E aí, gente! (What’s up, people).

Even though Brasileiros tend to be nice and overlook the fact that you might be mispronouncing some words, it is worth it to try to learn the right way of saying the words. If you practice how to say them correctly, you will also start to understand the words when talking to people, since your brain will already know what to expect. This is why we will be checking out different letters and what they sound like over the next few weeks.

• The letter R: there are two sounds for the letter R in Portuguese:

 

1. The first one would sound like an H does in English.

 

At the beginning of the word:

rápido (fast)

rua (street)

 

When there is double R:

carro (car)

terra (earth)

morro (hill)

 

After an N and before a vowel:

honra (honor)

 

2. The second one sounds like a Spanish R.

 

Between two vowels:

caro (expensive)

barato (cheap)

 

After a consonant and before a vowel:

preto (black)

palavra (word)

trazer (bring)

frango (chicken)

 

When the R is at the end of a syllable and followed by a consonant, the pronunciation varies depending on where you are from in Brasil. I am from Belo Horizonte, so when I say them, they sound like an H:

perto (near)

certo (correct)

curto (short)

 

 

• The letter S: also has two sounds in Portuguese.

 

1. The first one sounds like an S as it is in English.

In the beginning of the word:

sábado(Saturday)

subir (go up)

saber (to know)

som (sound)

 

In the beginning of a syllable, after a consonant:

pensar (think)

falso (false)

 

When there is double S:

massa (dough)

missão (mission)

opressão (oppression)

cassino (casino)

 

At the end of the word or syllable:

Português (Portuguese)

festejar (to party)

pescar (to fish)

– In some places of Brazil, like in Rio de Janeiro, the S at the end of the word or syllable will sound like a SH in English.

 

2. The second one will sound like a Z does in English.

In between two vowels:

casa (house)

gostoso (tasty)

duquesa (duchess)

coisa (thing)

base (base)

usar (use)

crise (crisis)

Brasil (Brazil)

 

This is it for today pessoal (guys), see you next week for some more dicas de pronúncia (pronunciation tips) for different letters.

Tip: go up on this post again and try to remember how to say each word and say them out loud. Then click on the audio to check you have the right pronunciation.

Até semana que vem! (See you next week!)