Master The Sounds Of Portuguese
The Lh and Nh sounds
Two sounds that often surprise learners of European Portuguese are lh and nh. These letter combinations represent unique consonant sounds that do not exist in standard English, but once understood, they become powerful tools for clearer pronunciation and better listening comprehension.
The lh sound is a palatal lateral consonant, similar to the “lli” sound in some pronunciations of the English word million. To produce it, place your tongue against the roof of your mouth just behind your front teeth while allowing air to flow along the sides. Common examples include filho (son), trabalho (work), and velho (old). The sound should feel smooth and slightly softened compared to a regular “l.”
Listen and Practice the Lh sounds
Click the audio on the left and scroll down to follow the text as you listen.
This is a short preview of a FalaPT lesson.
Listen first
Then repeat each word out loud
Listen again and speak with the recording
Filha (Daughter)
Filha
A minha filha
A minha filha pequena
A minha filha pequena canta (My little daughter sings)
Trabalho (Work)
Trabalho
O trabalho
O trabalho novo
O trabalho novo começa (The new job begins)
Melhor (Better)
Melhor
É melhor
É melhor esperar
É melhor esperar aqui (It’s better to wait here)
When an English speakers says “million or will ya (you) they often pronounce the L in the back of the throat, instead of touching the tongue to the roof of the mouth, behind the teeth. Try saying million by touching your tongue and you’ve got the sound of lh!
The nh sound is a palatal nasal consonant, similar to the Spanish ñ or the “ny” sound in canyon. Keep your tongue raised toward the palate while allowing air to pass through the nose. Examples include vinho (wine), tenho (I have), and amanhã(tomorrow).
Practicing these sounds slowly and within full words helps develop muscle memory. Listening carefully to native speakers will reinforce how lh and nh contribute to the distinctive rhythm and flow of European Portuguese.