Report a problem

Report a problem

Install Portuguesepedia’s WebApp directly from your browser. Here are the instructions for different devices:

Android Devices

  1. Open Chrome and navigate to Portuguesepedia.com.
  2. Menu: Tap the menu (three dots) in the top-right corner.
  3. Add: Select "Add to Home screen."
  4. Confirm: Tap "Add."
  5. Access: Find Portuguesepedia on your home screen.

Similar steps apply to Firefox and Microsoft Edge web browsers.

iOS Devices

Using Safari:

  1. Open Safari and visit Portuguesepedia.com.
  2. Share: Tap the "Share" button (square with an arrow).
  3. Add: Scroll down and tap "Add to Home Screen."
  4. Name: Edit the name if desired, then tap "Add."
  5. Access: Find Portuguesepedia on your home screen.

Using Chrome:

  1. Open Chrome and navigate to Portuguesepedia.com.
  2. Menu: Tap the menu (three dots) in the top-right corner.
  3. Add: Select "Add to Home screen."
  4. Confirm: Tap "Add."
  5. Access: Find Portuguesepedia on your home screen.

Windows Devices

Using Edge:

  1. Open Edge and visit Portuguesepedia.com.
  2. Install: Click the "Install" icon in the address bar or go to the menu (three dots) > "Apps" > "Install this site as an app."
  3. Confirm: Click "Install."
  4. Access: Find Portuguesepedia in your Start Menu or Desktop.

Using Chrome:

  1. Open Chrome and navigate to Portuguesepedia.com.
  2. Menu: Click the menu (three dots) in the top-right corner.
  3. Install: Select "Install [Portuguesepedia]."
  4. Confirm: Follow the prompts.

macOS Devices

Using Safari:

  1. Open Safari and go to Portuguesepedia.com.
  2. Add: Click the "Share" button > "Add to Home Screen."
  3. Name: Edit the name if desired, then tap "Add."

Using Chrome:

  1. Open Chrome and visit Portuguesepedia.com.
  2. Menu: Click the menu (three dots) in the top-right corner.
  3. Install: Select "Install [Portuguesepedia]."
  4. Confirm: Follow the prompts.
  5. Access: Find Portuguesepedia in your Applications folder.

Linux Devices

Using Chrome:

  1. Open Chrome and go to Portuguesepedia.com.
  2. Menu: Click the menu (three dots) in the top-right corner.
  3. Install: Select "Install [Portuguesepedia]."
  4. Confirm: Follow the prompts.
  5. Access: Find Portuguesepedia in your app launcher.

Using Firefox:

  1. Open Firefox and navigate to Portuguesepedia.com.
  2. Menu: Click the menu (three lines) in the top-right corner.
  3. Add: Select "Add to Home screen."
  4. Confirm: Click "Add."

Your Go-To Resource for All Things Portuguese

Portuguesepedia began as a blog for Portuguese language learners, and Articles carry on that legacy. From detailed guides on Portuguese grammar and pronunciation to inspirational tips and insights, Articles cover everything you need to master the language.

Written in English, these articles often link to related Lessons (on topics like grammar and pronunciation) and connect you to other articles on similar subjects for deeper exploration.

Start exploring Articles today and dive into a wealth of knowledge!

Try Lessons

Surprise surprise!

Do you know what constipado means in Portuguese? Probably not what you are thinking...

Get a list of 50+ English-Portuguese False Friends and be surprised.

Magnet False Friends
Articles

A Wealth of Articles on Everything Related to Learning Portuguese


INSTALL app from browser

Grab your FREE guide: Key Strategies to Learn Portuguese and start your journey to fluency today!

Magnet Key Strategies

Master European Portuguese Pronunciation: Essential Guide for Beginners and Beyond

I often hear people say that Portuguese sounds different from other Romance languages. And that’s because it’s true!

So, what is so special about European Portuguese pronunciation?

In short, European Portuguese pronunciation is characterized by an abundance of hushing, nasal, and close-vowel sounds. These phonetic traits make it reminiscent of Slavic languages, even though it is a Romance language.

Before we get into the nitty-gritty of the European Portuguese sound system, let’s take a moment to understand why pronunciation is crucially important for language learners. Read on

Lesson #4 - S and Its Sounds - Portuguesepedia
Lesson #10 ʃ sound - Portuguesepedia
Lesson #24 Vowel a - Portuguesepedia
Lesson #27 Vowel e and its sounds - Portuguesepedia
Letter X and its sounds - Portuguesepedia
Lesson #31 Vowel o - Portuguesepedia
Lesson #37 Vowels i and u - Portuguesepedia
Lesson #40 Digraphs - Portuguesepedia
Lesson #44 Silent H - Portuguesepedia
Lesson #46 c ç qu - Portuguesepedia
Lesson #47 Nasal vowel sounds - Portuguesepedia
Lesson #50 G J GU - Portuguesepedia
Lesson #52 Nasal Diphthongs - Portuguesepedia
Lesson #64 Diphthongs - Portuguesepedia
Lesson #79 Letter z vs sound z - Portuguesepedia
Lesson #81 Sound s - Portuguesepedia
Lesson #100 Nasal Consonants - Portuguesepedia
Lesson #108 Rhotic Sounds in Portuguese - Portuguesepedia
Because Pronunciation Matters.
Portuguese Sounds

Why you should care about your pronunciation

Decent pronunciation skills are vital to putting insecurities away when speaking in your target language.

By feeling more confident in speaking Portuguese, you are more likely to engage more often in conversation. More speaking practice, in turn, translates into progress toward a more articulate speech. It simply is a virtuous circle.

And yet, in my experience, students tend to prioritize grammar and vocabulary over pronunciation.

There is a widespread notion among language learners that pronunciation will naturally improve over time. Well, I’m afraid that is not the case. Actually, it might be quite the opposite.

See, left to its own devices, an underperformed pronunciation is likely to settle in for good. The later you act upon it, the harder it will be to get to grips with it. Thus, it is wise to work on it right off the bat.

So, becoming acquainted with the Portuguese basic sounds is among the first things you want to do as you start your learning journey. It’s simple, your pronunciation skills are a function of your ability to reproduce those basic sound units.

Let’s now take a peek at common features of European Portuguese pronunciation.

Main features of European Portuguese pronunciation

On several occasions, I’ve heard people say that European Portuguese sounds like a cross between Spanish and Russian!

At first, I took it as a joke. Then, I gave it some thought only to realize that it might be the case for foreigners hearing the language for the first time.

Broadly, one can say that European Portuguese has three kinds of sounds that stand out: (1) close-vowel sounds, (2) hushing sounds, and (3) nasal sounds.

Close-vowel sounds

You’ve probably noticed that language sounds in European Portuguese are less vibrant than in other Romance languages ​such as Spanish, Italian, or even Brazilian Portuguese. This is mainly due to the high frequency of close-vowel sounds in the spoken language.

See, Portuguese is a stress-timed language (as opposed to syllable-stressed languages), which means that the time gaps between stressed syllables are fairly consistent – this implies the reduction of unstressed syllables for them to fit into those fixed time slots.

In turn, syllable reduction of unstressed syllables results in close vowels and less clearly pronounced sounds when compared to stressed syllables.

All in all, syllable reduction and close vowel sounds make understanding (and pronouncing) Portuguese more challenging than, say, Spanish.

This is the reason why many language learners have a hard time with their listening comprehension and pronunciation. However, that’s nothing listening practice and phonological awareness won’t fix.

Fricative sounds

Fricative, hushing sounds (as in the word sheep) permeate the language.

In Portuguese, most nouns are pluralized by adding the letter s at the end, the so-called s-plural, which renders a hushing sound.

Also, the s-plural applies to articles, pronouns, and adjectives, thus adding to the prevalence of this fricative sound.

There are, too, several other spelling patterns that produce this hushing sound.

Nasal sounds

This is a Members-only article. Sign in or sign up to get full access to Portuguesepedia.

Idiomatic Dips
Listening Drills
Grammar Lessons
Fill-in-the-Blanks
Audiobooks
Courses
Articles
SIGN IN
SIGN UP

Grab your FREE guide: Key Strategies to Learn Portuguese and start your journey to fluency today!

Magnet Key Strategies

Portuguesepedia offers engaging learning materials to keep your motivation high and help you persist toward fluency. I'm Pedro and I'm creating it all for you! Learn more.

Follow me on Social Media

Grab your FREE guide: Key Strategies to Learn Portuguese and start your journey to fluency today!

Magnet Key Strategies

I struggled with learning Portuguese for years. Textbooks were overwhelming and conversation classes felt intimidating. Then I found Portuguesepedia! Pedro's clear explanations and engaging video lessons finally made things click.

~ Olivia ~

Pedro's infectious enthusiasm make me laugh while I learn. If you're looking for a fun and effective way to learn Portuguese, Portuguesepedia is the answer.

~ Maria ~

One of the things I appreciate most about Portuguesepedia is the platform's focus on grammar. Pedro's explanations are clear and concise, and the Portuguese-English comparisons make even complex grammar concepts easy to understand. Incredibly helpful.

~ Giulia ~

Let's be honest, learning a new language can feel overwhelming. But this platform has changed my experience. The platform's variety of resources keeps me engaged and motivated.

~ Liam ~

Pedro's dedication to teaching Portuguese shines through every aspect of Portuguesepedia. His passion for the language is contagious and it's evident that he pours his heart and soul into creating engaging and effective lessons.

~ Eba ~

What I love most about Portuguesepedia is the variety of resources available, from video lessons and audiobooks to idiomatic dips and listening drills. It's a holistic approach to language learning that caters to all learning styles.

~ Emely ~

Portuguesepedia proved to be an effective way to learn Portuguese. With Pedro's guidance and the platform's extensive resources (and of course with your determination and persistence), you'll sooner or later be speaking Portuguese.

~ James ~

Pedro's teaching style is not only informative but also incredibly engaging, making it easy to stay motivated and focused. Whether you're a beginner or an advanced learner, Portuguesepedia has a great variety of content and formats that offer something for everyone.

~ Jade ~