Which layout the lessons use
Our Portuguese lessons and the on-screen keyboard follow the Brazilian ABNT2 layout. On Windows it is listed as Portuguese (Brazil ABNT2) and on a Mac as Brazilian – ABNT2. The letters are in the same places as on a US keyboard; the differences are the accent keys, the ç key and some symbols. ABNT and ABNT2 keyboards share the same letters, numbers and accents, so either works.
Typing accents on ABNT2
ABNT2 has dead keys: press the accent first, release it, then press the letter. Nothing appears until you press the letter.
- Acute (´) and grave (`): the key to the right of P. Press ´ then a for á (also é, í, ó, ú). Hold Shift on the same key for the grave: ` then a gives à.
- Tilde (~) and circumflex (^): the key to the right of ç. Press ~ then a for ã, or ~ then o for õ. Hold Shift on the same key for the circumflex: ^ then e gives ê (also â and ô).
- Ç: it has its own key, to the right of L, on the home row. Hold Shift for Ç.
- The accent on its own: press the accent key, then Space.
Laptops without the / ? key
A full ABNT2 keyboard has an extra key with / and ? to the left of the right Shift key. Many laptops leave it out. Without it, type AltGr + Q for / and AltGr + W for ?. AltGr is the right Alt key; on a keyboard without it, Ctrl + Alt does the same.
A keyboard with US labels: use US-International
If your keyboard was made for the United States, add the United States-International layout (on a Mac, U.S. International – PC). It keeps every key where its label says and turns ' ` ~ ^ and " into dead keys:
- ' then a gives á, and ' then c gives ç.
- ~ then a gives ã, and ~ then o gives õ.
- ^ then e gives ê, and ` then a gives à.
- To type the apostrophe or quotation mark itself, press it and then Space.
A plain US layout (United States, or U.S. on a Mac) has no accent keys on Windows, so it cannot type ã, á or ç, and the lessons ask for them. Switch to US-International or ABNT2 before you start a Portuguese lesson. On a Mac, the plain U.S. layout can still type accents with Option: Option + E then a gives á, Option + N then a gives ã, Option + I then e gives ê, Option + ` then a gives à, and Option + C gives ç.
Windows
Open Settings, then Time and language, then Language and region. If Portuguese (Brazil) is not in the list, choose Add a language and add it. Then open the options of Portuguese (Brazil), choose Add a keyboard and pick Portuguese (Brazil ABNT2). For US-International, open the options of English (United States) and add United States-International. Switch between installed layouts at any time with Windows + Space.
macOS
Open System Settings, then Keyboard, then Input Sources, and choose Edit. Choose the add button, pick Portuguese, and select Brazilian – ABNT2 (or, under English, U.S. International – PC). Switch from the input menu in the menu bar, or with Control + Space.
Chromebook
Open Settings, then Advanced, then Languages and inputs, then Inputs. Add Portuguese (Brazil) and switch with Ctrl + Shift + Space.
Using a keyboard from Portugal
The Portuguese layout used in Portugal has the same letters and its own ç key, so letter lessons work as they are. The accent keys and many symbols, such as / ? ; : and the quotation marks, sit on other keys, and there is no extra / ? key. For the accent and symbol lessons, add Portuguese (Brazil ABNT2) as described above while you practise, follow the on-screen keyboard because your printed key labels will not match, and switch back to your usual layout with the same shortcut when you are done.
Prefer not to change it?
You can still type on your current layout: the on-screen keyboard always shows the ABNT2 layout and highlights the next key, so you can follow along. See what the on-screen keyboard is for. If keys stop highlighting, read how to fix the keyboard not highlighting.