Portuguese is the sixth most widely spoken language in the world, spoken by more than 200 million people. Portuguese is an official language in Portugal, Brazil, Cape Verde, São Tomé and Príncipe, Mozambique, Guinea-Bissau, Angola, East Timor, and Macau. Whether learning the language for business or pleasure, learning any language requires significant effort. Nonetheless, there are a few steps to take to help learn the language as quickly as possible.

Surround yourself with the language. It is not possible for everyone to jump on a plane and move to Brazil or Portugal. Nonetheless, the more surrounded you are with the language, the faster you will learn it. Sign up for Portuguese language courses online or at a local college. Purchase computer language learning programs such as Pimsleur Portuguese or Rosetta Stone Portuguese. Listen to Portuguese music and watch movies in Portuguese.

Study regularly. Short, regular intervals of study are more productive than long, irregular ones. Set time aside every day to study the language.

Learn vocabulary. The more vocabulary you know, the faster you will understand the language. The faster you understand the language, the faster you will be speaking it fluently. Try creative ways to memorize vocabulary. Bounce a balloon in the air while counting in Portuguese. Write on sticky notes the Portuguese words of objects in your house and place them on the object. For example, write 'Teto' and place it on the ceiling.

Make mistakes. Speaking Portuguese is the key to learning it and while doing so, mistakes are inevitable. However, after making a mistake you are likely to learn from it and improve. For example, after asking in Portuguese for cocô, meaning feces, instead of coco, meaning coconut, I will never make the same mistake again.

Learn conjugation. One of the most difficult parts of learning Portuguese for English speakers is the conjugation of verbs. The faster you memorize the basic conjugation of verbs in the past, present, and future, the faster you will be able to communicate clearly.