Sounds vs Spellings in Portuguese

Let’s talk about the relationship between spellings and spoken sounds. Portuguese, like many languages, isn’t a case of “what you see is what you get.”  Letters can render multiple sounds, and a single sound can be spelled in various ways.  Let’s explore a few examples.

s vs. /s/

s

S can render 4 sounds, namely /s/, /z/, /ʃ/, and /ʒ/.

S renders /s/ in the following situations:

• at the beginning of words: sumo, saco, sino
• preceded by n or r: curso, arsenal, tenso
• double ss (always in between vowels): pressão, passar, processo

/z/ (voiced alveolar fricative)

S renders /z/ in the following situation:

• in between 2 vowels: casa, mesa, asa

/ʃ/ (voiceless postalveolar fricative)

S renders /ʃ/ in the following situations:

• at the end of words: uvas, bananas, laranjas
• before voiceless consonants: teste, mosca, áspero

/ʒ/ (voiced postalveolar fricative)

S renders /ʒ/ in the following situation:

• before voiced consonants: esboço, prisma, desde

/s/

The following spellings will render /s/:

• s at the beginning of words: senha, santo, sino
• ss in between vowels: assassino, massa, pássaro
• c followed by e or i: cem, cimento, alcance
• ç (followed by a, o, or u): aço, açúcar, confiança
• x (exceptionally): próximo, máximo, auxiliar

z vs. /z/

z

Z can render 2 sounds: /z/ and /ʃ/.

/z/ (voiced alveolar fricative)

Z renders /z/ in the following situations:

• at the beginning of words: zero, zinco, zoológico
• in between vowels: bizarro, amizade, certeza

/ʃ/ (voiceless postalveolar fricative)

Z renders /ʃ/ in the following situation:

• at the end of words: paz, feliz, luz

/z/

The following spellings will render /z/:

• z at the beginning of words:  zero, zinco, zoológico
• z in between vowels: bizarro, amizade, certeza
• x in words starting with ex and followed by any vowel: exato, exótico, exemplo

Learn more about the Portuguese sound system: Master European Portuguese Pronunciation: Essential Guide for Beginners and Beyond.