Duolingo's course list, read on October 15, 2026, has one Portuguese course, taught from 27 languages. No course on it is named for European Portuguese. Duolingo's own course pages don't say which Portuguese the course teaches, and reviews by Migaku and Portugalist both say it is Brazilian Portuguese.
In Portugal, people say estou a trabalhar for "I'm working," where Brazil says estou trabalhando. Friends call each other tu, and the little word for "me" or "you" often goes after the verb, as in diga-me. For podcasts, videos and more apps, see our European Portuguese guide.
Custom Lessons Made for You
Bubblegum
For serious learners, Bubblegum is the best app to learn European Portuguese. You learn from European Portuguese you can mostly understand, which is called comprehensible input.
Poppy, your AI tutor, writes each lesson in the Portuguese of Portugal, at your level, about what you choose. Ask Poppy for a lesson about a café in Lisbon, and you'll order a bica and a pastel de nata there. Tap any word you don't know, or ask Poppy why a pronoun sits after the verb.
To practice speaking with a person from Portugal, look at the tutors and partners further down.
- European Portuguese is its own journey, separate from Brazilian Portuguese, and lessons are read aloud in a Portugal accent.
- Grammar cards show the Portugal form when it's different, such as estou a fazer next to estou fazendo.
- Words you save show up again in new lessons, thanks to Regenerative Review™.
- Clear, expressive AI voices read every lesson aloud, with a different voice for each speaker.
- You can't bring in your own articles or books to read.
- A new custom lesson costs us real money to make, so your first one is free, and Bubblegum Pro gives you unlimited custom lessons. The lesson library is free for everyone, because we believe everyone should be able to learn.
- Regenerative Review™
- Teaches European Portuguese
Mobile
Courses in Portugal's Portuguese
Each of these apps has a course made for European Portuguese.
Practice Portuguese
Practice Portuguese has taught only European Portuguese since 2012. You can slow down the audio on any dialogue.
- Step-by-step lessons go from A1 to B2.
- More than 800 recorded dialogues come with translated subtitles.
- Flashcards
- Teaches European Portuguese
MobileWeb
Memrise
Memrise picks words for the moments you choose, like meeting a partner's family, then shows people from Portugal saying them on video.
- Its Portuguese (EU) course has more than 500 lessons and more than 300 videos.
- You can practice talking with an AI partner in more than 75 conversations.
- Teaches European Portuguese
MobileWeb
Pimsleur
Pimsleur lessons work hands-free, so you can learn while you walk or drive.
- Its European Portuguese course has two levels of 30-minute audio lessons.
- Voice Coach AI listens and helps with your pronunciation.
- Teaches European Portuguese
MobileWeb
Practice With People From Portugal
italki
When you say something the Brazilian way, ask your tutor how people in Lisbon would say it.
- Book a video lesson with a Portuguese tutor you pick.
- New students can try three lessons for less than $5 each.
MobileWeb
How to Start With Each App
| App | How You Can Start |
|---|---|
| Practice Portuguese | Practice Portuguese is free to download, and most features need a subscription. |
| Memrise | Download it free, then choose Memrise Pro for the full course. |
| Pimsleur | Pimsleur offers a free lesson in 51 languages, then a paid plan. |
| italki | Sign up free, then pay for each lesson you book. |
| Tandem | Joining costs nothing, and Tandem Pro is the paid upgrade. |
Common Questions
Which European Portuguese app should a beginner choose?
If you are serious about learning European Portuguese, start with Bubblegum. Poppy writes lessons at your level about things you like. Or begin with Practice Portuguese if you'd like lessons that start at A1 and go in order.
Does Duolingo teach Brazilian or European Portuguese?
Brazilian, according to reviews. Duolingo's course pages don't name the variety, and Migaku's review says the course teaches Brazilian Portuguese only, and Portugalist says the same. The list has no second Portuguese course to pick instead.
Is Bubblegum free?
Yes. The lesson library is free for everyone, because we believe everyone should be able to learn. It holds lessons that other learners asked Poppy for. A new custom lesson costs us real money to make, so your first one is free, and Bubblegum Pro gives you unlimited custom lessons.
Sources
- Duolingo: course list (read October 15, 2026)
- Duolingo: Portuguese course for English speakers
- Migaku: Duolingo Portuguese review ("Duolingo teaches Brazilian Portuguese exclusively")
- Portugalist (James Cave): Learning European Portuguese? Skip Duolingo
- Wikipedia: Portuguese grammar (estou a trabalhar in European Portuguese, estou trabalhando in Brazil)
- Wikipedia: Brazilian Portuguese (enclisis predominant in European Portuguese; tu and você)
- Practice Portuguese: home page ("Strictly European Portuguese, since 2012")
- Practice Portuguese: current iPhone listing
- Memrise: Portuguese (EU) course
- Memrise: current iPhone listing
- Pimsleur: European Portuguese
- Pimsleur: current iPhone listing (a free lesson in 51 languages)
- italki: Portuguese teachers
- italki: current iPhone listing (three trial classes for less than $5 each)
- Tandem: Learn Portuguese in Lisbon
- Tandem: Learn Portuguese in Porto
- Tandem: current iPhone listing
- Bubblegum
- Tandem
Checked on October 15, 2026 against each app's own pages.
