Since we are in California, of course many people speak Spanish and those who don’t speak are very familiar with many words. If you know another Latin language, the Grammar becomes easier when you are learning Portuguese but the small differences get most of my students.
For instance there are a lot of words commonly used in Spanish that do exist in Portuguese. However it is not always used the same way and sometimes not used at all.
‘Necessitar’ is one those words. In Brazil we usually say ‘precisar’.
Instead of ‘buscar’, we say ‘procurar’. Buscar is used more as to pick up something or someone.
Portuguese Classes (in LA and online) 