguese.
They look similar, but their meanings are different — and knowing when to use each one will make your Portuguese sound much more natural!

You'll hear lots of clear examples and get a chance to practice at the end of the episode.

New words:

• perguntar – to ask (a question)
• pedir – to ask for (something)
• empregado – waiter
• boleia – ride/lift (in a car)
• imposto – tax

Like the podcast? You can support my work on Buy Me a Coffee – a big obrigada to everyone who already has!

I also offer private online lessons if you want to practice your Portuguese with me. You can book a trial lesson through my website ➡️ https://portuguesewithmaria.carrd.co

In this episode, I imagine my dream house — and invite you to imagine yours too.
Where is it? What does it look like? What animals live there?
You'll hear lots of useful vocabulary for describing houses, nature, and your ideal lifestyle in Portuguese.

This episode is great for A2-B1 learners who want to practice listening, pick up new words naturally, and have fun dreaming in Portuguese!

New words:

• despensa – pantry
• horta – vegetable garden
• alpendre – porch
• hall – entrance hall
• galinhas – hens

☕ If you like the podcast, you can support my work on Buy Me a Coffee – thank you so much to everyone who already has!

And if you want to practise your Portuguese with me, I also offer private online lessons. Send me a message to know more!

In this episode of Slow Portuguese with Maria, we celebrate a very special date: June 10th, the Day of Portugal, Camões, and the Portuguese Communities. This episode is full of cultural and historical insight.

What you’ll learn about:

New words you’ll hear in this episode:

1. Feriado – Public holiday

2. Epopeia – Epic poem

3. Descobrimentos – Discoveries

4. Cerimónia – Ceremony

5. Sepultado – Buried

This is a great episode for learners who love culture, history, and the Portuguese language. Ideal for level A2–B1.

Want to learn Portuguese with me? Book private or group classes at portuguesewithmaria.carrd.co

In this episode, we explore three key expressions for talking about the time of day in Portuguese: de manhã (in the morning), à tarde (in the afternoon), and à noite (at night).

These expressions are essential when describing your daily routine or telling a story—but many learners use them incorrectly.

So, let’s clarify how they work with clear examples in the present and past (imperfect) tenses.

This episode is perfect for A1–A2 learners!

📖 5 new Portuguese words/expressions:

🎯 Practice using these expressions in your own stories and daily routines!

📢 Ready to take your Portuguese to the next level? Book a private or group class with me: portuguesewithmaria.carrd.co

☕ Love the podcast? Support it on Buy Me a Coffee: buymeacoffee.com/slowportuguesewithmaria

In this episode, you’ll meet Inês—a fictional character whose life might remind you of your own! This story is perfect for A2 learners who want to practice the present, past (imperfect), and a little future tense in Portuguese. You’ll follow Inês through her current daily routine in Braga, learn about her past life in Lisbon, and hear about her hopes for the future. This episode is full of everyday vocabulary and useful sentence structures to help you improve your listening and speaking skills.

📖 5 new Portuguese words:

📢 Want to practice your Portuguese in real conversations? Book a private or group lesson with me: portuguesewithmaria.carrd.co

☕ Love the podcast? You can support it on Buy Me a Coffee: buymeacoffee.com/slowportuguesewithmaria

In this episode of Slow Portuguese With Maria, I share everything that happened during my one-month trip to Portugal—starting with a surprise birth on the very day I landed! 🍼

I also talk about running my first half-marathon in Aveiro, going to a concert in Lisbon, and spending meaningful time with my family and friends. Now back in Sweden, I reflect on my trip and there is exciting updates for the podcast.

1. Coincidência – coincidence

2. Hospital – hospital

3. Trajeto – route / path

4. Maratona – marathon

5. Beijinho – little kiss (often used as a warm sign-off)

Send all you European Portuguese doubts to portuguesewithmaria.info@gmail.com and if you'd like to practice your Portuguese with conversation classes you can book a trial lesson through my website ➡️ https://portuguesewithmaria.carrd.co

If you enjoyed this episode and would like to support the podcast, you can “buy me a coffee” by clicking the link below. Thank you so much for your support! buymeacoffee.com/slowportuguesewithmaria

Perfect for beginners—press play and start learning today! 😊

This episode is based on one of my students, Dave, and it's specially made for A1-level Portuguese learners!

Dave is from the United States and listens to this podcast with his wife in the car. He dreams of living in Portugal with his family, and this episode tells a simplified story inspired by his motivation and routine.

📖 5 new Portuguese words:

1. Caderno – Notebook

2. Vizinho – Neighbor

3. Passear – To stroll/walk

4. Receita – Recipe

5. Motivado – Motivated

📢 Want to learn Portuguese with me? Book a private or group class on my website: portuguesewithmaria.carrd.co

☕ Support this podcast on Buy Me a Coffee: buymeacoffee.com/slowportuguesewithmaria

In this special episode, I have an exciting invitation for you! If you enjoy this podcast and want to practice Portuguese with me, now you can—through private or group lessons! Private lessons are personalized for anyone who can already hold a conversation, focusing on conversation, grammar, vocabulary, writing, and pronunciation. They’re flexible and based on your interests!

Prefer learning with others? Join my new weekly group classes every Tuesday at 11am (Central European Time)! These fun and supportive sessions are for A2–B1 learners and are a great way to boost your confidence while connecting with other Portuguese learners around the world. All classes happen on Google Meet.

📖 5 new Portuguese words:

1. Convite – Invitation

2. Aula – Lesson/Class

3. Sozinho – Alone

4. Turma – Class/Group of students

5. Inscrever – To register/sign up

📢 Want to join a class? Book private or group Portuguese lessons with me on my website: portuguesewithmaria.carrd.co

☕ Love the podcast? Support it on Buy Me a Coffee: buymeacoffee.com/slowportuguesewithmaria

In this 24th episode, I continue sharing the changes in my life since moving from Portugal to Sweden. From punctuality at parties to safety habits like wearing helmets and reflectors, I reflect on the small (but surprising!) ways my lifestyle has adapted.

Have you moved to a new country?

I’d love to hear what changed for you—maybe your story will even be featured in a future episode!

📖 5 new Portuguese words:

1. Rotina – Routine

2. Aniversário – Birthday

3. Refletor – Reflector

4. Capacete – Helmet

5. Convidar – To invite

📢 Want to practice your Portuguese? Book conversation classes with me through my website: portuguesewithmaria.carrd.co

☕ Support this podcast on Buy Me a Coffee: buymeacoffee.com/slowportuguesewithmaria