Introduction
1.
The Portuguese Alphabet
2.
Pronunciation Guide
3.
Regional Pronunciations
4.
Accents used in Portuguese
5.
Similarities between Portuguese and English
6.
More examples of similar words
1. The Portuguese Alphabet
A B C D E F G H I J L M N O P Q R S T U V X Z
Click↓for MP3 audio files
The Portuguese alphabet consists of 23 letters (18 consonants and 5 vowels).
The letters K, W and Y do not belong to the Portuguese alphabet, but they can be used in names (Wagner/Wilson/Yara/Amaury) or with international terms (kg/km/watt, etc.).
Remark: It is important to know how to pronounce the alphabet as sometimes you have to spell your name or ask people to spell something for you.
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2. Pronunciation Guide
The comparison with English words should help you pronounce the words correctly in Portuguese. Please note that not every sound can be reproduced in written form.
LETTER PORTUGUESE MEANING SOUND ENGLISH
A aluno student
sounds like [a] father
alemã German nasal sound --
B bala candy sounds like [b] bay
C casa house ca/co/cu sounds like [k] key
cedo early ce/ci sounds like [s] city
Ç moça young woman ça/ço/çu sounds like [s] city
CH cheque check sounds like [sh] she
D data date sounds like [d] day
E letra, você letter, you sounds like [e] them
leite milk sounds like [ee] at the end, if unstressed cheese
festa, café party, coffee
sounds like [e] bed
F faca knife sounds like [f]
for
G gato cat ga/go/gu sounds like [g] get
gelo ice ge/gi sounds like [g] beige
GU água water gua/guo sounds like [gw] Nicaragua
português Portuguese gue/gui sounds like [g] get
lingüiça sausage güe/güi sounds like [gw] Nicaragua
H hotel hotel h is always silent, except for borrowed words such as hall, hobby, etc. --
I camisa shirt sounds like [ea]
meat
J jornal
newspaper sounds like [g] beige
L laranja orange la/le/li/lo/lu sounds like [l] like
Brasil Brazil al/el/il/ol/ul sounds like [w] few
LH trabalho work sounds like [ll] million
M mapa map sounds like [m] more
bom good sounds between m and n, similar to the French word bon --
N nada nothing
sounds like [n] no
conta bill sounds like [n] contract
NH amanhã tomorrow sounds like [ng], similar to the French words Avignon and champagne
--
O bonito, avô pretty, grandfather sounds like [o] know
livro book sounds like [w or o] at the end, if unstressed boo/know
moda, avó fashion, grandmother sounds like [aw] law
P pato duck sounds like [p] pie
Q quase almost qua/quo sounds like [kw] quick
aqui here que/qui sounds like [k] key
cinqüenta fifty qüe/qüi sounds like [kw] quick
R recibo receipt similar to [h] sound holiday
honra honor similar to [h] sound, if preceded by n holiday
carta letter sounds like [r], similar to the English or French r morning or jour
caro expensive similar to [r] sound Mary
RR carro car similar to [h] sound holiday
S sopa soup at the beginning sounds like [s] sea
cansado tired if preceded by l/n/r sounds like [s] sea
inglês English after vowels sounds like [s] must
casa house between vowels sounds like [z] zero
SC piscina swimming pool sce/sci sounds like [s]
sea
SÇ desça go down sça/sço sounds like [s] sea
SS assado roasted sounds like [s] sea
T tomate tomato sounds like [t] top
U uva grape sounds like [w] boo
V você you sounds like [v] verb
X México Mexico sounds like [sh] she
caixa box/cashier after ai/ei sounds like [sh] she
táxi taxi sounds like [ks] taxi
próximo next sounds like [s] city
excelente excellent exce/exci sounds like [s] city
texto text excl/exp/ext sounds like [s] must
exame exam exa/exe/exi/exo/exu sounds like [z] zero
Z zero zero before a vowel sounds like [z] zero
feliz happy after a vowel sounds like [s] must
Remark: The letter x has several different pronunciations.
Click↓for MP3 audio files
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3. Regional Pronunciations
For the letters r/s/x/z there are two big regional differences in pronunciation between São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro. Both pronunciations are correct.
Tip: Be aware that there is this difference. Learn to distinguish between them and choose one of the easiest for you.
LETTERS PORTUGUESE ENGLISH
R carta letter
S inglês English
X sexta-feira Friday
Z feliz happy
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4. Accents used in Portuguese
ACCENT INDICATES
(´) acute the pronunciation is open as in café (coffee), avó (grandmother).
(^) circumflex the pronunciation is closed as in você (you), avô (grandfather).
(`) grave a contraction of the preposition a and the definite article a = à (to).
(~) tilde
a nasal sound as in mão (hand).
(..) two dots the letter u is pronounced as in tranqüilo (quiet).
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5. Similarities between Portuguese and English
Even though English is not a Latin language, there are more similarities between Portuguese and English than you might imagine.
Below you will find a table with Portuguese endings and their corresponding forms in English. Pronunciation and stress can sometimes be very different from English and you may find some exceptions, but in general you should not have a problem if you are familiar with Portuguese.
You can expand your vocabulary very quickly if you know these endings.
PORTUGUESE ENGLISH
acto/ato ecto/eto fato, impacto, compacto, contato, aspecto, projeto, objeto, direto act/ect fact, impact, compact, contact, aspect, project, object, direct
ado/ada
irritado/a, evaporado/a, limitado/a, sofisticado/a
ed
irritated, evaporated, limited, sophisticated
al/o
animal, total, capital, profissional, liberal, individual, radical, tradicional, nacional, natural, interno, político, típico
al
animal, total, capital, professional, liberal, individual, radical, traditional, national, natural, internal, political, typical
ante/ente
ento
assistente, imigrante, elefante, importante, permanente, acidente, detergente, freqüente, cliente, paciente, estudante, presidente, violento, talento
ant/ent
assistant, immigrant, elephant, important, permanent, accident, detergent, frequent, client, patient, student, president, violent, talent
ão
prisão, opinião, religião, região
on
prison, opinion, religion, region
ável/ível provável, inevitável, agradável, possível, responsável able/ible probable, inevitable, agreeable, possible, responsible
ção
condição, instrução, loção, negociação, reação, situação, comunicação, conversação, eleição, cooperação, solução, contradição, organização, exceção, qualificação, posição, informação, revolução, corrupção, operação, instituição, população
tion
condition, instruction, lotion, negotiation, reaction, situation, communication, conversation, election, cooperation, solution, contradiction, organization, exception, qualification, position, information, revolution, corruption, operation, institution, population
cia/ça
assistência, violência, preferência, evidência, independência, experiência, inteligência, província, polícia, sentença, presença, justiça
ce
assistance, violence, preference, evidence, independence, experience, intelligence, province, police, sentence, presence, justice
cia
democracia, burocracia
cy
democracy, bureaucracy
dade
curiosidade, universidade, cidade, faculdade, sociedade, prioridade, comunidade, identidade, celebridade
ty
curiosity, university, city, faculty, society, priority, community, identity, celebrity
es
escândalo, estável, espírito, estado, estação, esporte, especial, estória
s
scandal, stable, spirit, state, station, sports, special, story
esso
sucesso, processo, acesso
ess
success, process, access
fia
geografia, fotografia, caligrafia, filosofia
phy
geography, photography, calligraphy, philosophy
fone
telefone, microfone
phone
telephone, microphone
gem
massagem, garagem, imagem, mensagem
age
massage, garage, image, message
gia
tecnologia, biologia, sociologia
gy
technology, biology, sociology
ia/io
família, agência, emergência, indústria, companhia, secretária, adultério, adversário, necessário, aniversário, mistério, categoria, história, estória, laboratório, território
y
family, agency, emergency, industry, company, secretary, adultery, adversary, necessary, anniversary, mystery, category, history, story, laboratory, territory
ico
dinâmico, romântico, público
ic
dynamic, romantic, public
isar/izar
analisar, batizar, legalizar, organizar
ise/ize
analyze, baptize, legalize, organize
ismo
turismo, patriotismo, comunismo
ism
tourism, patriotism, communism
ista
dentista, artista, analista, jornalista, especialista, turista, economista
ist/yst
dentist, artist, analyst, journalist, specialist, tourist, economist
ivo/iva
explosivo, primitivo, exclusivo, criativo, positivo, negativo, alternativa
ive
explosive, primitive, exclusive, creative, positive, negative, alternative
ma
programa, problema, dilema, trauma, drama, sistema, cinema
am/em ma
program, problem, dilemma, trauma, drama, system, cinema
mente
exatamente, pessoalmente, inicialmente, recentemente
ly
exactly, personally, initially, recently
mento
investimento, monumento, momento, documento, instrumento, testamento
ment
investment, monument, moment, document, instrument, testament
ogo
diálogo, catálogo
ogue
dialogue, catalogue
or
vendedor, professor, diretor, sucessor, ator
or
vendor, professor, director, successor, actor
oso/o
famoso, curioso, generoso, nervoso, próspero, sério, tremendo
ous
famous, curious, generous, nervous, prosperous, serious, tremendous
ro
centro, membro, teatro, termômetro
er
center, member, theater, thermometer
são
conclusão, expansão, evasão, fusão, confusão, televisão, decisão
sion
conclusion, expansion, evasion, fusion, confusion, television, decision
ssão
permissão, missão, expressão, discussão
ssion
permission, mission, expression, discussion
ta
diplomata, astronauta
at/aut
diplomat, astronaut
ura/uro
cultura, agricultura, escultura, miniature, arquiterura, futuro
ure
culture agriculture, sculpture, miniature, architecture, future
uto
minuto, instituto, substituto
ute
minute, institute, substitute
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6. More examples of similar words
PORTUGUESE ENGLISH
area area
arte
art
câmera
camera
causa cause
chance chance
classe
class
concerto
concert
crime
crime
fã fan
filme
film
horror horror
hotel
hotel
idéia idea
líquido liquid
lista
list
mapa map
método method
moderno modern
música music
perfume
perfume
foto photo
planeta planet
popular popular
produto
product
rádio radio
reforma reform
serviço service
vítima victim
Back to top
1.
The Portuguese Alphabet
2.
Pronunciation Guide
3.
Regional Pronunciations
4.
Accents used in Portuguese
5.
Similarities between Portuguese and English
6.
More examples of similar words
1. The Portuguese Alphabet
A B C D E F G H I J L M N O P Q R S T U V X Z
Click↓for MP3 audio files
The Portuguese alphabet consists of 23 letters (18 consonants and 5 vowels).
The letters K, W and Y do not belong to the Portuguese alphabet, but they can be used in names (Wagner/Wilson/Yara/Amaury) or with international terms (kg/km/watt, etc.).
Remark: It is important to know how to pronounce the alphabet as sometimes you have to spell your name or ask people to spell something for you.
Back to top
2. Pronunciation Guide
The comparison with English words should help you pronounce the words correctly in Portuguese. Please note that not every sound can be reproduced in written form.
LETTER PORTUGUESE MEANING SOUND ENGLISH
A aluno student
sounds like [a] father
alemã German nasal sound --
B bala candy sounds like [b] bay
C casa house ca/co/cu sounds like [k] key
cedo early ce/ci sounds like [s] city
Ç moça young woman ça/ço/çu sounds like [s] city
CH cheque check sounds like [sh] she
D data date sounds like [d] day
E letra, você letter, you sounds like [e] them
leite milk sounds like [ee] at the end, if unstressed cheese
festa, café party, coffee
sounds like [e] bed
F faca knife sounds like [f]
for
G gato cat ga/go/gu sounds like [g] get
gelo ice ge/gi sounds like [g] beige
GU água water gua/guo sounds like [gw] Nicaragua
português Portuguese gue/gui sounds like [g] get
lingüiça sausage güe/güi sounds like [gw] Nicaragua
H hotel hotel h is always silent, except for borrowed words such as hall, hobby, etc. --
I camisa shirt sounds like [ea]
meat
J jornal
newspaper sounds like [g] beige
L laranja orange la/le/li/lo/lu sounds like [l] like
Brasil Brazil al/el/il/ol/ul sounds like [w] few
LH trabalho work sounds like [ll] million
M mapa map sounds like [m] more
bom good sounds between m and n, similar to the French word bon --
N nada nothing
sounds like [n] no
conta bill sounds like [n] contract
NH amanhã tomorrow sounds like [ng], similar to the French words Avignon and champagne
--
O bonito, avô pretty, grandfather sounds like [o] know
livro book sounds like [w or o] at the end, if unstressed boo/know
moda, avó fashion, grandmother sounds like [aw] law
P pato duck sounds like [p] pie
Q quase almost qua/quo sounds like [kw] quick
aqui here que/qui sounds like [k] key
cinqüenta fifty qüe/qüi sounds like [kw] quick
R recibo receipt similar to [h] sound holiday
honra honor similar to [h] sound, if preceded by n holiday
carta letter sounds like [r], similar to the English or French r morning or jour
caro expensive similar to [r] sound Mary
RR carro car similar to [h] sound holiday
S sopa soup at the beginning sounds like [s] sea
cansado tired if preceded by l/n/r sounds like [s] sea
inglês English after vowels sounds like [s] must
casa house between vowels sounds like [z] zero
SC piscina swimming pool sce/sci sounds like [s]
sea
SÇ desça go down sça/sço sounds like [s] sea
SS assado roasted sounds like [s] sea
T tomate tomato sounds like [t] top
U uva grape sounds like [w] boo
V você you sounds like [v] verb
X México Mexico sounds like [sh] she
caixa box/cashier after ai/ei sounds like [sh] she
táxi taxi sounds like [ks] taxi
próximo next sounds like [s] city
excelente excellent exce/exci sounds like [s] city
texto text excl/exp/ext sounds like [s] must
exame exam exa/exe/exi/exo/exu sounds like [z] zero
Z zero zero before a vowel sounds like [z] zero
feliz happy after a vowel sounds like [s] must
Remark: The letter x has several different pronunciations.
Click↓for MP3 audio files
Back to top
3. Regional Pronunciations
For the letters r/s/x/z there are two big regional differences in pronunciation between São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro. Both pronunciations are correct.
Tip: Be aware that there is this difference. Learn to distinguish between them and choose one of the easiest for you.
LETTERS PORTUGUESE ENGLISH
R carta letter
S inglês English
X sexta-feira Friday
Z feliz happy
Back to top
4. Accents used in Portuguese
ACCENT INDICATES
(´) acute the pronunciation is open as in café (coffee), avó (grandmother).
(^) circumflex the pronunciation is closed as in você (you), avô (grandfather).
(`) grave a contraction of the preposition a and the definite article a = à (to).
(~) tilde
a nasal sound as in mão (hand).
(..) two dots the letter u is pronounced as in tranqüilo (quiet).
Back to top
5. Similarities between Portuguese and English
Even though English is not a Latin language, there are more similarities between Portuguese and English than you might imagine.
Below you will find a table with Portuguese endings and their corresponding forms in English. Pronunciation and stress can sometimes be very different from English and you may find some exceptions, but in general you should not have a problem if you are familiar with Portuguese.
You can expand your vocabulary very quickly if you know these endings.
PORTUGUESE ENGLISH
acto/ato ecto/eto fato, impacto, compacto, contato, aspecto, projeto, objeto, direto act/ect fact, impact, compact, contact, aspect, project, object, direct
ado/ada
irritado/a, evaporado/a, limitado/a, sofisticado/a
ed
irritated, evaporated, limited, sophisticated
al/o
animal, total, capital, profissional, liberal, individual, radical, tradicional, nacional, natural, interno, político, típico
al
animal, total, capital, professional, liberal, individual, radical, traditional, national, natural, internal, political, typical
ante/ente
ento
assistente, imigrante, elefante, importante, permanente, acidente, detergente, freqüente, cliente, paciente, estudante, presidente, violento, talento
ant/ent
assistant, immigrant, elephant, important, permanent, accident, detergent, frequent, client, patient, student, president, violent, talent
ão
prisão, opinião, religião, região
on
prison, opinion, religion, region
ável/ível provável, inevitável, agradável, possível, responsável able/ible probable, inevitable, agreeable, possible, responsible
ção
condição, instrução, loção, negociação, reação, situação, comunicação, conversação, eleição, cooperação, solução, contradição, organização, exceção, qualificação, posição, informação, revolução, corrupção, operação, instituição, população
tion
condition, instruction, lotion, negotiation, reaction, situation, communication, conversation, election, cooperation, solution, contradiction, organization, exception, qualification, position, information, revolution, corruption, operation, institution, population
cia/ça
assistência, violência, preferência, evidência, independência, experiência, inteligência, província, polícia, sentença, presença, justiça
ce
assistance, violence, preference, evidence, independence, experience, intelligence, province, police, sentence, presence, justice
cia
democracia, burocracia
cy
democracy, bureaucracy
dade
curiosidade, universidade, cidade, faculdade, sociedade, prioridade, comunidade, identidade, celebridade
ty
curiosity, university, city, faculty, society, priority, community, identity, celebrity
es
escândalo, estável, espírito, estado, estação, esporte, especial, estória
s
scandal, stable, spirit, state, station, sports, special, story
esso
sucesso, processo, acesso
ess
success, process, access
fia
geografia, fotografia, caligrafia, filosofia
phy
geography, photography, calligraphy, philosophy
fone
telefone, microfone
phone
telephone, microphone
gem
massagem, garagem, imagem, mensagem
age
massage, garage, image, message
gia
tecnologia, biologia, sociologia
gy
technology, biology, sociology
ia/io
família, agência, emergência, indústria, companhia, secretária, adultério, adversário, necessário, aniversário, mistério, categoria, história, estória, laboratório, território
y
family, agency, emergency, industry, company, secretary, adultery, adversary, necessary, anniversary, mystery, category, history, story, laboratory, territory
ico
dinâmico, romântico, público
ic
dynamic, romantic, public
isar/izar
analisar, batizar, legalizar, organizar
ise/ize
analyze, baptize, legalize, organize
ismo
turismo, patriotismo, comunismo
ism
tourism, patriotism, communism
ista
dentista, artista, analista, jornalista, especialista, turista, economista
ist/yst
dentist, artist, analyst, journalist, specialist, tourist, economist
ivo/iva
explosivo, primitivo, exclusivo, criativo, positivo, negativo, alternativa
ive
explosive, primitive, exclusive, creative, positive, negative, alternative
ma
programa, problema, dilema, trauma, drama, sistema, cinema
am/em ma
program, problem, dilemma, trauma, drama, system, cinema
mente
exatamente, pessoalmente, inicialmente, recentemente
ly
exactly, personally, initially, recently
mento
investimento, monumento, momento, documento, instrumento, testamento
ment
investment, monument, moment, document, instrument, testament
ogo
diálogo, catálogo
ogue
dialogue, catalogue
or
vendedor, professor, diretor, sucessor, ator
or
vendor, professor, director, successor, actor
oso/o
famoso, curioso, generoso, nervoso, próspero, sério, tremendo
ous
famous, curious, generous, nervous, prosperous, serious, tremendous
ro
centro, membro, teatro, termômetro
er
center, member, theater, thermometer
são
conclusão, expansão, evasão, fusão, confusão, televisão, decisão
sion
conclusion, expansion, evasion, fusion, confusion, television, decision
ssão
permissão, missão, expressão, discussão
ssion
permission, mission, expression, discussion
ta
diplomata, astronauta
at/aut
diplomat, astronaut
ura/uro
cultura, agricultura, escultura, miniature, arquiterura, futuro
ure
culture agriculture, sculpture, miniature, architecture, future
uto
minuto, instituto, substituto
ute
minute, institute, substitute
Back to top
6. More examples of similar words
PORTUGUESE ENGLISH
area area
arte
art
câmera
camera
causa cause
chance chance
classe
class
concerto
concert
crime
crime
fã fan
filme
film
horror horror
hotel
hotel
idéia idea
líquido liquid
lista
list
mapa map
método method
moderno modern
música music
perfume
perfume
foto photo
planeta planet
popular popular
produto
product
rádio radio
reforma reform
serviço service
vítima victim
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