![]() ![]() Sounds like ' ni' in onion: banho(pronounced banyoo) ('bath') Sounds like 'lli' in billion: mulher (pronounced moolyair) (woman)Įxcept at the end of the word, this is pronounced as in may: maio (pronounced myyoo) ('May').Īt the end of a word it causes the preceding vowel to be nasalised: bem (pronounced beyng) ('well'). Soft, as in the English s in pleasure or like 'zh' in azure: jovem (pronounced zhovaing)('young')Īs in look or low or long: mala ('suitcase').Īt the end of a word it sounds fainter, like ow in c ow: Brasil (pronounced brazeeow) When it is unstressed, it sounds like the i in p in: idade (pronounced idahjee) ('age') This is pronounced like the e in evil: decidir ('to decide'). Hard before an o, u or a, as in get: gato (pronounced gahto) ('cat'). This is soft before an e or an i, as in the English s in plea sure: gente (pronounced zhentjee) ('people'). Sounds like frog or front or fair: fado (pronounced fahdoo) The word for 'and', e, is pronounced as ee in sw eep. In penisular Portugese, however, the final e is not pronounced: tarde (pronounced tard) ('late/afternoon'). If it is unstressed, it sounds like the ey in pr ey: bebida (pronounced beybeeda) ('drink').Īt the end of a word e is pronounced like ee in p eep: cidade (pronounced seedahjee ('city'). If this is stressed, it sounds either like the e in s ell: perto (pronouncedperhtoo) ('near') or like the ey in pr ey: saber (pronounced sabeyr) ('to know'). It is palatised before i or a final unstressed e to sound like the ji in jinx: dificuldade (pronounced djeefeeculdahdjee ('difficulty'). ![]() Sounds like ' sh' in shoe or champagne or shore: chuva(pronounced shoova) ('rain') Hard, as in card before an o, a or u: cabeçada ('headbutt') If the c has a cedilla ( ç), it is always soft. This can be soft, like the s in slow before an e or an i: cidade(pronounced seedahjee) ('city'). Sounds like boy or big, or as in bank: obrigado (pronounced obreegahdoo) ('thank you'). If it is unstressed, it is pronounced like the e in rather: mesa (pronounced meza) ('table') If this is stressed, it is pronounced like the a in father but shorter: fado (pronounced fahdoo). Keep in mind that these are approximations, and your understanding of pronunciation will grow as you gain experience speaking. This is followed by and example of common usage in Portuguese. The following chart gives a letter(s) a phonetic example of the sound it makes, and a close approximation in English. This is pronounced like ayooh (the first part rhymes with hay) This is pronounced like the on in s ong but nasalized The letter u is pronounced as in tranq üilo (quiet). The pronunciation is closed as in voc ê (you), av ô (grandfather).Ī contraction of the preposition a (to) and the definite article à (to). The pronunciation is open as in caf é (coffee), av ó (grandmother). Consequently, knowing the Brazilian pronunciation of the various Portuguese vowels, consonants, diphthongs and diagraphs can be extremely useful in helping your improve your pronunciation: Accent Unlike English, each letter usually only makes one sound, and rarely strays from the rules. The better you pronounce a letter in a word, the more understood you will be in speaking the Brazilian language. Pronunciation in Portuguese is very consistent. Without it, you will not be able to say words properly even if you know how to write those words. Learning the Brazilian alphabet is very important because its structure is used in every day conversation.
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