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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.

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A Wealth of Articles on Everything Related to Learning Portuguese

Hello Beginners!

Learn Portuguese on your own terms

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Portuguese Verb Gems

An exploration of idiomatically rich verbs

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The BIG 5

The bread & butter of Portuguese prepositions

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Portuguese Sounds

Because pronunciation matters

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Portuguese Bad Words

Let me take you on an indecorous journey

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Perfect vs. Imperfect

Break free from the tyranny of the Present tense

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StoryLift

Let stories lift your Portuguese to another level

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Grab your guide 'Key Strategies' – Essential principles that will forever transform the way you learn Portuguese. Get it for FREE!

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25 Portuguese Tongue Twisters to Perfect Your Pronunciation

Want to improve your Portuguese pronunciation? Tongue twisters—trava-línguas in Portuguese—are a fun and effective way to train your tongue and master tricky sounds. Let’s dive in!

The symbols enclosed in forwarding slashes are IPA symbols (International Phonetic Alphabet) representing language sounds. Learn more about the IPA symbols that apply to Portuguese in Specific:  European Portuguese Pronunciation – Complete Guide to Portuguese Phonology and Spelling-Sound Patterns.

Related Video Lessons

Lesson #4 - S and Its Sounds - Portuguesepedia
Lesson #10 ʃ sound - Portuguesepedia
Because Pronunciation Matters.
Portuguese Sounds

/R/, /r/ (guttural and tap r-sounds)

1. O rato roeu a rolha da garrafa do rei da Rússia.

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2. A aranha arranha a rã, a rã arranha a aranha. Nem a aranha arranha a rã, nem a rã arranha a aranha.

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3. Larga a larva, lagartixa. Lagartixa, larga a larva.

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/p/, /b/, /k/, /g/, /t/, /gr/, /tr/, /pr/ (plosives)

4. Um tigre, dois tigres, três tigres.

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5. Traga a tinta em trinta taças.

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6. O Pai do Pedro prega um prego na parede do prédio.

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7. O padre pouca capa tem, porque pouca capa compra.

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8. Percebeste? Se não percebeste faz por perceber para eu perceber que tu percebeste, percebeste? 

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9. Pinga a pia apara o prato, pia o pinto e mia o gato.

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/s/, /z/, /ʃ/, /ʒ/ (sibilant/shushing sounds)

10. A vida é uma sucessiva sucessão de sucessões que se sucedem sucessivamente sem que sucesso suceda.

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11. O sabiá não sabia que o sábio sabia que o sabiá não sabia assobiar.

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12. Azar ou sorte existe? Existe sorte sim, sim existe azar também. Seja azar a minha sorte, azar que sempre acabe em bem.

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13. O estado gastador gasta excessivamente em excesso e espera que o povo persistente o sustente.

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14. A chave do chefe Chaves está no chaveiro.

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15. Casa suja, chão sujo. 

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16. Gente gira come gelado de gengibre à janela mesmo em tempo de geada

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/f/, /v/ (labiodental)

17. O Fábio Fifas fiador fica fulo e faz faísca quando o fio fiado que fia se finda.

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18. O Vasco Vara vai à vila num Volvo vermelho e veloz.

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19. O Vasco, o Filipe, a Vera e a Fátima vão no Volvo à festa da vila e ficam felizes de ver o povo na farra e cheio de vida.

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/ɲ/, /ʎ/ (palatal)

20. A mulher olhou para a filha e viu uma abelha junto à sua orelha.

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21. Amanhã de manhã cedinho ponho o linho aqui no cestinho

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/ew/, /ej/ (diphthongs)

22. Eu, o Abreu e o Bartolomeu vimos o Tadeu Galileu que tudo prometeu e nada deu.

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23. O Pereira da Beira come aveia à lareira junto com o bombeiro Malheiro mais o cabeleireiro da Eira.

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/ãw̃/, /õj̃/, /ãj̃/ (nasal diphthongs)

24. Um limão, dois limões, meio limão.

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25. As mães do João e do Simão vão a Tenões comprar pães e melões. 

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Other reads you may find useful to work on your pronunciation:

• Portuguese Connected Speech for Enhanced Pronunciation and Listening Comprehension
•Portuguese Word Stress and Accent Marks

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