Portuguese Grammar/Alphabet

Portuguese alphabet, like in other Romance languages has a natural evolution from latin and so it is not strictly phonetic and has some features inheirited from its history. Although, compared to English or even French it is easy to read and not so hard to write. Letters The sounds are better explained in the next chapters. Letter Name of the Letter Sound (IPA) Sound (compared to English) ExampleAaaa as in american fatherfadofateBbebb as in bee (no aspiration)beberto drinkCcekc like in accountcoisathingsc like in sincecedoearlyDdedd as in dozendoistwoEeeé as in French fiancée or e in Spanish negrobelabeautifulɛ ai as in french Palais or e as in English bedferroironFefeff as in finefolhasheetGgegg as in agoGóticoGothicʒs as in pleasure or j as in French JeangeográficogeographicHagásoundless horahourIiiee as in bee but shorter or i as in spanish minamitomithJjotaʒs as in pleasure or j as in French JeanjoiajewelLelell as in lamb, never as in jungleletraletterMememm as in mothermorteiromortarNenenn as in nevernadanothingOooo as in French mot or o as in Spanish nototaltotalɔa as in ball or aw as in lawlordelordPpepp as in people; not aspiredpatapawQquekc like in accountquererto wantRerreɾdd as in laddercaricaturacaricatureʁmore or less, r in French patriecarrocarSessess as in sinceselasaddlezz as in zoocasahouseTttt as in tonguetropastroopsUuuoo as in boot, but shorter or ou as in French fouutopiautopiaVvevv as in victoryvitóriavictoryXxisʃsh as in shexílofonexylophoneksx as in oxydeóxidooxydess as in sinceexplosãoexplosionsoundlessexceçãoexceptionZzezz as in Brazilazimuteazimuth Note: the letter q is always preceded by a u. k, w, and y are not used in native Portuguese words. Digraphs Digraphs is a pair of letters used to sign one sound. Digraph Sound (IPA) Sound (compared to English) Examplechʃsh as in sheacharto findlhʎaprox. ll as in million or gli as in Italian figliofilhosonnhɲaprox. ny as in canyon or ñ as in Spanish mañanaamanhãtomorrowqukc like in accountquestãoquestionrrʁh like american hellocarrocarssss as in sincepassostepscss as in sincedescergo downsçss as in sincedesçago down! Diacritics In Portuguese, a letter with no or with Diacritics are considered the same thing. So, in alphabetic order, we have: entender, ética, Europa. Letter with diacritic Name Sound (IPA) Sound (compared to English) Exampleáa com acento agudostressed aa as in american fathercálicecalixàa com acento grave (Crase)aa as in american fatherFui à cidade.I went to the cityãa com tilãa as in american whatnãonoçce cedilhass as in sincemoçagirlée com acento agudostressed ɛai as in french Palais or e as in English bedpatéticopateticêe com acento circunflexostressed eé as in French fiancée or e in Spanish negrobêbadodrunkíi com acento agudostressed iee as in bee or i as in French midiLíbanoLebanonóo com acento agudostressed ɔa as in ball or aw as in lawpróprioproperôo com acento gravestressed oo as in French mot or o as in Spanish notônicotonicõo com tilõaprox. on as in French boncançõessongsúu com acento agudostressed uoo as in boot, but shorter or ou as in French foumúltiplomultiple Up · Next chapter