A1 · Alphabet and pronunciation
Consonants: s, z, r, lh, nh, ch
The letters that do not sound the way English reads them.
The s has several sounds, and which one applies depends only on where it stands. At the start of a word and as ss it is sharp, as in « sun »: sopa, passar. Between two vowels it is soft, as in « rose »: casa. At the end of a syllable it sounds in Portugal like « sh »: escola, festas. In Brazil it mostly stays an s there.
The z is a z as in « zoo »: zero, fazer. At the end of a word it too sounds like « sh »: luz. The x has several sounds; most often it is « sh » — caixa, peixe —, in táxi it is ks, in exame a z.
The r has two sounds, and neither is the English one. A single r between vowels is a quick tap of the tongue, like the t in American « water »: caro. At the start of a word and as rr it is strong, usually made at the back of the throat, rolled in some regions: rua, carro. Caromeans expensivecarrois the car
Lh and nh are one sound each: lh like the « lli » in « million » — filho, trabalho —, nh like the « ny » in « canyon » — vinho, senhora. Ch sounds like « sh », never like the ch of « church »: chave. J, and g before e and i, is the soft sound in « measure »: janela, gente. The h is always silent: hoje, hotel.
The form
| s at the start: sharp | sopa |
| s between vowels: soft | casa |
| s at the end of a syllable: like sh | escola |
| z: as in zoo | zero |
| r between vowels: a quick tap | caro |
| rr: strong | carro |
| lh: like lli in million | filho |
| nh: like ny in canyon | vinho |
| ch: like sh | chave |
| j: as in measure | janela |
| h: silent | hoje |
The rules one by one
The form this topic is about
An s between two vowels sounds soft; ss sounds sharp.
Ponho a massa na mesa.I put the pasta on the table.
At the end of a syllable, s sounds like sh in Portugal.
Gosto das festas.I like parties.
A single r between vowels is a quick tap; rr is strong.
O carro é caro.The car is expensive.
lh and nh are a single sound each.
A senhora trabalha aqui.The lady works here.
How to spot it
- ss
- rr
- lh
- nh
- ch
Example sentences
A chave está na porta.The key is in the door.
Hoje trabalho em casa.Today I'm working from home.
A janela da rua está aberta.The window onto the street is open.
Um chá e dois pastéis, se faz favor.A tea and two custard tarts, please.
The trap English speakers fall into
Watch out
English makes no difference between one r and two, so the English ear hears caro and carro as the same word. In Portuguese one letter decides the meaning: carois expensivecarrois the car Say them the same and you will soon start writing them the same.
One r is a tap, two are strong — and ch is always sh.
Your turn
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