Every person learning a new language will commit mistakes no matter what. Some mistakes are more common than others. That happens because humans tend to use what they already know from their native language and apply it to the new language they are learning, even when it is not correct.

This is why there are some common mistakes which people who speak English as a native language tend to make, especially in pronunciation. However, there is no need to panic, because when you are aware of those mistakes it becomes easier to correct them.

1. Pronunciation for ão: because there is no sound in English that is similar to this one, sometimes it can be hard to master it. It is very important to know how to make this sound so not to get some words wrong, for exaplample:

• Pão – bread

• Pau – stick

• Mão – hand

• Mau – bad

 

2. Pronunciation for nh and lh. Again, there are no sounds in English that correspond to these, so listen to the ones below and try to say the words out loud.

• Maravilha – worderful

• Alho – garlic

• Aranha – spider

• Banho – shower

 

3. Pronunciation for the two types of e: é and ê. Listen to the words below to see if you can hear the difference.

• Começo – I start (verb)

• Começo – beginning (noun)

• Eu começo pelo começo – I start from the beginning.

• Governo – I rule (verb)

• Governo – government (noun)

• No novo governo sou eu quem governo. – In the new government I am the one who rules.

 

4. Pronunciation for the two types of o: ó and ô. Listen to the words below to see if you can hear the difference.

• Avó – grandmother

• Avô – grandfather

 

5. Correct entonation for questions. This is another big mistake, because in Portuguese the same sentence (using the exact same words) can be an affirmative sentence or question, depending on the intonation. Listen to the sentences below and try to repeat them:

• O Bernardo sabe nadar. – Bernardo can swim.

• O Bernardo sabe nadar? – Can Bernardo swim?

• A Carolina dirige bem. – Carolina drives well.

• A Carolina dirige bem? – Does Carolina drive well?

 

As promised, here are the ansers for last week’s posts. How many did you get right?

 

1. Felipe, você ­­­­conhece a Amanda da nossa sala?
2. Amanhã eu não posso ir ao cinema com você, pois trabalho até tarde.
3. Os turistas não sabem quanto custa a passagem de ônibus.
4. Nós conseguimos imaginar um mundo melhor.
5. Danielle e Érica conhecem Barcelona, elas podem te dar dicas de onde ir.
6. Eu não consigo entender Química.
7. Vocês podem me fazer um favor?
8. André sabe/consegue ler espanhol e francês, mas não fala as línguas muito bem.