Pronunciation: á – â – é – ê – ó – ô

1. Noticing the accents.

(1) If you notice the accents, you might improve your pronunciation. The stress always goes where the accent is.

Example:

Avó = grandmother. Here you want to put the stress on vó, not on a.

(2) One more thing to notice:

´ : this will make the vowel have an open sound. There are just some exceptions where it will not sound open.

^ : this will make the vowel have a closed sound.

Listen to the sounds in this order: á, â, é, ê, ó and ô: Listen

Just a, e or o without any accent may be either an open or a closed vowel. It will depend on the word.

Now, let’s listen to some words.

2. Pronouncing ó and ô.

Listen and compare the two words: Listen Avó = grandmother – Avô = grandfather

Let’s look at more examples.

(1) Words with ó: Listen

Ótimo = great.

Óbvio = obvious.

Sólido = solid.

(2) Words with ô: Listen

Bônus = bonus.

Robô = robot.

Irônico = ironic.

3. Pronouncing é and ê.

(1) Words with é: Listen

Até = until.

México = Mexico.

Médico = doctor.

(2) Words with ê: Listen

Comitê = committee.

Três = three.

Gênio = genius.

4. Pronouncing á and â.

(1) Words with á: Listen

Há = there is / there are.

Veterinário = veterinary

Itália = Italy

(2) Words with â: Listen

Contemporâneo = contemporaneous.

Câmera = camera.

Orgânico = organic.