Portuguese Digraphs

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Digraphs are two letters coming together to represent a single sound. Today, we’ll explore seven digraphs common in Portuguese and the sounds they produce.

ch

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Ch always stands for the /ʃ/-sound (as in shale). Here are a few word examples:

encher (fill up)
nicho (niche)
cheiro (smell)

lh

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Lh always stands for the /ʎ/-sound (not present in English). Here are a few word examples:

alho (garlic)
mulher (woman)
escolha (choice)

nh

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Nh always stands for the /ɲ/-sound (not present in English). Here are a few word examples:

lenha (firewood)
pinheiro (pine tree)
castanho (brown)

! Despite being present in the three preceding digraphs (“ch,” “lh,” and “nh”), the letter “h” is silent whenever it stands alone in Portuguese.

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