Portuguese
Portuguese is in FSI's quickest group: 24 weeks of class for an English speaker, and less if you already speak Spanish. These guides cover hours per level, the Spanish head start, and tracking.
Portuguese in numbers
- FSI difficulty
- Category I
- FSI class hours
- 552
- Hours to B1
- ~276
- Hours to B2
- ~442
For a native English speaker. Work out your own finish date or log your Portuguese hours free.
Language Guides 2
Learning Portuguese as a Spanish Speaker: What Transfers and What Trips You Up
Spanish gives you a huge head start in Portuguese, but research shows listening lags far behind reading. Where the gaps are and how to plan your hours.
Language GuidesTracking Your Portuguese Learning Progress: A Practical Guide
How to track your Portuguese learning the right way: hours, activities, streaks, and milestones.
Portuguese FAQ
How long does it take to learn Portuguese?
The U.S. Foreign Service Institute puts Portuguese in Category I: about 24 weeks, or 552 class hours, for a native English speaker to reach professional working proficiency (ILR 3). FSI students also self-study about 17 hours a week on top of class.
How many hours to reach B1 in Portuguese?
About 276 hours from scratch for a native English speaker, by this blog's rule of thumb (half of FSI's class hours). At one hour a day that is about 9 months. A1 is about 69 hours, A2 about 138 and B2 about 442.