Master The Sounds Of Portuguese
The Nasal Sounds
Nasal sounds are one of the most distinctive features of European Portuguese pronunciation. Unlike English vowels, which are produced only in the mouth, nasal vowels allow air to pass through both the mouth and the nose. This gives them a slightly resonant, “humming” quality that many learners notice immediately.
In written Portuguese, nasal sounds are usually indicated by the letters m or n following a vowel, or by the tilde (~)placed over the vowel. However, these letters do not function like regular consonants. Instead of being pronounced clearly, they signal that the vowel itself becomes nasal.
A common way to illustrate the nasal sound is to pinch your nostrils shut with you fingers – giving you that unmistakable sound.
Nasal 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
Pão (Bread)
Pão
Quero pão
Quero um pão, por favor (I want a bread, please)
Irmão (Brother)
Irmão
O meu irmão
O meu irmão é mais velho (My brother is older)
Também (Also / Too)
Também
Eu também
Eu também quero ir (I also want to go)
For example, in words like pão, mãe, and também, the vowel is extended and resonates through the nose. The final consonant sound is usually very soft or disappears entirely. The result is a sound that feels smoother and more continuous than the individual letters might suggest.
Many learners initially try to pronounce the m or n fully, which can make the word sound unnatural. The key is to focus on the vowel itself and allow a gentle flow of air through the nose while speaking. One simple solution is not allow your lips to touch when saying words such as bom, bem, sem, também, and sim.
Once you become familiar with nasal vowels, they quickly become one of the most recognizable and expressive elements of Portuguese speech.
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