Not long ago, I went to my local hardware store to buy some plastic wall anchors. You know the ones – those little plastic inserts you use to mount shelves, pictures, and other items to a concrete wall. You drill a hole, tap the anchor into place, and then use a screw to secure whatever you’re hanging.
Where I live in Portugal, most walls are concrete, so these things are everywhere. The Portuguese word for them is bucha, which isn’t too far removed from the English word bushing.
Anyway, I confidently walked into the store and asked for some bruxas.
Everyone immediately burst out laughing.
It didn’t take me long to realize my mistake. Instead of asking for wall anchors, I had just asked for a few witches.
A rabbit or a spoon?
Anyone who has tried to learn another language probably has a similar story. Maybe you’ve asked for a rabbit instead of a spoon (coelho vs. colher), or accidentally said something completely different from what you intended. These moments are part of the process.
The truth is that language learning is messy. It’s full of misunderstandings, mistakes, and awkward moments. But it’s also the only way to learn. You can’t wait until you’re “ready” to speak because that day never really comes.
Making mistakes is perfectly normal. In fact, it’s essential. The only thing you want to avoid is making the same mistakes over and over again without learning from them.
A simple but effective strategy
One thing I’ve found throughout my journey is that Portuguese people are generally very patient and accommodating with learners. A simple desculpe or por favor goes a long way when you’re trying to start a conversation.
Learn a few basic phrases and use them often:
“Desculpe, diga-me uma coisa. Como se diz isto em português?”
“Desculpe, pode falar mais devagar, por favor?”
“Desculpe, estou a aprender português e tenho uma dúvida.”
Learn these phrases well enough that they come naturally. Once people see that you’re making an effort, many will happily help you.
I’ve always said that I take my Portuguese learning seriously, but I don’t take myself too seriously. The goal is to learn, not to protect some misplaced sense of pride. A little embarrassment now and then is a small price to pay for making real progress.
The fear is normal-just ignore it
The most important thing is to get out there and interact with local people. After all, these are the people you’ll be speaking with in everyday life.
One final tip: try not to ask for help from someone who is clearly busy or distracted. Not everyone is looking to have a conversation with a foreigner while they’re rushing through their day. But many people are more than happy to chat if the timing is right.
And if you accidentally ask for witches instead of wall anchors?
Well, that’s just another story you’ll be able to laugh about later.
Find out more: falapt.com
I love your witch story and thank you so much for sharing that mistakes are a welcome part of learning.