Portuguese (European) Video 1: Portuguese (European) Phonetics and Spelling

This is the first of a multi-part series on Portuguese (European) pronunciation. The goal is to quickly familiarize you with the sounds of Portuguese (European). You'll then be able to learn them faster, either through your own studies or through my pronunciation trainers. Enjoy! Check out the links below for more resources:
Flashcard Designs for Teaching Yourself Pronunciation: blog.fluent-fo...
My Pronunciation Trainers: fluent-forever...
Anki Language Learning: ankilanguagelea...
More Anki Decks, including Portuguese Pronunciation: speakada.com
Reddit's Anki Language Learning Community: / ankilanguagelearning
A super detailed discussion of the IPA: • Pronunciation Tutorial...

[@marionascimento450]

Slight correction for the tapped R sound. You mention it only exists in two spots: 1. Preceded by a consonant, followed by a vowel (Prince of Prussia) 2. Between vowels (morango) But there are words with that sound such as: 3. Morte, Marte, Porta (vowel + r + consonant) also at the end of words: 4. Guiar, parar, fumar, gritar In fact a general rule is that the tapped R is always tapped when it’s in the middle or the end of a word, and is a single R. If the word has two RR in a row (eg. garra) or it starts with an R, then it’s not a tapped R.

[@AlefeLucas]

That's for european portuguese i assume. In Brazil, in most dialects, the 3rd and 4th case you showed is pronounced either as an RR (in Rio de Janeiro, Minas Gerais, and northeast), or as an retroflex R (São Paulo, Mato Grosso, Goias, Paraná).

[@marionascimento450]

@@AlefeLucas Yes that was for european portuguese, you are right. I assumed that it was the relevant one to discuss since that's what the video is talking about but I really appreciate your comment. I wasn't aware that it was diferent in Brazillian Portuguese. That's really interesting!

[@AlefeLucas]

@@marionascimento450 Yep. There is another variation I forgot, that pronounce them like an H in English, this happens in São Paulo (only the capital) and the South region.

[@Laura-jl7vc]

This comment made me realise that the rules for "r" pronunciation were not well chosen at all. For example the 1st rule saying that "consonant + r + vowel" is read as a tapped "r" is not even true (look at honra, palrar, enraivecido, etc.). So "r" is tapped when it's the 2nd letter of a consonant cluster (pr, br, cr, etc.) and is not tapped if there is **not** a vowel before it (honra, roer, etc). Between two vowels, "r" is read as tapped except if it is a double "r". ps: sou portuguesa e só vejo estes vídeos por diversão, fazem-me pensar sobre regras de fonética da nossa língua que eu nem me apercebo. Só reparei que as regras do "r" não faziam sentido por causa do teu comentário.

[@FallingStar110]

Wow thanks so much!!! I was super sad, because everything on your website is brazilian Portuguese, and then I jumped into this amazing video series!!

[@georgelogan4788]

Sorry to be off topic but does anyone know of a trick to log back into an instagram account..? I somehow forgot the password. I would appreciate any tips you can offer me!

[@mmafpv1]

I have some corrections to make: orthographical "d", "b" and "g" can be either fortis or lenis in portuguese. The english "l" : [ɫ] is not so different from the Portuguese "l". [l] happens in spanish and italian but not in standard european portuguese. Also "Mickey" was misspelled in the phonetic transcription of the portuguese version. There is [ʁ] and [r] as the "rr" or initial "r" in European Portuguese and they are both widespread and accepted, although the first is more common. And [ʁ] is not articulated in the same place as [g] because one is uvular and the later is velar. In transcribing Portuguese I would use [ŋ] in words like "morango", unlike french where you don't actually see it in the IPA or articulate it.

[@AlefeLucas]

In Brazilian portuguese, sol is pronounced like "sóu"

[@evermorevictorious2742]

When you demonstrate the pronunciation, you should repeat it 10 times, not just once. It is important for beginners.

[@FluentForeverApp]

Thank you for your feedback! In the interest of keeping the videos short, we did not repeat the pronunciation several times. However, we can definitely understand how this is important for training your ears! Do feel free to replay the parts you need as many times as you need 🙂

[@dmanakell]

So is it an uvular fricative vs trill? It sounded to me more like a trill

[@ramzy-6566]

amazing video.

[@FluentForeverApp]

We're really happy you found it useful!

[@miomok8152]

How about the r placed at the end of a word? Which sound should be used?

[@FluentForeverApp]

Hi Mio, we have more than this video alone on the pronunciation, and all special sounds will be discussed in the videos.

[@desanipt]

It's the tapped R, the same as in "morango" (I don't understand why they didn't include it there :/ )

[@AlefeLucas]

I'm Brazilian and When I pronounce Lh the tip of my tongue actually touches the roof like an L.

[@SirVekat]

That's because many younger Brazilians are starting to pronounce "alho" the same way as "alio". Compare it yourself. I'm old, so I still do the tongue movements the video describes.

[@AlefeLucas]

@@SirVekat it's different from "alio", it's more like "alyo".

[@joadsonmatias2610]

If you pronounce "lhama" as "lama", something's wrong.

[@absinthe_apostle]

Found this video in the aeroport leaving Portugal...

[@AlefeLucas]

Me as a portuguese speakers noticing that D is different

[@AsifSaifuddinAuvipy]

to me it sounds like spanish mixed with some french

[@FluentForeverApp]

Good ear, Asif! Portuguese does have some elements from both languages. 😊

[@AsifSaifuddinAuvipy]

@@FluentForeverApp oh wow :D I have plan to visit portugal in near future. btw my mother tongue Bengali has some portugues words on it through portugues traders, like Almari, alpin, janala and some more

[@joadsonmatias2610]

Really?!

[@andraslang96]

why tomate is not spellt like "tomachee"?

[@FluentForeverApp]

Hello Andras, Tomate is still spelled that way even though the pronunciation sounds different.

[@andraslang96]

sorry pronounced, but you know what I meant

[@FluentForeverApp]

Hello Andras, so, just to clarify you are asking why the presented "tomate" is not pronounced that way?

[@andraslang96]

exactly. maybe is that not european portuguese? that is what I found.

[@alexandre_pt]

"Chee" doesn't exist in Portuguese and never did, it's particular from Brazilian Portuguese, derived from other dialects/languages, like Italian.

[@evermorevictorious2742]

When you demonstrate the pronunciation, you should repeat it 10 times, not just once. It is important for beginners.

[@FluentForeverApp]

Thank you for your feedback! In the interest of keeping the videos short, we did not repeat the pronunciation several times. However, we can definitely understand how this is important for training your ears! Do feel free to replay the parts you need as many times as you need 🙂