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Spelling and Pronunciation
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Sounds
The phonetic system of the Portuguese language is extremely rich.
It consists of 9 simple vowels, 5 nasalized vowels,
2 semivowels, 25 simple diphthongs, 4 nasalized
diphthongs, 5 simple triphthongs, 4 nasalized
triphthongs, 21 consonants, or a total of 75 entities.
...
Simple Vowels
...
|
Sound |
Spelling |
Position |
Examples |
|
[a] |
á, a |
stressed | página ['paJinç] page parte ['paÒt^] part |
|
a |
unstressed and before l and ct [=t] | altivo [al'tivu] haughty activo [a'tivu] active |
|
|
[ç] |
a |
unstressed | papá [pç'pa] deady |
|
a |
stressed and before m, n, nh | ama ['çmç] (he) loves Ana ['çnç] Ann manhã [mç'N÷] tomorrow |
|
|
a |
in functiion words | a [ç] the feminine definite article
a [ç] to (preposition) |
|
|
e |
stressed and before ch, lh, nh, j | fecho ['fçSu] lock orelha [u'ÒçLç] ear desenho [d^'zçNu] drawing igreja [i'gÒçJç] church |
|
|
[E] |
é, e |
stressed | véspera ['vESp^Òç] late afternoon
neve ['nEve] snow |
|
e |
in the words terminated by -el | notável [nu'tavEl] notorious, notable | |
|
e |
before rt, rr, dr, st, ct [=t] | perto ['pEÒtu] near, soon terra ['teòç] earth, land pedra ['pEdÒç] stone festa ['fEStç] feast tecto ['tEtu] roof |
|
|
[e] |
ê, e |
stressed | pêra ['peòç] pear preto ['pÒetu] black, dark |
|
e |
in the words terminated by -ês, -esa, -ez, -eza | Português [puÒtu'geS] Portuguese (male)
Portuguesa [puÒtu'gezç] Portuguese (fem.) vez [veS] time (one time, two times...) beleza [b^'lezç] beauty |
|
|
e |
in the infinitives terminated by -er | ler [leÒ] to read | |
|
[^] |
e |
unstressed, often in function words | nave ['nav^] ship avenida [av^'nidç] avenue |
|
[i] |
í, i |
stressed | tímido ['timidu] timid vida ['vidç] life |
|
i |
unstressed | pálido ['palidu] pale | |
|
e |
unstressed in the beginning of the word | etapa [i'tapç] stage (period) | |
|
e |
in the conjunction | e [i] and | |
|
[O] |
ó, o |
stressed | avó [ç'vO] grand-mother hora ['OÒç] ship |
|
o |
in many nouns and adjectives of feminine | porta ['pOÒtç] door nova ['nOvç] new (fem.) |
|
|
o |
in the adjective suffixes -osa, -osos, -osas | famosa [fç'mOzç] famous (f.sg.)
famosos [fç'mOzuS] famous (m.pl.) famosas [fç'mOzçS] famous (f.pl.) |
|
|
o |
in the plural forms of some nouns and adjectives, pronounced in sing. with [o] | ovos ['OvuS] eggs novos ['nOvuS] new (m.pl.) |
|
|
o |
in the words terminated by -ol | futebol [fut^'bOl] football | |
|
[o] |
ô, o |
stressed | avô ['avo] grandfather nome ['nom^] name |
|
o |
in many nouns and adjectives of masculine | novo ['novu] new (m.sg.) | |
|
o |
in the adjective suffix -oso | famosos [fç'mozu] famous (m.sg.) | |
|
o |
in the singular forms of some nouns and adjectives, pronounced in plural with [O] | ovo ['ovu] egg novo ['novu] new (m.sg) |
|
|
ou |
stressed and unstressed | outono [o'tonu] autumn ou [o] or |
|
|
o |
in the words terminated by -oa, -or, -ora | boa ['boç] good professor [pÒuf^'soÒ] professor (m) professora [pÒuf^'soÒç] professor (f) |
|
|
[u] |
ú, u |
stressed | últmo ['ultimu] last uva ['uvç] grape |
|
u |
unstressed | mulato [mu'latu] mulate | |
|
o |
unstressed | mano ['mçnu] brother | |
|
o |
the definite article for masculine sg. | o [u] the |
|
Sound |
Spelling |
Position |
Examples |
|
[÷] |
ã |
stressed in the end of the word | irmã [iÒ'm÷] sister cidadã [sidç'd÷] citizen (f.) |
|
a, â |
in the beginning or in the middle of the words before mp or mb | campo ['k÷mpu] field tambor [t÷m'boÒ] drums |
|
|
a |
in the beginning or in the middle of the words before nt, nd, n[k], n[g] | antigo [÷n'tugu] ancient andar [÷n'daÒ] to go branco ['bÒ÷nku] white manga ['m÷ngç] sleeve |
|
|
a, â |
in the beginning or in the middle of the words before a mute n followed by f, v, [s], [z], [S], [J] | ânfora ['÷fuÒç] amphora
manso ['m÷su] mild, silent, calm mancha ['m÷Sç] spot franja ['fÒ÷Jç] fringe, tassel |
|
|
[Ø] |
e |
in the middle of the words before mp or mb | tempo ['tØmpu] time, weather membro ['mØmbÒu] sister |
|
e |
in the stressed beginning or in the middle of the words before nt, nd, n[k], n[g] | entre ['ØntÒ^] between, amid vento ['vØntu] wind venda ['vØndç] sale penca ['pØnkç] cabage rengo ['òØngu] hunchbacked |
|
|
e |
in the middle of the words before a mute n followed by f, v, [s], [z], [S], [J] | desenfiar [d^zØfç'daÒ] to distract
desenvolver ['vØntu] to unpack, unroll lenço ['lØsu] handkerchief senzala [sØ'zalç] an African village desencher [d^zØ'SeÒ] to empty gengiva [JØ'Jivç] gum genro ['JØòu] son-in-law |
|
|
[Ù] |
í, i |
in the beginning or in the middle of the words before mp or mb | impeto ['Ùmp^tu] impetus imberbe [Ùm'bEÒb^] very young (for men) simpático [sÙm'patiku] lovely simbolo ['sÙmbulu] symbol |
|
e |
unstressed in the beginning of the words before mp or mb | emprego [Ùm'pÒegu] employment
embora [Ùm'bOÒç] however, yet |
|
|
í, i |
in the beginning or in the middle of the words before nt, nd, n[k], n[g] | intervalo [Ùnt^Ò'valu] interval
indicativo [Ùndikç'tivu] indicative distinto [diS'tÙntu] distinct sindical [sÙndi'kal] syndical zinco ['zÙnku] zinc lingua ['lÙngwç] language, tongue |
|
|
e |
unstressed in the beginning of the words before nt, nd, n[k], n[g] | entrada [Ùn'tÒadç] entrance, entry
endereço [Ùnd^'Òesu] address encargo [Ùn'kaÒgu] charge (office) engano [Ùn'ganu] misunderstanding |
|
|
i |
in the beginning or in the middle of the words before a mute n followed by f, v, [s], [z], [S], [J] | infinito [Ùfi'nitu] infinite inválido [Ù'validu] invalid sincero [sÙ'sEÒu] sincere inchado [Ù'Sadu] inflated ginja ['JÙJç] morello |
|
|
e |
unstressed in the beginning of the words before a mute n followed by f, v, [s], [z], [S], [J] | enfermo [Ù'feÒmu] ill envelope [Ùv^'lOp^] envelope ensino [Ù'sinu] education enxada [Ù'Sadç] hoe engenho [Ù'JçNu] engine |
|
|
i |
in the end of the words before a mute m | fim [fÙ] end | |
|
[ø] |
o |
in the beginning or in the middle of the words before mp or mb | ombro ['ømbÒu] shoulder compra ['kømpÒç] purchase, buy sombra ['sømbÒç] shade, shadow |
|
o |
in the beginning or in the middle of the words before nt, nd, n[k], n[g] | ontologia [øntulu'Jjç] ontology
onde ['ønd^] where tonto ['tøntu] foolish, silly tronco ['tÒønku] trunk, tree-trunk ditongo [di'tøngu] diphthong |
|
|
o |
in the beginning or in the middle of the words before a mute n followed by f, v, [s], [z], [S], [J] | onça ['øsç] ounce conforto [kø'foÒtu] comfort convite [kø'vit^] invitation conselho [kø'sçLu] advice, counsel concha [køSç] shell conjugar [køJu'gaÒ] to conjugate |
|
|
o |
in the end of the words before a mute m | bom [bø] good | |
|
[ù] |
u |
in the beginning or in the middle of the words before mp or mb | umbigo [ù'bigu] navel cúmplice ['kùmplis^] accomplice lumbago [lùm'bagu] lumbago |
|
u |
in the beginning or in the middle of the words before nt, nd, n[k], n[g] | untar [ùntaÒ] smear junto ['jùntu] together fundo ['fùndu] bottom, foundation junco ['Jùnku] cane fungo ['fùngu] fungus |
|
|
u |
in the beginning or in the middle of the words before a mute n followed by f, v, [s], [z], [S], [J] | unção ['ùs÷o] anointment
trunfa ['tÒùfç] turban funda ['fùdç] sling ungido [ù'Jidu] anointed |
|
|
u |
in the end of the words before a mute m | um [ù] one |
The Portuguese has two semivowels, [j]
and [w], occurring in the diphthongs and
triphthongs; [j] is written as i and e;
[w] is rendered by u and o.
Simple Diphthongs
...
|
Falling Diphthongs |
Rising Diphthongs |
|||||
|
Diphthong |
Spelling |
Examples |
Diphthong |
Spelling |
Examples |
|
|
[aj] |
ai |
pai [paj] daddy bairro ['bajòu] quarter |
[ja] |
ia, ea |
piada ['pjadç] joke leal [ljal] loyal |
|
|
[çj] |
ai, ei |
bailar [bçjlaÒ] to dance leitor [lçjtoÒ] reader |
[jç] |
ia, ea |
vitória [vi'tOÒjç] victory
fêmea ['femjç] female |
|
|
[Oj] |
ói, oi |
herói [i'ÒOj] hero noite ['nOjt^] night |
[jO] |
io, eo |
curiosa [ku'ÒjOzç] curious (f.)
Geórgia ['JjOÒJjç] Georgia |
|
|
[oj] |
oi |
dois [dojS] two pois [pojS] now, well |
[jo] |
io |
curioso [ku'Òjozu] curious odioso [u'djozu] odious |
|
|
[Ej] |
éi |
hotéis [o'tEjS] hotels réis ['rEjS] kings |
[jE] |
ie |
dieta ['djEtç] diet fiel [fjEl] feal |
|
|
[uj] |
ui, oi |
fui [fuj] (I) was coitado [kuj'tadu] miserable |
[j^] |
ie |
espécie [iS'pesj^] kind, sort bienal [bj^'nal] biennal |
|
|
[aw] |
au |
causa ['kawzç] cause pausa ['pauzç] pause |
[ju] |
iu, eú, eo |
viúva ['vjuvç] widow peúga ['pjugç] sock |
|
|
[çw] |
au, ao |
autor [aw'toÒ] author ao [aw] contracted def. art. |
[wa] |
ua, oa |
suar [swaÒ] to sweat voar [æwaÒ] to fly |
|
|
[Ew] |
éu |
céu [sEw] sky troféu [tÒO'fEw] trophy |
[wç] |
ua, oa |
suavidade [swçvi'dad^] voadura [vwç'duÒç] flight |
|
|
[ew] |
eu |
eu [ew] I meu [mew] my |
[wE] |
ue, oe |
Sueco ['swEku] Swedish moeda ['mwEdç] coin |
|
|
[^w] |
eu |
Europa [^wÒOpç] Europe Europeu [^wÒO'pew] ~ean |
[we] |
ue, oe |
dueto ['dwEtu] duet poema ['pwemç] poem |
|
|
[iw] |
iu, io |
riu [òiw] (he) loughed rio [òiw] river |
[wi] |
ui, oi |
juiz [JwiS] judge moído ['mwidu] milled |
|
|
[iç] |
ia |
tia [tiç] aunt ria [òiç] (he) was loughing |
||||
|
Nasalized |
Spelling |
Position |
Occurrence |
Examples |
|
[÷w] |
-ão |
stressed | in different parts of speech | lição [li's÷w] lesson não [n÷w] no |
|
-ão |
stressed | the endings for 3p.pl. of the future indicative and the forms for 3p.pl. of the present indicative of the verbs ser, haver, dar, ir | chegarão [S^gç'Ò÷w] (they)
will come são [s÷w] (they) are hão [÷w] (they) have dão [d÷w] (they) give vão [v÷w] (they) go |
|
|
-am |
unstressed | the verbal endings for 3p.pl. | estudam [iS'tud÷w] (they) study estudaram [iStu'daÒ÷w] (they) studied |
|
|
[øj] |
-õe |
stressed only | in the forms of the verb pór and its derivatives | põe [pøj] (he) puts compõe [køm'pøj] (he) compounds |
|
-ões |
stressed only | in the plural forms of some nouns | lições [li'søjS] lessons
limões [li'møjS] lemons |
|
|
[÷j] |
-ãe |
stressed | the word mãe | mãe [m÷j] mother |
|
-ãe(s) |
stressed | in the plural forms of some nouns | Alemães [ali'm÷jS] Germans irmães [iÒ'm÷jS] sisters |
|
|
-em |
unstressed | in different parts of speech | homem ['Om÷j] man bem [b÷j] well |
|
|
-em |
unstressed | the verbal endings for 3p.pl. | vivem ['viv÷j] (they) live | |
|
[ùj] |
-ui |
stressed | in the word muito | muito ['mùjtu] much, many |
|
Triphthong |
Spelling |
Examples |
|
['ajç] |
aia |
saia ['sajç] skirt |
|
['çju] |
aio, eio |
papagaio [pçpç'gçju] parrot, feio ['fçju] ugly |
|
['çjç] |
eia |
aldeia [al'dçjç] village |
|
[^'aj] |
eai |
cereais [s^Ò^'ajS] cereals |
|
['waj] |
uai, oei |
manuais [mç'nwajS] manuals, limoeiro [li'mwaiÒu] lemon tree |
|
Triphthong |
Spelling |
Examples |
|
['j÷w] |
-ião, -eão |
região [ò^'Jj÷w] region, leão [lj÷w] lion |
|
[w÷w] |
-uão, -oão |
suão [sw÷w] southern, João [Jw÷w] John |
|
['jøj] |
-iõe, -eõe |
regiões [ò^'JjøjS] regions, leões [ljøjS] lions |
|
[wøj] |
-uõe, -oõe |
tabões [tç'bwøjS] planks, soães [swøjS] |
|
Sound |
Spelling |
Position |
Examples |
|
[p] |
p |
in all positions | página ['paJinç] page |
|
[t] |
t |
in all positions | tempo ['tØmpu] time, weather |
|
[k] |
c |
before a, o, u and consonants | costa ['kOStç] coast |
|
qu |
before e and i, the u being mute | aqui [ç'ki] here | |
|
[b] |
b |
in all positions | bem [b÷j] well |
|
[d] |
d |
in all positions | dar [daÒ] to give |
|
[g] |
g |
before a, o, u and consonants | gato ['gatu] cat |
|
gu |
before e and i, the u being mute | guerra ['gEòç] war | |
|
[v] |
v |
in all positions | vida ['vidç] life |
|
[f] |
f |
in all positions | fazer [fa'zEÒ] to do, make |
|
[kW] |
qu |
before a and o | quatro ['kWatÒu] for |
|
[gW] |
gu |
before a and o | água ['agwç] water |
|
[s] |
s |
in the beginning of the words | sopa ['sOpç] soup |
|
ss |
between vowels | osso ['Osu] bear | |
|
x |
between vowels in the middle of the words | próximo ['pÒOsimu] near | |
|
[z] |
s |
between vowels | rosa ['òOzç] rose |
|
s |
at the end of the words, when the next word begins with vowel | os alunos [uz a'lunuS] the schoolboys | |
|
z |
voz alta [vOz 'altç] loud voice | ||
|
z |
before voel | zona ['zOnç] zone | |
|
x |
between e and another vowel in the beginning of the words | exame [izam^] examination exaurir [izçw'ÒèÒ] exhaust |
|
| in the combination ex before a vowel | ex-aluno [çjza'lunu] former disciple | ||
|
[S] |
ch |
in all positions | cheio ['Sçju] full |
|
s |
at the end of the words before a pause | lápis ['lapiS] pencil | |
|
z |
luz [luS] light | ||
|
s |
at the end of the words, when the next word begins with voiceless consonant | os feitos [uS'fçjtuS] the facts | |
|
z |
luz fraca [luS 'fÒakç] faint light | ||
|
s |
before a voiceless consonant | esperar [iSp^'ÒaÒ] to hope | |
|
sc |
before e or i | descer [d^'SEÒ] to descend | |
|
x |
before a vowel in the beginning of the word | xadrez [Sç'dÒeS] chess | |
| after a consonant | enxuto [Ù'Sutu] dry | ||
| in the combination ex before a voiceless consonant | texto ['tçjStu] text ex-presidente [çjSpÒ^zi'dØnt^] ex-president |
||
| in the middle of the words between vowels | baixo ['bajSu] low | ||
|
[J] |
g |
before e and i | ginja ['JÙJç] morello |
|
j |
in all positions | janela [Jç'nElç] window | |
|
s |
at the end of the words and before a word beginning by a voiced consonant | as blusas [çJ 'bluzçS] the blouses | |
|
z |
luz baça [luJ 'basç] opaque light | ||
|
s |
before a voiced consonant and l, n, r | asno ['aJnu] ass, donkey | |
|
x |
in the combination ex before a voiced consonant | ex-ministro [çjJmi'niStÒu] ex-minister
ex-director [çjJdiÒ^'tOÒ] ex-director |
|
|
[m] |
m |
in all positions | mão [m÷w] hand |
|
[n] |
n |
in all positions | não [n÷w] no |
|
[N] |
nh |
in all positions | Espanha [iS'pçNç] Spain |
|
[l] |
l |
in all positions | livro ['livÒu] book |
|
[L] |
lh |
in all positions | mulher [mu'LEÒ] woman |
|
[ò] |
r |
in the begining of the word | Russo ['òusu] Russian |
|
rr |
between vowels | parra ['paòç] vine leaf | |
|
r |
before m, n, l | turno ['tuònu] turn | |
|
r |
after a nasalized vowel | tenro ['tØòu] tender | |
|
[Ò] |
r |
in the end of the words | falar [fa'laÒ] to speak |
|
r |
in the middle of the words between vowels | muro ['muÒu] wall | |
|
r |
in combination with p, t, c, b, d, g | árvore ['arvuÒ^] tree |
|
Spelling |
Sound |
Position |
Examples |
|
ch |
[S] |
in all positions | cheio ['Sçju] full |
|
sc |
before e or i | descer [d^'SEÒ] to descend | |
|
ss |
[s] |
between vowels | osso ['Osu] bear |
|
rr |
[ò] |
between vowels | parra ['paòç] vine leaf |
|
lh |
[L] |
in all positions | mulher [mu'LEÒ] woman |
|
nh |
[N] |
in all positions | Espanha [iS'pçNç] Spain |
|
The first word |
The next word |
Phonetic |
Examples |
|
s, z |
vowel |
[z] |
os alunos [uz a'lunuS] the students voz alta [vOz 'altç] loud voice |
| voiceless consonant |
[S] |
os feitos [uS'fçjtuS] the facts luz fraca [luS 'fÒakç] faint light |
|
| voiced consonant or m, n, l, r |
[J] |
as blusas [çJ 'bluzçS] the blouses
luz baça [luJ 'basç] opaque light |
|
Position |
Phonetic |
Examples |
| before a vowel in the beginning of the word |
[S] |
xadrez [Sç'dÒeS] chess |
| after a consonant | enxuto [Ù'Sutu] dry | |
| in the middle of the words between vowels | baixo ['bajSu] low | |
| between e and another vowel in the beginning of the words |
[z] |
exame [izam^] examination exaurir [izçw'ÒèÒ] exhaust |
| in the combination ex before a voiceless consonant |
[çjS] |
texto ['tçjStu] text ex-presidente [çjSpÒ^zi'dØnt^] ex-president |
| in the combination ex before a voiced consonant |
[çjJ] |
ex-ministro [çjJmi'niStÒu] ex-minister
ex-director [çjJdiÒ^'tOÒ] ex-director |
| in the combination ex before a vowel |
[çjz] |
ex-aluno [çjza'lunu] former disciple |
| between vowels in the middle of the words |
[ks] |
taxi ['taksi] taxi |
| between vowels in the middle of the words |
[s] |
próximo ['pÒOsimu] near |
The stress falls:
All the exceptions of the above rule are marked by a graphic sign.
See also Accentuation and Graphic Signs.
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