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Sound Map

How each sound is made

The sounds that trip people up most: how to move your mouth, what they sound like, and words to listen to, repeat and say.

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Standard mode: the sound, the examples and pairs to compare.

The ÃO sound

How to make it
Say "ah" through your nose and close it into an "oo", also nasal, in one syllable.
Sounds like
Like "ow" in "how", but said with a blocked nose. Hum a little while you say it.
Common slip
Leaving out the nasal: "pão" (bread) becomes "pau" (stick), "mão" (hand) becomes "mau" (bad).

Listen and repeat

  • pãobread

  • mãohand

  • nãono

  • coraçãoheart

  • irmãobrother

Echo: the word plays 3 times, with a pause for you to repeat it out loud.

Pairs that differ only in this sound

Tap both and notice the difference.

Nasal vowels

How to make it
When a vowel comes before M or N at the end of a syllable, air goes through the nose and the M/N almost vanishes: "sim" is a nasal "ee", lips stay open.
Sounds like
"Bem" sounds like a nasal "bay". Don't close your lips on the M.
Common slip
Closing your lips on the M, or skipping the nasal: "mundo" (world) becomes "mudo" (mute).

Listen and repeat

  • simyes

  • bemwell

  • umone, a

  • mundoworld

  • tempotime, weather

Echo: the word plays 3 times, with a pause for you to repeat it out loud.

Pairs that differ only in this sound

Tap both and notice the difference.

Soft R and strong R

How to make it
One R between vowels is a quick tap of the tongue ("caro"). RR, or R at the start of a word, is strong and breathy, like an English "h" ("carro", "Rio" = "HEE-oo").
Sounds like
The soft R is the "tt" in American "better". The strong R is the "h" in "house".
Common slip
Swapping them: "caro" (expensive) and "carro" (car) mean different things.

Listen and repeat

  • caroexpensive

  • carrocar

  • Rioriver, Rio

  • ruastreet

  • parafor, to

Echo: the word plays 3 times, with a pause for you to repeat it out loud.

Pairs that differ only in this sound

Tap both and notice the difference.

The LH sound

How to make it
Press the middle of your tongue (not the tip) against the roof of your mouth and say "l". The tip stays down behind your lower teeth.
Sounds like
Close to "lli" in "million" said quickly: "filho" ≈ "FEE-lyoo".
Common slip
Saying a plain "l": "filha" (daughter) becomes "fila" (queue).

Listen and repeat

  • filhoson

  • mulherwoman

  • trabalhowork

  • olhoeye

  • melhorbetter

Echo: the word plays 3 times, with a pause for you to repeat it out loud.

Pairs that differ only in this sound

Tap both and notice the difference.

The NH sound

How to make it
Same position as LH, middle of the tongue on the roof of your mouth, but the sound goes through your nose.
Sounds like
It's the Spanish "ñ", or "ny" in "canyon".
Common slip
Saying a plain "n": "sonho" (dream) becomes "sono" (sleep).

Listen and repeat

  • banhobath

  • vinhowine

  • amanhãtomorrow

  • minhamy

  • sonhodream

Echo: the word plays 3 times, with a pause for you to repeat it out loud.

Pairs that differ only in this sound

Tap both and notice the difference.

Open and closed E and O

How to make it
Open (é, ó): drop your jaw, mouth wide. Closed (ê, ô): mouth more closed, lips tense.
Sounds like
Open é is like "e" in "bed"; closed ê like "ay" in "say" without the glide. Open ó is like "aw" in "law"; closed ô like "o" in "go" without the glide.
Common slip
Using one E and one O for everything: "avó" (grandma) and "avô" (grandpa) merge.

Listen and repeat

  • avógrandma

  • avôgrandpa

  • cafécoffee

  • vocêyou

  • portadoor

Echo: the word plays 3 times, with a pause for you to repeat it out loud.

Pairs that differ only in this sound

Tap both and notice the difference.

TI and DI as "chee", "jee"

How to make it
In most of Brazil, T and D before an "ee" sound become "ch" and "j": "tia" = "CHEE-ah", "dia" = "JEE-ah". A weak final E sounds like "ee": "leite" = "LAY-chee".
Sounds like
Like "ch" in "cheese" and "j" in "jeep".
Common slip
Keeping a plain "t" and "d". It's still clear (parts of Brazil speak like that), just different from Rio and São Paulo.

Listen and repeat

  • tiaaunt

  • diaday

  • leitemilk

  • tardeafternoon

  • cidadecity

Echo: the word plays 3 times, with a pause for you to repeat it out loud.

Final L sounds like "w"

How to make it
In Brazil, an L at the end of a syllable sounds like "w": "Brasil" = "bra-ZEEW", "sol" = "sow".
Sounds like
That's why "mal" (badly) and "mau" (bad) sound the same.
Common slip
Pronouncing a full "l". Still understood, it just sounds like Portugal or southern Brazil.

Listen and repeat

  • BrasilBrazil

  • solsun

  • futebolfootball

  • papelpaper

  • altotall, loud

Echo: the word plays 3 times, with a pause for you to repeat it out loud.

Weak final O and E

How to make it
Without an accent, a final O sounds like a short "oo" and a final E like a short "ee": "gato" = "GAH-too", "nome" = "NOH-mee".
Sounds like
Stress sits on the syllable before; the last one almost fades away.
Common slip
Reading them as written, with full O and E. Clear, but stiff.

Listen and repeat

  • gatocat

  • nomename

  • obrigadothank you

  • noitenight

  • verdegreen

Echo: the word plays 3 times, with a pause for you to repeat it out loud.