Last Updated on September 22, 2025 by Maryam Siddiqui
Is Language the Key to Belonging in Portugal?
After moving to Portugal, many foreigners quickly discover that learning Portuguese is more than just getting through ordering coffee or visiting the bank. Language becomes a key that opens doors not only to independence but also to friendships, cultural understanding, and the kind of warmth that makes you feel at home.
Even a few phrases can transform your experience. They help you connect with neighbors, colleagues, and strangers at the bus stop. Beyond practical use, language alleviates the emotional struggle of relocating to a new country and being away from those close to you.
How Does Language Humanize Everyday Interactions?
While English is widely spoken in Portugal’s big cities, relying on it exclusively can create an invisible barrier with locals. Even if flawed, using Portuguese shows respect for the culture and makes interactions more genuine.
Imagine the difference between your neighbour with a “hello” and a cheerful bom dia! That small gesture can become a friendly exchange, if not the beginning of a wonderful friendship. These small acts build bridges. Instead of remaining an outsider, you become part of the community.
How Do You Move Beyond Survival Phrases to Real Connection?
Most expats use Portuguese to navigate daily life, such as ordering food, buying metro tickets, and asking for directions. This is a great first step, but true belonging begins when you challenge yourself to go further.
Using Portuguese to connect in social spaces, whether at a cooking class, a surf lesson, or a neighborhood festival, creates opportunities for meaningful relationships. Volunteering at community events, joining a local gym, or chatting with parents at your child’s school are all ways to practice Portuguese and build trust.
If you are afraid of making mistakes, just remember that Portuguese people value effort way more than perfection. A few broken sentences are better than silence, and most locals will encourage you, correct you gently, or even celebrate your attempts.
Here are a few conversation starters you can add to your vocabulary:
- És daqui?”- “Are you from around here?”
- “Tens alguma recomendação para um restaurante típico aqui perto?”- “Do you have any recommendations for a typical restaurant nearby?”
- “Adoro o português europeu, mas ainda estou a aprender… Tens paciência para um sotaque estrangeiro?” – “I love European Portuguese, but I’m still learning… Do you have patience for a foreign accent?”
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When Does Portuguese Become Part of Your Identity?
At first, Portuguese may feel like a skill to practice: vocabulary lists, grammar rules, and pronunciation drills. But over time, the language becomes part of your routines, friendships, and sense of self.
You notice it when you begin thinking in Portuguese while grocery shopping or laugh at a joke without translating it in your head. You feel it when a neighbor greets you casually in Portuguese and you reply without hesitation. These moments mark the transition from language as an external tool to language as part of your identity.
Even with limited knowledge, using Portuguese shows that you belong; that you’re not just living in Portugal but truly living with Portugal.
Relocating to Portugal is more than a change of address; it’s the beginning of a new life. By embracing Portuguese, even little by little, you gain far more than vocabulary. You gain confidence, friendships, and a place in everyday life’s rhythm.
About Anita
Anita da Silva, born in 1980, based in Algarve. She is the founder of Portuguese With Anita: one of the biggest communities of Portuguese learners with more than 200K followers on social media (@portuguesewithanita).
And it’s just the beginning because this ambitious teacher has one big mission in mind: spreading the love for the Portuguese language all over the world.
Interested In Moving To Portugal?
This article is a collaboration with Anita da Silva, who is a passionate language educator and content creator who has built a global community around learning Portuguese.
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