September in Portugal is a month that feels a little bit in between, as summer is not quite over, especially in the Algarve, where warm days can continue well into the month.
The beaches are still inviting and terraces are still busy. There is still time to enjoy an evening by the sea. September is when everyday life slowly finds its rhythm again.
Children go back to school and many people return to work after their summer holidays. From one day to another, our calendars start filling up again. After the slower days of August, September brings what we call o regresso à rotina, the return to routine.
And with all of these, it returns a very Portuguese feeling: saudade.
Saudade do verão
If you spend enough time in Portugal, you will hear the word saudade sooner or later.
It is difficult to translate into English. We use it when we miss someone or something that is no longer with us, but it carries a more melancholic meaning than simply saying “I miss it”.
So when someone says “Tenho saudades do verão”, they are saying they miss summer. Maybe the long evenings, days at the beach, family holidays, or just having more time to slow down.
You might hear:
- Tenho saudades das férias → I miss the holidays.
- Já tenho saudades do verão → I already miss summer.
- Tenho saudades daqueles dias na praia → I miss those days at the beach.
Notice the expression ter saudades de, literally, “to have saudades of”. This is a very natural way of expressing that you miss someone, somewhere or something in Portuguese.
Regressar - To return
September is also a good month to learn the verb regressar, meaning to return.
You will see and hear it in many different contexts at this time of year: regressar ao trabalho (return to work), regressar às aulas (go back to school), regressar à rotina (get back into a routine).
For Portuguese people, there is something positive about this return. A new routine can mean new plans and the opportunity to start again after the summer break.
Retomar - To resume
Another useful word at this time of year is retomar. Unlike regressar, which is about returning, retomar is about starting something again after a pause. You can retomar o trabalho (resume work) or retomar os estudos (resume your studies). You can also retomar as aulas de português after a summer break.
September in Portugal is a gentle transition rather than an overnight goodbye to summer. Enjoy those last warm days as you return to familiar habits and make plans for the months ahead.
And perhaps that is why saudade do verão fits the season so well. We can miss what has passed and still look forward to what comes next. So, if you paused your Portuguese lessons over the summer, September might be the perfect time to retomar!
About Anita
Olá, my name is Anita! I was born and raised on the beautiful Alentejo coast of Portugal, but I’ve been living in the Algarve for over 26 years, a region that continues to inspire my love for language, culture, and connection.
I am a university-qualified teacher and have been teaching Portuguese since 2005, transitioning to online teaching in 2020 to reach students worldwide. This led to the founding of Portuguese With Anita, one of the largest communities of Portuguese learners, with over 200,000 followers on its platforms. What began as an unexpected opportunity, teaching small groups of expats and Portugal-lovers, quickly became a true passion.
Over the years, I’ ve had the privilege of serving as Pedagogical Director of an international school in the Algarve, where I designed complete Portuguese language programs for both children and adults. This experience shaped my teaching approach and motivated me to bring all my knowledge into an accessible online format.
To date, I’ve helped over 6,000 students from many different countries learn Portuguese.
Whether my students want to move to Portugal, communicate with loved ones, reconnect with their roots, or simply learn a language they love, my goal is always the same: to help them feel confident, supported, and truly connected to the Portuguese language and culture.
Let’ s learn Portuguese together! Vamos!
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