Lisbon is a city that is constantly changing. It has long been a destination for its amazing nightlife, charm, and cultural diversity. A large number of tourists visit this part of the world to experience the culture, history, and beauty. As a major hub of tourism, commerce, and trade in Europe, Lisbon has attracted people from all over the world to live and work in the city.
There are also many expatriates who make this city their home. But if you are thinking of making the move here, you might be wondering if you need to speak Portuguese to live there. This article illustrates if it is necessary to learn the native language to live in Lisbon and some top tips for learning Portuguese quickly and easily.
What Attracts Expats To Live In Lisbon?
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Lisbon is the capital of Portugal, and it’s a beautiful city that is home to one of the world’s best-preserved medieval cities. It has many historic monuments, including the Jeronimos Monastery and the Torre de Belem. It is one of the most famous cities in Europe. This city has a lot to offer visitors who want to experience life in Portugal as well as culture outside their comfort zone.
One of the things that makes Lisbon so unique is its diversity. The city has been influenced by several different cultures throughout its history including Roman, Visigoth, Moorish, Christian and Jewish. This means that there are many different kinds of food, architecture and culture from each period represented in the city today.
If you are looking forward to living in this city, you might want to look for serviced apartments in Lisbon. There are multiple properties in different neighborhoods, so you can choose an ideal place to live. You can also check out different serviced apartments in Lisbon from various online platforms. To get the best rates and discounts, look no further than Ukio’s website to look for online Lisbon service apartments.
Is it necessary to speak Portuguese in Lisbon?
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If you are considering moving to Lisbon, one of the first things you will want to consider is whether or not you need to learn Portuguese in order to live there. As it turns out, some people do speak Portuguese and choose to learn it once they arrive in Portugal. Whereas other expats find it comfortable communicating in English.
The decision comes down to whether it will be easier for you to communicate with the people around you in the native language or whether you will be comfortable speaking other languages like English. To decide if you need to speak Portuguese to live in Lisbon, there are a few things you should know.
Portuguese is the official language of Portugal. It’s also spoken as a second language by almost all Portuguese people, and it’s very likely that most natives will speak some English or French. The country is actually considered a bilingual country. That means people can speak both Portuguese and English there.
Portuguese is composed of a Latin-based grammar and lexicon, with influences from Spanish and Italian. It has one of the most complex grammar in the world, so knowing some basic vocabulary will go a long way toward communicating with locals, whether they speak English or not.
If you think that communicating with your neighbours is going to be easy enough without learning Portuguese, then go ahead and take advantage of that. There’s no reason why someone who does have some ability in Portuguese can’t make friends without an accent or communicate with the natives.
Additionally, if you know that being able to speak Portuguese is going to make life easier for yourself and others around you, then go ahead and start learning. You will find that learning a little bit about the history of the country will help break down cultural barriers between yourself and others around you.
Tips For Learning Portuguese
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Learning Portuguese is a great way to expand your horizons and meet new people, especially if you want to live in Lisbon. But, it can be a daunting task, but it doesn’t have to be. Here are a few tips that will help you to learn Portuguese easily and quickly.
1. Find a friend or neighbor who speaks the language
You will have better luck learning from someone already familiar with the language than from a book or online course. They can help you avoid common pitfalls and provide an ear to listen when you need one.
2. Get used to listening to spoken Portuguese
Learning how to speak Portuguese is much easier than learning written Portuguese, so start practising. Start by recording yourself reading out loud and then listen back in order to improve your pronunciation. You can also watch movies in Portuguese, which will help solidify the words in your mind and prevent them from slipping away during conversations with others later on in your studies.
3. Don’t spend too much time studying grammar rules at first
While it’s essential not to underestimate the importance of learning grammar rules early on, they shouldn’t take up more than half an hour per day over several weeks or months because they are not necessary for basic conversation skills anyway. The focus should be on improving pronunciation instead so you can communicate properly with the natives.
4. Buy a dictionary
You can also buy an English-to-Portuguese dictionary with audio features such as translations and pronunciation guides. Furthermore, remember that not all words are spelled the same way in Portuguese and English. Use an online dictionary, so you can learn the right pronunciation.
The Bottom-line
If you are going to live in Lisbon, and you don’t speak Portuguese yet, you might find yourself struggling at first. However, this isn’t necessarily true for everyone, many people who move abroad learn their new language quickly because they have no choice but to do so. In addition to learning some basic vocabulary and greetings when you arrive in Lisbon, there are also plenty of options for learning more about the city and its culture through social media and on the internet.
