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kenna59

hi all can you let me know how hard is it to speak the languge.

daria

Very hard.

If you ever have learned French, I can tell you that the grammar is quite similar to the French one (hard, with lots of tricky rules). But for myself, the worse part is to understand, they don't pronounce all the letters as in spanish and the rules of pronuncation are difficult to get. Are you learning the Brasilian Portugaise or the Portugal one? Cause the Portuguese of Portugal is harder to get.

marius.legge

It's an oblique language - I've a '30s all-language phrasebook. 'These eggs are bad' translates directly in Spanish, but in Portuguese becomes 'these eggs are not good'. Anyway, try being hungry on a wet winter's night with five euros in your pocket, that'll break the fear barrier for you.  Read, practice, dare, love it.

StoneCutThrough

I spend only 3 summers in Portugal, lets say every time about 10 weeks. When i came, i could say nothing nor understand. Meanwhile, without ever touching a book or having a teacher, i can talk Portuguese quite okay. Just now i have a little lack of practice.
Never had French at school, just English and Latin, but long time ago.

If you have the will, you can make it. Just hang around with native speakers or maybe children, they are good teachers.
Ah maybe i should add i spend my time not as a tourist, but my cousin lives there. Pretty rural area.

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