Collins Gem. Collins Dictionaries
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| English – Portuguese | A – C |
| D – F | |
| G – I | |
| J – L | |
| M – O | |
| P – R | |
| S – U | |
| V – Z | |
| Portuguese – English | A – C |
| D – F | |
| G – I | |
| J – L | |
| M – O | |
| P – R | |
| S – U | |
| V – Z |
Portuguese is much easier to read than to speak. However, the pronunciation guide used in this book gives as accurate a guide as possible to the sounds of the language. The syllable to be stressed is printed in bold. Note that in conversation words tend to run together.
Vowels (a, e, i, o, u)
| vowel | example | pronunciation | sounds like |
| a | saco | sah-koo | as in father |
| fama | fumuh | hum | |
| fica | feekuh | about | |
| e | terra | terr-uh | terror |
| enorme | eh-norm | ehenquire | |
| especial | eesh-pessyahl | happy | |
| de | duh | about | |
| i | fica | feekuh | police |
| médico | medeekoo | happy | |
| o | cobra | koh-bruh | all |
| homem | omayñ | au pair | |
| vaso | vah-zoo | boot | |
| u | luvas | loovush | boot |
Notes:
The article a sounds like uh (as in the), unless stressed, i.e. à (ah).
e can sound like ay, e.g. fecho (fayshoo), but tends to be silent at the end of words, e.g. pode (pod) unless stressed, e.g. bebé (be-be). The word e (meaning and) always sounds like ee.
The article o and the letter o at the end of words always sound like oo.
Vowel combinations
| ai | mais | mysh |
| ei | peixe | paysh |
| oi | coisa | koy-zuh |
| ou | outro | oh-troo |
Nasal vowels
Vowels with a tilde ~ or followed by m or n in the same syllable should be pronounced nasally (letting air out through the nose as well as the mouth), as in French. We have represented this sound in the pronunciation by ñ, e.g.
| tem = tayñ | com = koñ | um = ooñ |
| pão = powñ | manhã = mun-yañ | põe = poyñ |
Other letters
| example | pronunciation | sounds like | |
| ç | serviço | serveesoo | |
| ch | chá | shah | |
| g | gelo | zhay-loo | as in measure |
| h | always silent | ||
| j | loja | lozhuh | as in measure |
| Ih | mulher | mool-yehr | |
| nh | tenho | ten-yoo | |
| r/rr | always rolled; ‘r’ at beginning of word and double ‘rr’ are forceful and guttural (similar to French ‘r’) | ||
| s | (between vowels) coisa | koy-zuh | |
| (after vowel and at end of word) está lápis | shtalah-peesh | ||
| x | caixa | ky-shuh | |
| z | (at end of word) faz | fash |
1 Use the formal form of address until you are asked to use the familiar form. Wait until you are invited to use first names.
2 There is no official religion, but the population predominantly identifies as Roman Catholic, this being stronger in the north than in the south.
3 It is a legal requirement in Portugal that everyone carries photographic proof of identity at all times.
4 Portuguese people are very proud of their culture, which is different from that of Spain!
5 To hire a car you often have to be at least 21, depending on the car hire company and on the vehicle. Often your driving licence must have been issued at least one year before, and if you are under 25 there may be an extra fee to pay.
6 Portuguese people have a sweet tooth; try some of their specialities such as Toucinho do Céu (heaven’s bacon) and Barriga de Freira (nun’s belly).
7