Lesson 1: Sounds, alphabet and greetings · Brazilian Portuguese · Session 2
Brazilian Portuguese, lesson 1 (Sounds, alphabet and greetings), session 2 of 248: explained in English, with audio for every sentence and exercises.
The Portuguese alphabet (30 min)
Aula 1, sessão 2 de 4 · 30 min
Alphabet and sounds
Part 1 — A to G
| letter | sound | example | english |
|---|---|---|---|
| A a | name: «á» (like «ah») | amigo | friend |
| B b | name: «bê» (like «bay») | bom | good |
| C c | name: «cê» (like «say») | casa | house |
| D d | name: «dê» (like «day») | dia | day |
| E e | name: «é» (like «eh») | escola | school |
| F f | name: «efe» (EH-fee, open e) | família | family |
| G g | name: «gê» (like «zhay») | gato | cat |
Part 2 — H to N
| letter | sound | example | english |
|---|---|---|---|
| H h | name: «agá» (ah-GAH); the letter is silent | hotel | hotel |
| I i | name: «i» (like «ee») | ilha | island |
| J j | name: «jota» (ZHOH-tah) | janeiro | January |
| K k | name: «cá» (kah); only in foreign words and abbreviations | kiwi | kiwi |
| L l | name: «ele» (EH-lee, open e) | livro | book |
| M m | name: «eme» (EH~-mee) | mãe | mother |
| N n | name: «ene» (EH-nee) | nome | name |
Part 3 — O to V
| letter | sound | example | english |
|---|---|---|---|
| O o | name: «ó» (like «aw») | obrigado | thank you (man) |
| P p | name: «pê» (like «pay») | pão | bread |
| Q q | name: «quê» (like «kay»); always followed by u | queijo | cheese |
| R r | name: «erre» (EH-hee, open e) | rua | street |
| S s | name: «esse» (EH-see, open e) | sol | sun |
| T t | name: «tê» (like «tay») | tarde | afternoon |
| U u | name: «u» (like «oo») | uva | grape |
| V v | name: «vê» (like «vay») | vinho | wine |
Part 4 — W, X, Y, Z
| letter | sound | example | english |
|---|---|---|---|
| W w | name: «dáblio» (DAH-blee-oo); foreign words | web | web |
| X x | name: «xis» (like «sheess») | xícara | cup |
| Y y | name: «ípsilon» (EEP-see-lon); foreign words | yoga | yoga |
| Z z | name: «zê» (like «zay») | zero | zero |
Spelling out loud and the accented letters
in Brazil people spell names constantly: on the phone, at the bank, at a hotel, for a delivery. You say the letter names above, in order.
a few letters have a different name from English: «e» is «é», «g» is «gê» (ZHAY), «h» is «agá», «j» is «jota», «r» is «erre», «x» is «xis» and «y» is «ípsilon».
Portuguese also writes letters with marks, and each mark has a job: «á é í ó ú» show the stressed syllable; «â ê ô» show the stressed syllable and a closed sound; «ã õ» show a nasal vowel; «à» appears only in a contraction (you will see it later); «ç» (cê cedilha) sounds like «s» and only appears before a, o, u: «açaí», «coração», «açúcar».
to give your e-mail you say «arroba» for @ and «ponto» for the dot: «ana ponto silva arroba exemplo ponto com».
In English: English spelling often hides the sound; Portuguese spelling is far more regular. Once you know the rules (next sessions), you can read almost any word aloud correctly. Mind the letter names, which you will hear all the time: «g» is not «gee», «e» is not «ee», «i» is not «eye».
| letter | name | sound | example |
|---|---|---|---|
| ç | cê cedilha | s | açaí, coração |
| ã, õ | a til, o til | nasal vowel | mãe, pão, limões |
| á é í ó ú | acento agudo | stress, open vowel | café, avó, último |
| â ê ô | acento circunflexo | stress, closed vowel | você, avô, bebê |
| @ and . | arroba, ponto | e-mail address | ana.silva@exemplo.com |
Practise: Spell your first name and your last name aloud with the Portuguese letter names. Then spell the word «Brasil» (bê, erre, á, esse, i, ele). Finish with: «Meu nome é… (your name). Obrigado/Obrigada.»
Say aloud: oi, bom dia, boa tarde, boa noite, tudo bem, obrigado or obrigada, de nada, tchau.
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