Nasal sounds in Portuguese
- aprendendo português brasileiro
- Feb 28, 2025
- 2 min read
Updated: 2 days ago
Nasal sounds in Portuguese are truly fascinating and, at the same time, challenging for those learning the language. They have a particularity that makes them unique: the vibration of the nose during speech! This happens mainly with vowels that receive the tilde (~), as in "mãe" (mother) and "pão" (bread). In addition, nasal sounds also appear in the letters M and N, as in "bom" (good) and "cansado" (tired). Let's learn more about these sounds?
For foreigners, mastering these sounds is fundamental, as they are present in many words and can completely change the meaning of a sentence. For example, the difference between "manha" and "manhã" can make all the difference. Therefore, it is essential to practice and pay attention to pronunciation.
First, the tilde (~) is used in vowels to indicate that the sound is nasal. For example:
“Mão” – The letter “ã” has the tilde and is pronounced with a nasal sound, similar to “maun”, but not entirely “u”.
“Pão” – Here we also have the nasal “ã”, so it's not a simple “pao”, but rather with that nasal resonance.
“São” – Another classic example with the tilde that creates a nasal sound.
Now, regarding the letters "m" and "n", they can represent nasal sounds when they come after a vowel and indicate that the vowel is nasalized. For example:
“Bom” – The “m” at the end indicates that the vowel “o” is nasal, so it’s not just “bo”, it’s “bõ”.
“Bem” – Same thing, the “e” is nasal because of the “m” that comes after it.
“Sim” – Also nasal because of the “m” at the end.
“Fundo” – Here, the “n” can also nasalize the preceding vowel, so “fun-do” with a nasal sound on the “u”.
It is important to remember that the "m" and "n" in the middle of words generally represent the normal sounds of these letters, but when they appear at the end of or before consonants, they mark the nasalization of the preceding vowel.
Want to practice and listen to each pronunciation?
Theory helps, but Portuguese is a living language that needs to be heard. Therefore, to delve deeper into the subject, practice your listening skills, and hear the exact pronunciation of each of these examples (and many others), I've created a complete video on the topic!
In the video, I provide practical explanations so you won't hesitate anymore when faced with a word that has a nasal sound.
Click the link below to check it out, see you there 😊
