European Portuguese with Tony

𝗥𝗶𝘁𝘂𝗮𝗶𝘀 𝗱𝗮 𝗠𝗲𝗶𝗮‑𝗡𝗼𝗶𝘁𝗲 𝗲 𝗣𝗮𝘀𝘀𝗮𝗴𝗲𝗺 𝗱𝗲 𝗔𝗻𝗼 𝗲𝗺 𝗣𝗼𝗿𝘁𝘂𝗴𝗮𝗹

12 𝙋𝙖𝙨𝙨𝙖𝙨 𝙙𝙚 𝙐𝙫𝙖:
Comer uma passa por cada badalada, fazendo um desejo para cada mês do ano.

𝙋é 𝘿𝙞𝙧𝙚𝙞𝙩𝙤:
Subir a uma cadeira e entrar no novo ano com o pé direito
— diz que dá sorte.

𝘽𝙖𝙧𝙪𝙡𝙝𝙤:
Bater em panelas e tachos para espantar o mau olhado e varrer más energias.

𝙍𝙤𝙪𝙥𝙖 𝙄𝙣𝙩𝙚𝙧𝙞𝙤𝙧 𝘼𝙯𝙪𝙡:
Vestir azul, de preferência novo, para atrair boa fortuna.

𝘿𝙞𝙣𝙝𝙚𝙞𝙧𝙤 𝙣𝙤 𝙎𝙖𝙥𝙖𝙩𝙤:
Ter umas notas no bolso, na mão ou até no sapato para chamar prosperidade.

𝘽𝙧𝙞𝙣𝙙𝙚 𝙘𝙤𝙢 𝙀𝙨𝙥𝙪𝙢𝙖𝙣𝙩𝙚:
Um gole de espumante para celebrar
— e para ajudar a engolir as passas!!

𝘽𝙚𝙞𝙟𝙤 𝙙𝙚 𝘼𝙣𝙤 𝙉𝙤𝙫𝙤:
Beijar alguém à meia‑noite para entrar no ano com afeto e boa companhia.

𝗥𝗶𝘁𝘂𝗮𝗶𝘀 𝗣ó𝘀‑𝗠𝗲𝗶𝗮‑𝗡𝗼𝗶𝘁𝗲 𝗲 𝗗𝗶𝗮 𝟭 𝗱𝗲 𝗝𝗮𝗻𝗲𝗶𝗿𝗼

𝑷𝒓𝒊𝒎𝒆𝒊𝒓𝒐 𝑩𝒂𝒏𝒉𝒐 𝒅𝒐 𝑨𝒏𝒐:
Um mergulho gelado no mar para renovar corpo e espírito.
(Carcavelos é clássico).

𝑷𝒐𝒓𝒕𝒂𝒔 𝑨𝒃𝒆𝒓𝒕𝒂𝒔 𝒆 𝑳𝒖𝒛𝒆𝒔 𝑨𝒄𝒆𝒔𝒂𝒔:
Abrir portas e acender todas as luzes para dar as boas‑vindas ao novo ano.

𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗶𝗱𝗮𝘀 𝗧í𝗽𝗶𝗰𝗮𝘀

𝑱𝒂𝒏𝒕𝒂𝒓 𝒅𝒆 𝑨𝒏𝒐 𝑵𝒐𝒗𝒐:
Um jantar farto com bacalhau, seguido de doces tradicionais como Bolo‑Rei, Bolo‑Rainha, letria, arroz‑doce e o inevitável tronco de Natal.

5 months ago | [YT] | 1

European Portuguese with Tony

𝐇𝐨𝐰 𝐝𝐨 𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐝𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐬𝐨𝐧𝐠𝐬 𝐡𝐞𝐥𝐩 𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐧𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐟𝐲 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐩𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐞 𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐞𝐝 𝐬𝐲𝐥𝐥𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞𝐬 𝐢𝐧 𝐏𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐮𝐠𝐮𝐞𝐬𝐞?
This educational material utilizes a traditional Portuguese folk song to teach students the nuances of word stress and pronunciation.
The instructor explains that most Portuguese words are paroxytones, meaning they naturally emphasize the penultimate syllable without needing a visual accent. However, specific graphical marks are used on short words like "lá" and "cá" to indicate emphasis and distinguish them from their longer equivalents.

The lesson also covers oxytone rules, where certain letter endings like "r" or "i" dictate a shift in stress to the final syllable. By practicing the rhythmic lyrics of the song, learners can internalize these linguistic patterns to improve their reading fluency.

The source ultimately aims to provide a foundational framework that allows students to approach any Portuguese text with confidence.

5 months ago | [YT] | 0

European Portuguese with Tony

Hello friends, I’ve just released Pronunciation 6, where I review and expand the fundamental rules of Portuguese stressed syllables. If you’ve been following this series from the start, you’re already well on your way to reading Portuguese like a native. Of course, mastery takes time, but awareness is always the first and most important step.

Thank you for your support. I’ll continue bringing new exercises and broadening the subject to help you progress.

I’ve also returned to the original channel name. This is still a new project on YouTube, so adjustments are natural, but I feel we’ve now come full circle with the name.

Thanks again for following along and for trusting my choice of didactic exercises.

6 months ago | [YT] | 0

European Portuguese with Tony

*Portuguese‑only lessons*
I’m bringing back my Portuguese‑only lessons.
In these videos, I’ll speak slowly and clearly so you can follow along in Portuguese, immersing yourself in the language whenever you feel like listening.

At the same time, I’ll continue creating lessons with explanations in English, so together they offer a complete learning experience:
immersion and clarity side by side.

Estamos juntos!

6 months ago | [YT] | 0

European Portuguese with Tony

Simple steps, powerful results — recursive learning in Portuguese.
I've been working on a pronunciation guide for deeper learning.
The first four sessions are out, with eight more to come.
The approach is simple but powerful:
when you learn to read and pronounce words correctly, you unlock the ability to self‑learn and accelerate your Portuguese exponentially.
This course isn’t linear — it’s recursive.
Each concept returns in new contexts, building deeper understanding.
It’s a method I’ve used in my programming classes for over a decade.


I’m doing this out of love for both English and Portuguese
— a legacy and a gift I hope to leave as I step back from the active world.

6 months ago (edited) | [YT] | 0

European Portuguese with Tony

Is Portuguese Ego-Light?

Portuguese Doesn’t Say “Eating”…
It Says “To Eat”
In English, you say: “I’m eating.”
It's clear.
Present.
Personal.
You are the subject.
The verb follows you like a loyal puppy.

But in Portuguese?
We say: “Estou a comer.”
Not
“I’m eating.”
Just… “to eat.”
As if the action is happening near you,
around you—
but not because of you.
Strange?
Or… perhaps, poetic?

Let’s Break It Down
English uses the present continuous:
“I am eating.”
“I am thinking.”
“I am regretting that second espresso.”
It’s all very now.
Very me.
Very active.

But in Portugal?
Portuguese prefer the peripheral present.
“Estou a comer.”
Literally: “I am to eat.”
The verb floats.
It’s not chained to ego—
it’s tethered to time.


So, What’s the philosophy here?
Is Portuguese saying:
“You are not the action—
you are its witness”?
“You are not the flame—
you are near the fire”?
But not the flame?
Or maybe…
“You are not the center.
You are the rhythm.”

The Verb as a Ritual
In Portuguese, the verb doesn’t shout.
It doesn’t say: “I am doing this!”
It whispers:
“This is happening… and I’m here.”
So, when we say, “a comer,”
we’re not just eating.
We’re participating in the act of nourishment.
We’re present at the table of time.

Final Thought
So maybe Portuguese isn’t just “you”-phobic…
Like I've said in a different video.
Maybe it’s ego-light.
Maybe it’s a language that trusts the verb
to carry the meaning without needing a name.
In English, you eat.
In Portuguese, you are… to eat.
And sometimes,
well,
sometimes that’s just enough.
Let's Go Eat!

7 months ago | [YT] | 0

European Portuguese with Tony

Portuguese Is “You”-Phobic…
and Proud of It (I suppose)



In Portuguese, we don’t say
“I go to school.”
We just… "go to school".
But this, of course,
needs an explanation.

English loves pronouns.
I go. You go. We go.
It’s all very personal.
But Portuguese?
Portuguese is “you”-phobic.
“Eu vou à escola”…?
Too much ego. 😊
We just say “Vou à escola.”
The verb already knows who’s going.
It has to do with the verb conjugation.

In Portuguese, the verb wears the identity.
“Vou” means “I go.”
“Foste” means “you went.”
“Comemos” means “we ate.”
There's no need to drag “eu” or “tu” into it.
We’re not hiding—we’re just efficient.

Or maybe… humble??



It’s as if the language says:
“You’re not the center.
The action is the center.”
We don’t announce ourselves
—we arrive through the verb.

In English, you must name the actor.
“I think.”
“You said.”
“They believe.”
It’s a language of accountability.
Of clarity.
Of presence.

So maybe Portuguese is “you”-phobic…
but it’s also poetic.
It lets the verb speak for you.
And sometimes,
Well,
Sometimes it's just enough.

So, in the end,
in Portuguese, you don’t say “I am.”
You simply… are.
Right?

8 months ago | [YT] | 0

European Portuguese with Tony

This week I took a quiet ride through the Catskills in New York.
Just a moment to breathe, away from verbs and videos.
A small token of humanity, shared with you.
Esta semana fiz uma viagem tranquila pelas Catskills, no estado de Nova Iorque.
Apenas um momento para respirar, longe dos verbos e dos vídeos.
Um pequeno gesto de humanidade, partilhado consigo.

8 months ago | [YT] | 0

European Portuguese with Tony

Starting with tomorrow’s video, I’ll be presenting Portuguese lessons in English.
We speak English to understand Portuguese. We listen to Portuguese to understand ourselves.

This shift opens the door for early beginners to join the journey—no prior fluency required, just curiosity and a willingness to learn.


I love making these videos and diving deep into the research to create something truly useful.
As a former technical instructor and course creator, this project brings back good memories—and sparks new ones.

Whether you're just starting out or revisiting the basics with fresh ears, I hope you’ll find something here that resonates.

8 months ago | [YT] | 0

European Portuguese with Tony

How to search YouTube content when you know what to look for
Here’s a tip that may save you countless hours of research over time.

Many YouTube videos, including the ones on this channel, have a link at the bottom of the description called “Show Transcript.” When you click it, a full transcript of the video appears on the right side of the screen. That’s useful on its own, but the real magic happens when you use it to search for specific topics.

Once the transcript is visible, press CTRL + F (or Command + F on Mac) to open your browser’s search bar. Then type in the term you’re looking for. You’ll see every instance where that word or phrase appears in the transcript.
Click on any result, and the video will jump directly to that moment.

It’s a simple trick, but incredibly effective when you want to zero in on the parts of a video that matter most to you.
As an example, in the following video, I want to hear only instances of the indicative mode. So, I searched for indicative and found that it is mentioned 11 times in the video. I can then select each of the instances and click it to navigate to that location.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nghoi...


I hope this is useful,
Tony de Araújo
Channel Creator

8 months ago (edited) | [YT] | 0