LH vs. NH in Portuguese: Pronounce Filho and Caminho — Practice
A guided practice lesson with English explanations, Brazilian Portuguese examples, and answers you can check. Read the examples, recall the meaning, then say a version of your own.
Make NH as one nasal sound
NH represents a palatal nasal sound, similar to the ny in canyon for many English speakers. The middle of your tongue rises toward the hard palate while air resonates through your nose. Keep it as one smooth consonant instead of saying a separate n followed by h.
Practise the sound inside familiar words: manhã (morning), banho (bath), and caminho (path). A full phrase makes it easier to hear how the sound connects to the surrounding vowels.
| Brazilian Portuguese | English meaning |
|---|---|
| Tomo banho de manhã. | I take a bath in the morning. |
| O caminho até a praia é curto. | The way to the beach is short. |
| Amanhã a gente conversa. | We’ll talk tomorrow. |
Make LH with the sides of the tongue
LH is a palatal lateral consonant. Raise the middle of your tongue toward the hard palate and let air pass along its sides. In some Brazilian accents, lh sounds close to a y-like sound; pronunciation varies, so use native audio from your target region as a model.
Practise slowly, then return to a natural pace. You do not need to exaggerate tongue movement in conversation; clear placement and repeated listening matter more than force.
| Brazilian Portuguese | English meaning |
|---|---|
| Meu filho trabalha no centro. | My son works downtown. |
| A mulher escolheu uma toalha azul. | The woman chose a blue towel. |
| A folha caiu no chão. | The leaf fell on the floor. |
Remember: NH is a palatal nasal, as in amanhã. LH is a palatal lateral, as in trabalho; its exact sound can vary by region. Practise both inside useful phrases.
Check your understanding
Choose the English meaning of each Portuguese example. Answer before looking back at the tables. These questions check the written examples in this guide; they are not a listening or proficiency test.
Recall the Portuguese, then say it
Read the English prompt and say a Portuguese version before opening the answer. The answer shows the example from the lesson; other natural translations may also work. Compare the meaning and the situation rather than counting a different word as automatically wrong.
I take a bath in the morning.
Show a Portuguese answer
Tomo banho de manhã.
The way to the beach is short.
Show a Portuguese answer
O caminho até a praia é curto.
We’ll talk tomorrow.
Show a Portuguese answer
Amanhã a gente conversa.
My son works downtown.
Show a Portuguese answer
Meu filho trabalha no centro.
The woman chose a blue towel.
Show a Portuguese answer
A mulher escolheu uma toalha azul.
The leaf fell on the floor.
Show a Portuguese answer
A folha caiu no chão.
Make the phrase useful to you
Choose one example you could actually use. Say it once from memory, then change one detail that fits your life, such as the person, place, time, or object. Check whether your change also needs a different verb form, article, or adjective ending. If it does, compare it with the pattern in the explanation.
NH is a palatal nasal, as in amanhã. LH is a palatal lateral, as in trabalho; its exact sound can vary by region. Practise both inside useful phrases.
Return to two prompts tomorrow without opening the answers first. If a phrase still feels difficult, shorten it to a useful chunk and build the complete sentence again.
Sources and your next lesson
This I Speak Portuguese practice guide builds on our LH vs. NH in Portuguese: Pronounce Filho and Caminho lesson on Real Life Portuguese, with written recall tasks and additional speaking practice. The explanations and examples are teaching material; the practice questions are exercises, not a transcript of a recording.
To add Brazilian audio to your routine, choose a lesson in the Real Life Portuguese app. The app offers its own lessons and practice; this page does not imply that every example here has an app recording.
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