Question | Answer |
ch | pronounced like the ch in machine or the sh in shoot |
lh | pronounced similar to the lli in million |
nh | pronounced like the ni in onion; also similar to the Spanish ñ as in señor |
qu | before a or o pronounced like the qu in quota |
qu | before e or i pronounced like the c in capitol |
rr | pronounced like the h in heat — e.g. "marrom" (brown) pronounced mah-hone |
ss | pronounced like the ss in missing |
te | pronounced either like the ch in chafe or the chee in cheese |
ti | pronounced like the chee in cheese |
ai | pronounced like the ie in pie |
ão | pronounced like the own in town but nasalized |
au | pronounced like the ow in cow or the ou in ouch |
ei | pronounced like the ay in day |
eu | pronounced ay-oo like the ay in hay + the oo in boot |
ia | pronounced ee-ah like the ee in beet + the a in father |
ie | pronounced like the e in yes |
io | pronounced ee-oh like the ee in meet + the o in boat |
iu | pronounced ee-oo like the ee in feet + the oo in boot |
oi | pronounced "closed" like the oy in toy |
ou | pronounced like the ow in slow |
ua | pronounced like the oo-ah in watch minus the w sound |
ue | pronounced oo-eh like the oo in boot + the ay in pay |
ui | pronounced oo-ee like the oo in foot + the ee in beet |
uo | pronounced like the uo in quote |
b | pronounced much like English |
c | before an e or i — pronounced like the s in safe |
c | before an a, o or u — pronounced like the c in coin or cat |
ç | before an a, o or u — pronounced like the s in several |
d | pronounced like English except before i or e where it is pronounced like the dj in judge |
g | before an a, o or u — pronounced like the hard g in got |
g | before an e or i — pronounced like the soft g sound in pleasure |
h | silent except when followed by an n where it creates the nasal sound similar to the Spanish ñ as in señor |
j | pronounced like the dj sound in measure |
k | pronounced like the k in kite |
l | pronounced like English except it tends to nasalize the vowel preceeding it — when following an a or i as the last letter of a word it takes on a w sound |
m | pronounced like English except it tends to nasalize the vowel preceeding it — when the last letter of a word pronounced without closing the lips at the end — like an n |
n | pronounced like English except it tends to nasalize the vowel preceeding it |
r | as the first letter of a word – pronounced like a nasalized h in heat––––inside a word – pronounced much like English––––at the end a word – pronounced somewhat gutterally |
s | between vowels pronounced like the z sound in rose, otherwise liike the s in satisfaction |
t | pronounced like English except when follwed by an e or (especially) an i when it is pronounced like the chee in cheese |
v | pronounced like English |
w | Brazilians tend to pronounce like a v, for example, Walter becomes Valter |
x | variously pronounced like the sh in shed (e.g. xuxa = shoe-sha), the s in seen or the x in taxi |
y | pronounced like the y in yell or the ee sound in funny — mainly in words of foreign origin — alone = ipsilon |
z | pronounced like the z in zero |
a | pronounced like the a in father |
e | variously pronounced either like the ay in say or the e in bet |
i | pronounced like the ee in meet |
o | pronounced like the o in vote |
u | pronounced like the oo in boot |