Learn the Portuguese Alphabet

O alfabeto

Learn to read the Portuguese Alphabet (O alfabeto): all 26 letters with names, sounds and audio, plus flashcards, listening, typing and matching practice.

LetterNameLatin lettersSound
A aÁaa as in father; ã is nasal, said partly through the nose
B bBêbb as in ball
C cCêcc as in cat; like s before e and i; ç is always s
D dDêdd as in day; before an i sound like j in jeans (dia = jee-a)
E eÉeé is open as in bed; ê is closed like ay in say (no glide); a final unstressed e often sounds like i
F fEfeff as in fun
G gGêgg as in go; before e and i like s in measure (gelo); gu before e/i is a hard g
H hAgáhsilent at the start of a word (hoje = oh-zhee); ch = sh, lh ≈ lli in million, nh ≈ ny in canyon
I iIii as in machine
J jJotajlike s in measure, never like English j
K kCákk as in kite; used mainly in foreign words and names
L lElell as in love; at the end of a syllable it sounds like w (sol = sow)
M mEmemm as in mother; at the end of a syllable it nasalizes the vowel (bem)
N nEnenn as in no; at the end of a syllable it nasalizes the vowel (ponte); nh ≈ ny
O oÓoó is open as in law; ô is closed as in go (no glide); a final unstressed o often sounds like u
P pPêpp as in spin (no puff of air)
Q qQuêqalways followed by u: k before e/i (queijo), kw before a/o (quatro)
R rErrerat the start of a word and as rr it sounds like English h (rua = hoo-a); between vowels it is a quick tap like tt in American butter
S sEssess as in sun; between vowels like z (casa); ss is always s
T tTêtt as in top; before an i sound like ch in cheese (tia = chee-a)
U uUuu as in rule
V vVêvv as in van
W wDábliowused only in foreign words and names: w as in web (or v in some names, like Wagner)
X xXisxmost often sh (xícara); also ks (táxi), s (próximo) or z (exemplo)
Y yÍpsilonysounds like Portuguese i; used only in foreign words and names
Z zZêzz as in zoo; at the end of a word like s (paz)

More alphabets