What is A1 Level Brazilian Portuguese?

Introduction

A1 is the first level in a six-level system used to describe how well someone speaks a language. When you see A1 attached to Brazilian Portuguese, it means you are at the very beginning of learning the language. You can handle basic interactions using simple words and phrases, but you cannot yet have an open-ended conversation or understand most of what native speakers say to each other.

The basic definition of A1

The term A1 comes from a framework called the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages, or CEFR. This framework was created to give teachers, learners, and employers a shared way to talk about language ability. The framework has six levels, from A1 (beginner) through C2 (mastery).

At A1 level in Brazilian Portuguese, you can understand and use familiar everyday expressions and very basic phrases. You can introduce yourself and answer simple questions about personal details like where you live, people you know, and things you own. You can interact in a simple way if the other person speaks slowly and clearly and is willing to help.

That definition is useful as a reference point, but it does not tell you much about what A1 actually looks like in practice.

What you can do at A1 level

At A1, your Portuguese works in specific, limited situations. You can handle interactions that follow a predictable pattern and use vocabulary you have practiced.

You can introduce yourself and exchange basic greetings. You can say your name, where you are from, and ask someone else the same questions. In a café, you can order a coffee or ask for the check if you use simple phrases you have memorized. You can ask where the bathroom is. You can understand when someone tells you a time or a price if they say it slowly and clearly.

You can read simple signs and notices. If you see a sign that says "saída" (exit), you understand it. You can fill out a basic form that asks for your name, address, and nationality. You can recognize familiar words on a menu, even if you do not understand full descriptions of dishes.

You can write short, simple sentences about yourself. You can write that you live in Austin, that you work as a nurse, or that you like coffee. You cannot write a paragraph explaining why you are learning Portuguese or describing what you did last weekend. You can state facts, but you cannot connect ideas together into longer explanations.

What you cannot do yet at A1 level

Understanding your limitations at A1 is as important as understanding your abilities. You cannot have a real conversation where you respond naturally to unexpected questions. If someone asks you something you have not specifically practiced, you will struggle to answer.

You cannot understand native speakers when they talk to each other at normal speed. Even if you catch a few familiar words, the overall meaning will be lost. You cannot watch a Brazilian movie or TV show and follow the plot. You cannot read a news article or understand most of what you see on social media.

You cannot talk about abstract ideas or explain your thoughts on a topic. You cannot tell a story about something that happened to you beyond the most basic sequence of events. You cannot give your opinion and support it with reasons. You cannot express feelings beyond very simple statements like "estou feliz" (I am happy).

You cannot handle situations that go off script. If you order food and the server asks you a follow-up question you did not expect, you will be stuck. If you try to make small talk and the other person responds with something outside your vocabulary range, you will not be able to continue the conversation.

What A1 looks like in practice

Imagine you are at a café in São Paulo. You have practiced how to order coffee. You walk up and say, "Bom dia. Um café, por favor." (Good morning. One coffee, please.) This works. The server understands you. But then the server asks, "Pequeno, médio ou grande?" (Small, medium, or large?) You recognize the words because you studied them, and you respond, "Médio." (Medium.) The server says something else you do not catch. You smile and nod, hoping it was not important.

This is what A1 feels like. You can execute specific interactions you have prepared for, but you cannot improvise. There are long pauses while you search for words. You rely on memorized phrases. You use simple present tense almost exclusively because that is what you know. When someone speaks to you, you need them to repeat things slowly.

Your sentences are short. "Eu moro em Austin." (I live in Austin.) "Eu trabalho em um hospital." (I work at a hospital.) "Eu gosto de café." (I like coffee.) You state facts one at a time. You cannot link ideas together with words like "because," "but," or "although." You cannot adjust your language for different situations or different levels of formality beyond using "por favor" (please) and "obrigado" (thank you).

Core grammar at A1 level

At A1, you work with the most basic building blocks of Portuguese. You use the present tense to talk about things that are happening now or things that are generally true. You learn a small set of essential verbs and how to use them in their most common forms.

You know how to use the verb ser (to be) to say who you are and where you are from: "Eu sou Jennifer" (I am Jennifer), "Eu sou dos Estados Unidos" (I am from the United States). You know how to use estar (to be) to say how you are feeling or where you are located: "Eu estou bem" (I am well), "Eu estou em casa" (I am at home). These are two different verbs that both translate to "to be" in English, and at A1 you learn the most basic uses of each.

You learn simple question words: quem (who), o que (what), onde (where), quando (when). You can form basic questions using these words, though you might not always get the word order exactly right. You understand that Portuguese uses articles like o (the, masculine) and a (the, feminine) before nouns, and you learn which articles to use with common words, even if you do not fully understand the pattern yet.

You work with personal pronouns: eu (I), você (you), ele (he), ela (she), nós (we). You learn that verbs change depending on who is doing the action, and you memorize the forms you need most often. You do not learn all the verb forms at once. You focus on eu (I) and você (you) first because those are what you need for basic interactions.

Core vocabulary at A1 level

At A1, your vocabulary covers everyday topics in simple terms. You learn numbers so you can talk about quantities, prices, and time. You learn days of the week and months so you can talk about when things happen. You learn words for common foods and drinks: café (coffee), água (water), pão (bread), arroz (rice).

You learn words for family members: mãe (mother), pai (father), irmão (brother), irmã (sister). You learn basic adjectives to describe things: grande (big), pequeno (small), bom (good), ruim (bad), novo (new), velho (old). You learn common verbs for daily activities: comer (to eat), beber (to drink), trabalhar (to work), estudar (to study), morar (to live).

Your vocabulary is practical, not sophisticated. You know words for things you see and do every day. You can talk about your home, your job, your family, and your basic needs. You cannot talk about ideas, emotions in any depth, or anything that requires specialized vocabulary. You might know 300 to 500 words total, and you use them in simple combinations.

How long A1 takes

The time it takes to reach A1 level varies based on how much time you spend studying and practicing. If you study consistently for 15 to 20 minutes each day, you might reach A1 in two to three months. If you study more intensively, perhaps 30 to 45 minutes per day with regular practice, you might get there faster.

Reaching A1 does not mean you feel comfortable or confident. It means you have the minimum foundation in place. You have learned basic pronunciation, you recognize common words when you hear them, and you can produce simple phrases. You still hesitate, make mistakes, and feel frustrated by how much you do not understand.

How A1 feels

A1 feels limiting. You know what you want to say in English, but you cannot say it in Portuguese. You hear people speaking and catch only scattered words. You read something and have to look up almost every word. The gap between what you can do and what you want to do feels enormous.

A1 also involves a lot of memorization. You memorize greetings, common phrases, and basic vocabulary. You practice the same simple patterns over and over. This can feel repetitive, but this repetition is how the basics become automatic. At this stage, you are building the foundation that everything else rests on.

You will feel self-conscious when you speak. You will pause to think of words. You will make grammatical mistakes. Native speakers might switch to English if they know it, which can be frustrating when you are trying to practice. These experiences are normal at A1. Everyone who learns a language goes through this phase.

Moving beyond A1

A1 is not a destination. It is the starting point. As you continue learning, you will move toward A2, where you can handle more situations and understand more of what you hear and read. But A2 requires building on what you learn at A1.

The skills you develop at A1 are foundational. Learning to pronounce Portuguese sounds correctly, to recognize the patterns in how verbs change, to understand basic sentence structure, these form the base for everything that comes after. If you rush through A1 without solidifying these basics, you will struggle later.

At A1, your goal is not to speak fluently or to understand everything. Your goal is to get comfortable with the fundamentals. Learn the most common words thoroughly. Practice basic sentence patterns until they feel natural. Accept that you will not understand most of what you hear, and focus on the pieces you can understand. Build your tolerance for not knowing, because that tolerance is essential for language learning.

A1 level Brazilian Portuguese means you are at the very beginning. You can handle simple, predictable interactions. You cannot yet have conversations or understand authentic content made for native speakers. This phase is about laying groundwork, not about performing. It requires patience, repetition, and accepting that feeling lost is part of the process.