The 1000 Most Common Portuguese Words

Learning Language, Portuguese, Portuguese Common Words, Vocabulary -

The 1000 Most Common Portuguese Words

It is extremely frustrating to learn a new language. Even so, the best part is that it isn't as challenging as you think. However, more than just intelligence is required to succeed in this field.


One of the first things you should be doing if you desire to learn Portuguese is to identify and review the 1000 most commonly used Portuguese words. Let us discuss the importance of doing this crucial step.


It is a top-notch way of learning the 1000 most commonly used Portuguese words because it will allow you to engage actively and fluently.


These are the 1000 most important words to learn. These are particularly common words that will definitely help you to know roughly 85% of spoken and written Portuguese.


We'd love to inform you that we publish frequency dictionaries to help you with your study results. They largely encompass all of a language's most commonly used words. Examining our Portuguese frequency dictionary reviews will show you what our customers think.


Gain Knowledge Through the 80/20 Rule, More Known as the Pareto Principle

First and foremost, you must understand the 80/20 rules (Pareto Principle). Yes, only 20% of your results are required to achieve 80% of your language learning outcomes.


Recognizing the words "I have" and "I want" is much more beneficial than studying low-frequency words including "appliance," "chicken coop," or "bladder," which you may decide to comprehend only if you want to describe or interpret them. Thus, you will conduct a specific type of study. They aren't necessary for new students to be knowledgeable about.


The word "throat," which is currently ranked 3500th in frequency, even appears in the first lessons and study material of conventional beginner Portuguese vocabulary educational resources.


We love to use the same words and phrases over and over every day even though there are more appropriate words or phrases to use, right? For instance, while there are multiple synonymous terms for "good," you will almost certainly hear it 90% of the time. Indeed, it is best to start concentrating on the words that will lead to better performance in the shortest period possible.


Be well-versed in the Pareto Principle and the 80/20 rule. The 20% you have completed will compensate for 80% of your language learning success.


What is the significance of the various lists of the top 1000 most commonly used Portuguese words online?

You have presumably seen a plethora of lists of the top 1000 Portuguese words. What is the point of compiling a list of the top 1000 Portuguese words? What is the distinction between a terrible and a great list? In two sections, I'll clarify why:


Reason 1: Since the source texts used differ so greatly, thus every list will be unique.


The written and spoken languages are not the same. Reading and writing, as well as speaking, listening, and writing, require separate vocabularies. This is an important consideration to make before beginning to learn Portuguese vocabulary from a word list.


Consider this: the source text does not provide a mix of spoken and written language, and you want to learn Portuguese to assist you with your daily activities. Abilities such as speaking, writing, reading, and listening are all necessary. Though you can focus more on reading, listening, and speaking. If you follow this procedure, you have a low chance of improving. Hence, I positively urge you to seek out a list that includes both spoken and written Portuguese.


In our frequency lists, we remain dependent on subtitles because they cover both writing and speaking. Reading and comprehending subtitles, according to valid sources, is the step towards creating a formalized frequency list that is congruent with both written and spoken language.


Reason 2: The list was either not reviewed at all or was reviewed imprecisely.


Here is an example -  I'll be using the Wikipedia list. It's a collection of Portuguese frequencies derived from Wikipedia's textual data. It is a representative sample of all Wikipedia text that has been evaluated using a standard text analytical process. There are innumerable text analyzers widely available, each with its own cost and configuration. Wikipedia gathers a list of all particular words and ranks them according to their frequency of use.



The Wikipedia frequency list consists primarily of raw data. These entries were not properly reviewed. This sketchy list contains nonsense names, proper nouns, comparative words, verb conjugations, and unusual words in plural form. I'm displeased that this frequency list has been acknowledged as a reliable Portuguese frequency list from which to learn. It's both heart-wrenching and cringe-worthy for me.


I must state, using a linguistic principle, that such words are not lemmatized. The term "lemmatization" refers to the process of returning a word to its original structure, the lemma, which is the root or dictionary form. The raw data list will include a substantial percentage of conjugated words rather than just the root word.


Language learners will be effectively guided by an intricately lemmatized frequency list. The Pareto Principle can also be applied when looking for verb conjugations. Quickstudy has a superb grammar cheat sheet that you can rely on. Aside from that, our informative and useful books contain all of the Portuguese vocabulary you need to excel in language learning. You can use both of these remarkable tools at the same time.


Here's a fast recap of how to learn a language quickly:


  1. Spend 10 minutes per day practicing and learning at least 10 new Portuguese words.
  2. Gain knowledge about the most commonly used grammatical structures.
  3. Begin by learning the most common verb conjugations, then advance to irregular verb conjugations.
  4. Strive to advance your Portuguese vocabulary.

It is critical to note that learning a second language from a basic word list is not considered "natural language acquisition," and it is inadequate for acquiring and comprehending Portuguese vocabulary.


Contextual learning played a significant role in your first language development. (You can also recognize your educators, family members, and reliable friends to be private counselors because they have set rigid communication instructions for you.)


I encourage you to look for a frequency list with sample sentences if you are just learning new words in your native language. Natural language acquisition occurs in groups rather than as single words from a word list. You will learn more effectively since it is similar to natural language learning. Apart from that, there are Portuguese reading exercises and context-based vocabulary. Each of our editors has included a sample Portuguese-English sentence.


How long does it take you to learn the top 1000 Portuguese words and phrases?

Using complex mathematical ideas, I'll now calculate how long it would take to learn 80% of needed Portuguese.


  • If you learn 30 words in a day, you will attain a satisfactory level in about 33 days.

  • If you learn at least 20 new words daily, you can reach your target in 50 days.

  • If you learn 10 words daily, you can reach your target in 100 days.

What are the most effective ways to expand your vocabulary?

Let me give you a few pieces of advice to help you learn way quicker:


  • To make learning easier, use the spaced repetition strategy. It is advisable to review vocabulary items multiple times. This approach is extensively used in flashcards. A comparable idea is being used in the greater part of Portuguese audio tutorials, including my favorite, Michel Thomas, and Pimsleur. Paul Pimsleur identified memory hacking and spaced repetition after serious research. Based on his research findings, Pimsleur language courses were developed.

  • Set clear targets. Failing to prepare is, without a doubt, preparing to fail. Our objectives must be very detailed, extensive, and ongoing. Examine the preceding instances to ascertain how long it takes to learn the 1000 most commonly used Portuguese words.

  • Maintain your current momentum. Numerous students have chosen to abandon their language studies. Now is an excellent time to join the 1.5% of individuals who achieve success in their pursuits. Yes, according to studies, 98.5% of all conventional language learning continues to fail.


  • Conclusion: Exploring Credible Word Lists Help Students to Learn Portuguese Quickly and Accurately

    Study the first 1000 Portuguese words. Use a resourceful, reviewed, and well-filtered Portuguese frequency list. Both written and spoken language should indeed be included on the list. Check to see if each of the top 1000 words involves at least one sample Portuguese sentence. The words can be comprehended through a context in this manner. Furthermore, learning a language in chunks is an ideal method to simulate natural language acquisition. Start creating goals and realistic strategies for achieving them. Strictly learn those words no matter what!


    Eventually, keep in mind that a year is a long time. On the flip side, a day is just a day. You'll be proficient in Portuguese in no time; just focus on your goals.


    1 comment

    • James Aidan

      Excellent advice and encouragement.

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