Pronunciation

ORAL VOWELS
Corresponding Sound in EnglishPractical Rules and Notes
fatheraWhen stressed position or before stressed syllables
áAlways stressed and open
sofa or AmericaaWhen unstressed or word final
antâAlways stressed and closed
best, bede
éAlways stressed and open
case, dayeA bit clipped
êAlways stressed and closed
routineeOnly in few situations
machine, routine, didiNote: Different Portuguese pronunciations are often clipped sharply, like a mute e.
Accent does not alter pronunciation
offoOpen, mostly in stressed syllable
óAlways stressed and open
roseoBut clipped
goôAlways stressed and closed, and clipped
lootoMonosyllabic words, unstressed word-final position, before stressed i,
rune; lootu
CONSONANTS
kite; cap; cutcbefore a, o, u and consonants other than h
center; citecbefore e, i and consonants other than h
seeç
dogdbefore a, o, u and other consonants
jar; jill;dbefore e, i
go; gamegbefore a, o, u and other consonants
pleasure; measuregbefore e and unstressed final
hsilent in word-initial position
pleasure; measurejlike a soft j
leadlIn initial position:
Formed with the tongue further forward, with the tip of the tongue near the upper teeth
we;SoftenedlIn final position:
It is softer, similar to the sound of the letter -w
manmIn initial position:
Like English m
mIn final position or before a consonant:
It tends to nasalize the preceding vowel
quake, quotaqThis letter is always followed by a u
Before a, o
kiteqThis letter is always followed by a u before e, i – u is silent
rIn initial position or before another consonant:
It’s pronounced at the back of the mouth (similar to a French back r). Like a breathy h
Note: Different Portuguese pronunciations are trilled with the tongue vibrating in the gum ridge behind the upper teeth position.
rIn middle position, between vowels:
Like a tap or flap against the ridge behind the top teeth.
rIn middle position or before another consonant:
It’s pronounced at the back of the mouth (similar to a French back r). Like a breathy h.
Note: Different Portuguese pronunciations are trilled with the tongue vibrating in the gum ridge behind the upper teeth position or like a tap or flap against the ridge behind the top teeth.
rIn final position:
It’s pronounced at the back of the mouth (similar to a French back r). Like a breathy h.
Note: Different Portuguese pronunciations are like a tap or flap against the ridge behind the top teeth or as the final letter of an infinitive verb, it is not usually pronounced at all.
seesIn initial position or after another consonant:
zippersBetween vowels
zipper; azuresBefore a voiced consonant b, d, ge, gi, j, l, m, n, r, v, or z
Note: Different Portuguese pronunciations are like sh in shine
seesIn final position or before a voiceless consonant, c, g, f, p qu, and t.
Note: Different Portuguese pronunciations are like sh in shine
top; take tbefore a, o, u and other consonants
chip; choosetbefore e, i
  1. some words as shoe (more often)
  2. some words as see
  3. some words as taxi, wax
  4. some words as zipper
xNote: Different variants of exception to the rules
zipper; zealzIs the common pronunciation
s or sh zIn final position or before a voiceless consonant
DOUBLE CONSONANTS
machinech
millionlh
onionnh
rrIt’s pronounced at the back of the mouth (similar to a French back r). Like a breathy h.
Note: Different Portuguese pronunciations are trilled with the tongue vibrating in the gum ridge behind the upper teeth position.
message, passagess