|
Letter |
|
Pronunciation |
|
|
Example |
Symbol |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
b, f, l, p, t, v |
|
similar to English but softer |
|
|
bolo = boh-loh,
famoso = fah-moh-soh |
c |
|
c |
|
1. before e and i like c in
city |
|
|
cerveja = sayr-veh-zha |
k |
|
|
|
2. c in cat or cone |
|
|
caneta - cah-neh-tah |
|
|
็ |
|
3. like s in sam |
|
|
come็ar = coh-meh-sar |
s |
|
ch |
|
like sh in sham |
|
|
chega = shay-gah |
sh |
|
d |
|
like in English but softer |
|
|
dama = dah-mah |
d |
|
|
|
before e and i often like dg in judge |
|
|
digo = dgee-goh |
|
|
g |
|
1. before a, o, ou u like g in guy |
|
|
garota = gah-rrow-tah |
g |
|
|
|
2. before e and i like s in leisure |
|
|
gelo = zhay-loh |
zh |
|
h |
|
allows silent |
|
|
hotel = oh-tel |
|
|
j |
|
like s in leisure, similar to g before e and i |
|
|
jogo = zhoh-goh |
zh |
|
lh |
|
like lli in William |
|
|
mulher = moo-llier |
lli |
|
m |
|
1. alone, beginning of word and between vowels like m in method |
|
|
metade = meh-tah-dgee |
m |
|
|
|
2. between vowel and consonant or end of word, nasalized
and almost silent |
|
|
sempre = saym pray |
|
|
n |
|
1. alone or between vowels like n in nose |
|
|
nove = noh-veh lindo = lien-doh |
n |
|
|
|
2. in consonant pairs or in endings pluralized, it nasalizes the
preceding vowel |
|
|
homens = oh-means |
|
|
nh |
|
like ni in onion |
|
|
vizinho = vee-zeen-yoh |
ny |
|
q |
|
like c in car |
|
|
que = Kay |
k |
|
r |
|
1. words beginning with r take sound of h |
|
|
rua = hoo-ah |
|
|
|
|
2. r between vowels sounds slighty thrilled |
|
|
Maria = mah-ree-ah |
|
|
|
|
3. ar at the end of word becomes like ahr, no roll and nasalized |
|
|
falar = fah-lahr |
|
|
|
|
4. er sounds like air with soft ending |
|
|
crescer = cres-sehr |
|
|
|
|
5. ir is like ear with soft roll |
|
|
cair = cah-ear |
|
|
rr |
|
trilled r rolling into h sound |
|
|
irritar = ear-hee-tahr |
rh |
|
s |
|
1. words beginning with s like s in sit |
|
|
senha = sayn yah |
s/ss |
|
|
|
2. between two vowels like z in razor |
|
|
brisa = bree-zah |
z |
|
|
|
3. end of word like sh in sheep (regional) |
|
|
gas = ga-eesh |
sh |
|
t |
|
1. like in English at beginning of word |
|
|
teto = teh-toh |
t |
|
|
|
2. towards end of word like ch in cheese (regional) |
|
|
parte = pahr-chee |
tch |
|
x |
|
1. usually like ch in cheese |
|
|
baixo = bye-show |
sh |
|
|
|
2. in ex before a vowel like z in razor |
|
|
experiencia = iz-pee-ree-in-cee-ah |
|
|
|
|
3. sometimes like x in taxi as in English |
|
|
taxi = tac-see |
ks |
|
z |
|
1. beginning of word like z in zip |
|
|
zona = zoh-nah |
z |
|
|
|
2. like sh in sheep at end of word in az, iz or uz
(regional) |
|
|
feliz = feh-leesh |
sh |
