Thalita Alves
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16 Brazilian Bloggers All Portuguese Learners Should Follow
Want to enter the mind of a native Portuguese speaker?
No mad scientist or crazy brain-swap-operation needed.
All you need is an internet connection and access to the best Brazilian bloggers spilling their thoughts on the web.
No matter what you’re interested in—movies, fashion, politics, you name it—blogs will give you the Brazilian perspective (not to mention authentic Portuguese writing and essential vocabulary!).
So get ready to take a trip through Brazilian bloggers’ brains while boosting your language skills. We’re about to showcase more than a dozen native-speaking bloggers that everyone from beginner to advanced Portuguese learners will love.
Download: This blog post is available as a convenient and portable PDF that you can take anywhere. Click here to get a copy. (Download)
What to Expect from Brazilian Blogs
Blogs are great for getting to grips with what makes Brazilians tick.
Not only will they teach you plenty of colloquial language, they can also give some insight into the local culture and society at large—think pop culture references, political outlooks or something as simple as what’s “cool” in the eyes of local trendsetters.
Of course, what you learn and how you learn from these blogs will differ according to topic. Blogs that set out to be instructional will have more clear-cut language—and, as such, will be much easier to understand. Sites with more of an entertainment focus will be more colloquial and nuanced and should probably be left until you’ve got a solid grip on the Portuguese language.
Also, remember that topics geared towards a general Brazilian audience, like fashion or lifestyle, might also be quite conversational by nature.
These are just simple things to bear in mind when selecting which blogs or bloggers you want to follow more closely. Brazilians are quite active on blogs and social media, so finding one that suits your personal interests shouldn’t be a strenuous task.
If you need help getting your head around slang and colloquialisms, Dicionario inFormal is a fantastic resource. The site is basically a user-curated dictionary with definitions and examples of how everyday terms are used in a sentence.
As always, keeping a dictionary app or a Portuguese translator handy will help you iron out any kinks in your vocabulary.
Other than that, take note of how each category of blog that you focus on showcases Brazilian life. This will always help you with the cultural know-how. If you’re not sure how to do this, it’ll all become clear below.
16 Brazilian Bloggers All Portuguese Learners Should Follow
Fashion Bloggers
Why fashion, you ask? Because at the moment, that’s where you’ll find some of Brazil’s biggest digital influencers (you know this is true when a Netflix series with a Brazilian fashion blogger as its protagonist becomes a thing).
If you’ve ever visited fashion blogs before, you’ll know what to expect: style guides, inspiration, Fashion Week reviews or a list of products that the fashionistas absolutely love.
As alluded to in the previous section, this type of blog is best suited for advanced Brazilian Portuguese learners. Mostly because their posts tend to be quite colloquial. However, it’s not uncommon for bloggers to add a couple of English-language fashion terms into the mix.
To get you started, here are four bloggers to follow:
- Camila Coelho: Camila Coelho is one of Brazil’s most famous fashion bloggers. She has more 6 million followers on Instagram, 3 million on YouTube and nearly 3 million on Facebook! Her blog talks about trends and provides insights into the latest fashion and beauty products to hit the market.
- Julia Petit: Julia Petit started her blog, Petiscos, after spending a stint writing a fashion column for a Brazilian magazine. Since then, Petiscos has grown to become a website that covers all things related to style, beauty and pop culture, with various contributing writers sharing their input on the latest happenings.
- Helena Bordon: Another fashion “it girl.” Helena Bordon is the daughter of Brazilian Vogue’s style director. Inspired by her fashionable upbringing, Bordon writes about the newest trends as well as lifestyle, travel and beauty. Besides her blog, she also has her own sunglasses and accessories label.
Movie Bloggers
If you love movies, you’ll love Brazilian film bloggers. They often focus on writing reviews of both national and international blockbusters. It’s a good way of keeping up-to-date with the newest releases and get plenty of Portuguese reading practice while you’re at it. The content is ideal for intermediate to advanced learners as the language is quite clear-cut and approachable.
Four bloggers and blogs to follow:
- O Pipoqueiro: For those who are wondering, pipoca means popcorn, and pipoqueiro is someone who makes or sells popcorn for a living. But in this case, O Pipoqueiro is a movie fanatic who writes reviews about the latest releases.
- CinePipocaCult: Again with the popcorn theme! CinePipocaCult is more of a magazine-style blog. It consists of interviews, reviews, discussions of iconic cinematic moments, coverage of cultural events and articles about Brazilian and international cinema.
- 365 Filmes: Originally conceptualized as a means of capturing an ambitious pursuit to watch a movie every day of the year, 365 Filmes has since expanded to talk about all things related to its chosen medium. Movie reviews, news and trivia are some of the main offerings.
- AdoroCinema: With a name that literally means “I love cinema,” this is the blog to access if you want to see the latest movie previews, news about upcoming releases and a wide range of reviews. The blog also comprises a section dedicated to TV series.
News and Politics Bloggers
We all know how important it is to keep up with current events, both domestically and in the big-wide-world.
News and politics blogs are mainly written by journalists, and offer more in-depth analysis of the political and economic contexts impacting Brazilian society. Just as you’d expect from a local newspaper or from a magazine, the language on these sites is more formal and easy to understand. That makes them perfect for intermediate to early advanced learners, and possibly confident upper beginners, too.
Four journalists/news bloggers to follow:
- Miriam Leitão: This is a renowned Brazilian journalist and TV presenter who specializes in politics and economics. Besides having her own blog, she also pens a regular column for the Brazilian news site O Globo.
- O Antagonista: With a name that translates as “The Antagonist,” O Antagonista was created by two journalists who formerly worked for Veja, one of Brazil’s most distinguished political magazines. The blog provides news and analysis about politics, the economy and myriad social issues.
- Luis Nassif: A well-established journalist who’s locally known for his economic expertise as well as his strong criticism of major mainstream media outlets. Luis Nassif’s blog is dedicated to providing an alternative view of Brazilian news and politics, as well as critical analysis about the latest current events.
Food Bloggers
Food is an important part of every culture—and Brazil is no different. Especially in a country with so much culinary diversity, getting to know a few local delicacies is going to be… well, a treat!
Local food bloggers tend to cover a mix of local and international recipes, with clear instructions that anyone with a good vocabulary knowledge can pick up and follow. Definitely worth checking out if you’re a beginner looking for a challenge or an intermediate-advanced speaker who loves all things gastronomy.
Four blogs to follow:
- Aqui na Cozinha: With a name that literally translates to “here in the kitchen,” Aqui na Cozinha brings its readers a collection of original recipes with a Brazilian flavor. Patty Martins, the blogger in charge, also offers handy cooking tips that anyone can use at home.
- Panelaterapia: Panela is a cooking pot, terapia means therapy—a fitting name for a blog dedicated to all things cooking. Recipes are organized in various categories and range from traditional desserts to local takes on international dishes.
- Cuecas na Cozinha: Ale Guera’s blog, Cuecas na Cozinha, has been inspiring men to get creative in the kitchen for 10 years. Its name is a bit more nuanced: cueca is men’s underwear, but in this context it’s meant as an affectionate nickname for the blog’s intended target audience. Besides offering a wide selection of recipes, the blog also talks about local gastronomic events and places to visit.
- Pitadinha: Pitadinha is a small pinch (of salt, or whatever spice you’re adding). This blog is filled with recipes, sweet and savory, that appeal to Brazilian traditions. It also features some home cooking tips as well as tips on saving money.
Love those blogs? Then we hope you’ll continue looking for more! If you need a bit of extra inspiration, make sure to check out some of our previous recommendations too. Happy reading, and happier learning.
Download: This blog post is available as a convenient and portable PDF that you can take anywhere. Click here to get a copy. (Download)
