Look No Further: Here are the 10 Best Brazilian Songs to Learn Portuguese
When it comes to listening Brazilian songs to learn Portuguese, many people say they don’t want to do it for two reasons:
Singers sing too fast.
The lyrics are not easy to understand.
And to some extent, I understand their struggle. It’s hard to find good Brazilian songs to learn Portuguese, especially when you don’t know what you want to learn.
That’s why I have curated a selection of 10 songs that I personally recommend you to learn if you want to understand more of Brazil and Portuguese and improve your vocabulary.
They are not particularly beginning friendly, but with some willpower, you can listen to them and learn a lot from them.
And don’t forget to listen and sing along. The more you do that, the more used you will be to the sounds.
And here are the songs.
Aquarela” by Toquinho
Summary: This song is about the power of imagination and creativity, inviting listeners to imagine various scenes as if they were painting an aquarela (watercolor).
Why listen to this song: The language is fairly simple, and the imagery is vivid, aiding comprehension and memorization.
Grammar/Vocabulary: The song uses a wide range of color vocabulary, nature-related words, and the indicative mood (especially the present tense).
“Garota de Ipanema” by Tom Jobim and Vinícius de Moraes
Summary: This iconic bossa nova song describes a beautiful girl from Ipanema passing by and the feelings she stirs up.
Why listen to this song: Its slow pace and repetition of phrases make it easy to follow.
Grammar/Vocabulary: The song is an excellent example of using adjectives.
“Chão de Giz” by Zé Ramalho
Summary: It’s a deep song about a man reflecting on a failed love relationship.
Why listen to this song: The song provides an opportunity to learn more complex sentence structures and vocabulary.
Grammar/Vocabulary: It introduces the use of metaphorical language and some more advanced words.
“Pais e Filhos” by Legião Urbana
Summary: This song explores family relationships, specifically between parents and children, and discusses life and death.
Why listen to this song: It’s a song that influences generations of Brazilians up to this day.
Grammar/Vocabulary: It’s great for learning verb conjugation. It’s also somewhat of a “story,” so it’s easier to follow.
“Asa Branca” by Luiz Gonzaga
Summary: The song tells the story of a man who leaves his home due to drought but promises to return.
Why listen to this song: It depicts people’s struggles in northeastern Brazil, providing cultural context.
Grammar/Vocabulary: It showcases regional vocabulary and is a great song overall.
“Querencia Amada” by Teixeirinha
Summary: The song is a heartfelt homage to the singer’s homeland, Rio Grande do Sul.
Why listen to this song: It provides insight into the gaúcho culture of southern Brazil.
Grammar/Vocabulary: It introduces regional vocabulary and phrases.
“Mas que Nada” by Jorge Ben Jor
Summary: A classic samba song inviting people to join in happiness and leave sadness behind.
Why listen to this song: The upbeat tune and positive message make it enjoyable and memorable.
Grammar/Vocabulary: The song introduces the use of informal language and colloquial phrases.
“Trem-Bala” by Ana Vilela
Summary: A poignant song about the passage of time and the importance of enjoying life’s moments.
Why listen to this song: It’s a popular contemporary song that resonates with many listeners.
Grammar/Vocabulary: It includes various verb tenses and common metaphors in Portuguese.
“Construção” by Chico Buarque
Summary: This song tells the story of a construction worker’s death and critiques the dehumanization of workers.
Why listen to this song: Its complex narrative and social commentary make it a compelling song to study.
Grammar/Vocabulary: This song uses formal and complex language, providing an opportunity to explore the subjunctive mood, which is used to express various states of unreality, such as doubt, possibility, necessity, or action that has not yet occurred.
“Carinhoso” by Pixinguinha
Summary: This is a classic samba song about unrequited love and the longing that comes with it.
Why listen to this song: It’s one of Brazil’s most famous and beloved songs, representing a significant piece of cultural heritage.
Grammar/Vocabulary: It’s suitable for learning romantic and affectionate terms and using the first-person singular in the present tense.
Do you know any other Brazilian songs to learn Portuguese?
If you do, let us know in the comments below.
The Brazilian musical culture is too vast to be encapsulated in these ten recommendations. Share with us the songs you’ve been learning from and why you have used them. And any reason is a good reason!
¡Muchas gracias por esa recopilación de canciones!
Sería posible tener más canciones cantadas por mujeres? Para que las chicas podamos cantarlas en nuestro tono.