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    Practice Brazilian Portuguese pronunciation with 50 recorded examples. Listen for one sound, repeat the phrase and use it in a reply.

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    50 examples

    Nasal sounds · Focus: ão

    pão

    bread

    Let air pass through your nose as well as your mouth. Keep ão together as one syllable; do not add an English n after it.

    Use it in a sentence

    Eu quero pão.

    I want bread.

    The model recording above says “pão”. This extra example is written speaking practice.

    Regional & usage note

    Nasal diphthongs and their exact vowel quality vary between Brazilian speakers. Follow the recording as one model, not the only correct accent.

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    Up to five word-identification questions. Compare your own pronunciation by listening; your voice is not scored.

    Five sounds to notice

    Nasal sounds

    Let air pass through your nose as well as your mouth. Keep ão together as one syllable; do not add an English n after it.

    Try: pão (bread) · maçã (apple) · mamão (papaya)

    R and RR

    Compare a single r between vowels with rr and r at the start of a word. Strong R has several regional realizations; listen to this speaker’s model.

    Try: rio (river) · rua (street) · carro (car)

    LH and NH

    Keep lh and nh smooth: avoid inserting a full extra vowel. They are different from an English l or n on its own.

    Try: colher (spoon) · mulher (woman) · filho (son)

    Everyday sound patterns

    Notice the final unstressed vowels. In many accents e sounds closer to ee and o closer to oo. D and T before an ee sound may change too.

    Try: leite (milk) · tia (aunt) · tio (uncle)

    Connected speech

    Listen to a whole phrase, then copy its timing. Small words often join their neighbors; focus on the message rather than separating every syllable.

    Try: Eu quero um café. (I want a coffee.) · Eu vou levar. (I’ll take it to go.) · De onde você é? (Where are you from?)

    Read the pronunciation guide or practice hearing everyday phrases.

    Make a reply of your own.

    Choose a model you might need today. Repeat it once, then change one detail while keeping the sound you are practicing.

    Eu quero um café. → Eu quero um café sem açúcar.

    “I want a coffee.” → “I want a coffee without sugar.” Say the whole thought, with a comfortable pause at the end.

    Explore the I Speak Portuguese pronunciation guide when you want more explanation.