Mastering Portuguese pronunciation starts with understanding its building blocks: phonemes – the distinct sounds that make up words. This guide is your roadmap to unlocking the unique sounds of Brazilian and European Portuguese, ensuring clear communication no matter which dialect you choose.
What’s a Phonetic Chart?
Think of it as a visual dictionary of sounds. It shows you every distinct sound (phoneme) used in a language, like a treasure map leading you to perfect pronunciation. While Brazilian and European Portuguese have their own unique flavors, they share a core set of phonemes.
Your Portuguese Sound Guide:
This chart is your key to unlocking those sounds. We’ve included familiar English words as reference points to help you approximate the correct Portuguese pronunciation. Pay close attention to the bolded portions of the English words for the most accurate guidance.
Vowels:
| Front | Central | Back |
|---|---|---|
| i (see) | ɐ (about) | u (food) |
| e (bed) | ɨ (roses, EP only) | o (go) |
| ɛ (bet) | ɐ̃ (about) | ɔ (law) |
| a (cat) |
Consonants (Part 1):
| Bilabial | Labiodental | Dental | Alveolar |
|---|---|---|---|
| p (pat) | f (fat) | t (top) | s (sit) |
| b (bat) | v (vat) | d (dog) | z (zoo) |
| m (mat) | n (no) |
Consonants (Part 2):
| Postalveolar | Palatal | Velar | Glottal |
|---|---|---|---|
| ʃ (shy) | ʎ (million) | k (cat) | h (hat) |
| ʒ (measure) | ɲ (canyon) | g (go) | |
| ɣ (ago, BP only) |
Diphthongs (Vowel Combinations):
| Sound | Example |
|---|---|
| ɐj | pai (father) |
| ɐ̃w | mão (hand) |
| ej | rei (king) |
| ew | eu (I) |
| iw | viu (saw) |
| oj | boi (ox) |
| ow | poupa (save) |
| uj | fui (went) |
Ready to Sound Like a Local?
Remember, Brazilian and European Portuguese each have their unique pronunciation. Focus on the dialect you’re learning for the most authentic results.
The real magic happens through practice and immersion. Use this chart as your foundation, and dive into the audio recordings in our course to hear these sounds in action! The more you listen and speak, the more natural your pronunciation will become.
Click on one of these links to get started!
Brazilian Portuguese Pronunciation: Embracing the Rhythmic Flow
European Portuguese Pronunciation: Discovering the Elegant Melody