A portable radio terminal comprises a housing, a radio circuit included in the housing, a matching circuit mounted on the top of the housing at a position which is offset from the longitudinal center line of the housing, a load connected to the tip of the matching circuit, and a linear antenna connected to the load. This portable radio terminal further comprises load changing means for changing the value of the load. The matching circuit may comprise a meander matching element, a zigzag-shaped matching element, a helical matching element, a conical matching element, a rectangular helical matching element or a pyramid helical matching element which are formed so as to a predetermined shape, such as a meander shape, a zigzag shape, a helical shape, a conical shape, a rectangular helical shape or pyramid helical shape. Thus, even if the terminal is held in a user's left or right hand, it is possible to increase the quantity of radiation of vertically polarized waves, so that it is possible to provide the optimum antenna construction to carry out good radio communication.