Looking for the best Portuguese textbooks? (Brazilian Portuguese).
See, some people like learning with courses.
Others want language apps. And some people like learning with textbooks.
And Portuguese textbooks are a simple way to learn Portuguese. Why?
Books guide you from page 0, to page 1, to page 3… to page 100. From your first words to your first conversation. You learn tons of words and grammar rules along the way.
So, in this guide, you get…
Best Portuguese Textbooks & Phrasebooks
1. Living Language Brazilian Portuguese
Living Language makes the list of “best Portuguese textbooks” because of everything you get. Quite a lot.
“A course that is the equivalent of about a full year of college-level Portuguese.”
You get 3 course-books (beginner, intermediate and advanced), 9 CDs (each is about 1 hour long), and online resources.
So, you get “quite enough” to get you up and speaking with Portuguese.
Living Language teaches you the must-know grammar and words in each chapter. Then, at the end of each chapter, they bring it all together so that you can use the rules, make your own sentences, and master what you’ve learned.
Plus, the 9 CDs are there to help you hear Portuguese and guide you through all of the exercises in the book.
Conclusion:
- Good enough of a comprehensive textbook.
- You get a ton of resources.
2. The Everything Learning Brazilian Portuguese Book: Speak, Write, and Understand Basic Portuguese in No Time
- Pages: 304
- Comprehensive
Another decent Portuguese textbook. And like the title says, it covers it all – grammar, writing, reading, speaking, and listening – across 20 chapters.. and a CD.
It’s also one of the cheaper books out there if you’re going by the price.
Conclusion:
- Good for everything.
- Comprehensive textbook.
3. Complete Brazilian Portuguese: Beginner to Intermediate Course
This is another good textbook that promises to take you to the Intermediate level.
Definitely a strong contender on my list of best Portuguese textbooks.
- Pages: 288
This 18 chapter textbook seems to cover it all: grammar explanations, dialogues, vocabulary, exercises, and cultural insights. The only complaint (from some people) is that it may be too fast-paced for some learners – however that may be just a personal preference.
I do like the promise of getting you to the B1/B2 (Intermediate) level.
Conclusion:
- Good comprehensive textbook.
4. Brazilian Portuguese For Dummies
Don’t judge this book by its title.
This is definitely one of the most approachable “learn Portuguese books” out there. Across 384 pages, you’ll learn words, phrases, grammar rules, and conversations for topics like Greetings, Small Talk, Eating, Shopping, Telling Time, Asking for Directions, Emergencies, and much more. You also get a CD with audio so you can listen to the conversations and hear native pronunciation.
Conclusion:
- Good enough of a comprehensive textbook.
5. Portuguese Short Stories for Beginners: 20 Captivating Short Stories to Learn Brazilian Portuguese & Grow Your Vocabulary the Fun Way
You know what’s a good way to learn Portuguese… or anything?
Through stories!
So, how does this book work? You get 20 simple stories along with translations. Then, there’s a summary to help you grasp everything. Then, a vocabulary review list. And finally, exercises and questions to help you review what you’ve read.
While it’s not a “textbook,” it can definitely be a useful supplement to whatever other textbooks you’re using. You learn stories, dialogues, words, boost your range of expression and understanding… and get it all reinforced simply by reading and rereading.
Conclusion:
- Good for reading, boosting vocabulary, and learning through stories.
- Good supplemental resource.
- Wouldn’t recommend it as a starting point. You’d need to get acquainted with reading, have beginner level vocabulary and grammar rules.
6. Conversational Portuguese Dialogues: Over 100 Portuguese Conversations and Short Stories
You know what else is a good way to learn Brazilian Portuguese?
Through conversations. Sure, you can’t “listen” to one through a book, but you can read, re-read and review them.
So, this 299-page book gives you more than enough to read…so that you can speak more Portuguese.
There are 100 chapters; one for each story. Each chapter starts with a story and a conversation. You also get the translations, so you can understand it all.
Conclusion:
- Good for reading and learning conversations… so you can speak more.
- Good supplemental resource.
- Wouldn’t recommend it as a starting point. You’d need to get acquainted with reading, have beginner level vocabulary and grammar rules.
7. Modern Brazilian Portuguese Grammar Workbook
If you’re serious about learning Brazilian Portuguese…
…then you’ll want to tackle grammar head-on. Why? Grammar gives you all the many ways to express yourself…without sounding like a caveman.
So, that’s where this Grammar Workbook comes in.
- Pages: 212
Yes, while not a textbook, workbooks are excellent resources because they…put you to work through exercises. And if you’re working, you’re improving
Conclusion:
- Plenty of exercises.
- Good for grammar.
- Beginner-friendly.
8. Portuguese in 10 minutes a day: Language course for beginning and advanced study.
Can you learn Portuguese in 10 minutes a day? Well, not the whole language… but sure, you can certainly dedicate 10 minutes of your day to learning Portuguese.
And that’s where this beginner-friendly workbook comes in. That’s right, another workbook… but it also includes sticky notes and flashcards for vocab study. You’ll pick up the basics: words, grammar rules, phrases, and sentences.
Conclusion:
- Plenty of exercises.
- Good for grammar.
- Beginner-friendly.
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These are some of the best Portuguese textbooks and books I’ve found so far.
But, if you want something a little more than a “book,” then I recommend PortuguesePod101.
PortuguesePod101 is a Portuguese learning program. You get audio/video lessons made by real teachers. The lessons get you speaking in minutes and are just 3-15 minutes in length. Just press the play button below to check out a lesson.
So, if you want to HEAR real Portuguese and learn faster with a program, I recommend them.
Click here to get a Free Lifetime Account at PortuguesePod101.com.
– The Main Junkie
