A1 European Portuguese stories for beginners

These are the first stories to read in European Portuguese. An A1 story is short, keeps mostly to the present tense and uses the words you need first: introducing yourself, your family, numbers and your age, food and drink, the weather, and getting around by metro, train and bus.

Every story is built around one common verb, such as ser, estar, ter or ir, which comes back again and again until its forms feel familiar. The Portuguese is the Portuguese of Portugal: tu as well as você, autocarro rather than ônibus, comboio rather than trem, telemóvel rather than celular.

Start with Chamo-me Ana and Bom Dia, Lisboa!, which cover introductions and greetings, then follow the stories in order: each one adds a verb and a little new vocabulary. There are short tracks for children, beginning with Vamos Brincar!, and for teenagers, beginning with A Minha Playlist. When A1 feels easy, move on to A2, where the past tenses begin.