In this stage, you move beyond survival phrases and start living the language. Holding real conversations, talking about the past and future, and handling everyday situations with more confidence.
If you’ve been studying Portuguese for a little while, you’ve probably seen those mysterious letters: A1, A2, B1, B2… but, you might be wondering, what do they actually mean?
These levels come from the CEFR (Common European Framework of Reference for Languages), an international standard that describes language ability across six levels — from complete beginner (A1) to mastery (C2). A2 is the second step on this scale.
In this article, I want to explain what A2 level Portuguese is all about, so you can see if this is the right stage for you.
At A1, the focus is survival. You learn how to introduce yourself, order food, ask for directions. The basics that help you get by.
At A2, something exciting happens: you move beyond survival and start to actually live in Portuguese. You can have short conversations, understand simple stories, and manage everyday tasks with more independence.
Think of A2 as the bridge between “just getting by” and “really interacting.”
By the end of A2, you’ll be able to:
It’s the stage where you’ll still make mistakes, but you’ll also feel much more independent when speaking.
Most learners reach A2 after about 100 to 120 hours of study on top of A1. With consistency, that usually means 6 to 9 months.
Every level has its difficulties, and at A2 the most common are:
If you’ve felt these struggles, don’t worry! it’s a normal part of moving forward.
Here are some questions to see if you’ve already mastered A1:
If you said “yes” to all of these, then parabéns 🎉 — you’re ready for A2!
If you’re ready to move into A2, I’d love to have you in my upcoming A2 Live Intensive Course.
Here’s what you’ll get:
👉 See all the details and sign up here.
Learning Portuguese is a journey, and A2 is such an exciting step. It’s where you stop just surviving and start living the language. I’d love to help you get there.
One of the biggest challenges at A2 level is learning how to talk about the past. In Portuguese, we don’t just have one past tense — we have two: Pretérito Perfeito and Pretérito Imperfeito. At first, this can feel confusing, but once you understand the difference, you’ll be able to tell stories and share experiences much more naturally.
When it comes to drug laws, two words are often confused: legalization and decriminalisation. Many people believe drugs are legal in Portugal, but in reality, Portugal decriminalized drug use, not legalised it.
Fado is more than just music. It’s the sound of the Portuguese soul. Rooted in emotion, poetry, and tradition, Fado captures the melancholy and beauty of life’s fleeting moments. Whether sung in a small corner tavern or on an international stage, this iconic genre continues to define Portugal’s cultural identity.
I’m Sofia, a European Portuguese teacher and artist. I offer engaging small-group intensives, personalized private lessons, and conversational practice designed to help you feel the language—not just study it.
