June 28, 2022

Portuguese is written the way it is pronounced! Is it true? Not quite




Words of this video below

When we Brazilians learn English we spend a lot of time wondering why the language of Shakespear is not written as it is pronounced or pronounced as it is written. In the process of these speculations, we offer Portuguese (mainly Brazilian Portuguese) as a perfect example of an orderly language that when being read whats is written is pronounced. But is it true? Let's take a look!     


"M" at the end of words ending with "am" and "em" are not pronounced as they are written
 
Belém (Belẽi) - A city, capital of Pará, at the mouth of the Amazon River 
Santarém (Santarẽi) - A city in the banks of the Amazon River 
Além (Alẽi) - Besides
Salém (Salẽi) - Salem cities abroad and a good name for cats 
Também (Tambẽi) - Also, too
Dirigem (dirigẽi) - they drive
Tudo bem? (Tudo bẽi) Are you OK? Well (Everything well?, All well?) 
Tudo bem! (Tudo bẽi) That's how it is answered. 

This ẽ letter or sound does not exist in Portuguese so if you are seing it you must be dreaming!


Eles amam (ãmãu) - they love (Masculine) 
Elas andam (ãdãu) - they walk (feminine)
Comem (cõmẽi) - they eat
Trabalham (trabálhãu)- they work
Voltam (vóltãu) - they come back
Descansam (descãsãu) - they rest 
Terminam (termínãu (- they finish
Falam inglês (fálãu) - they speak English
Falam espanhol (fálãu)- They speak Spanish
Entendem inglês (entẽdẽi) - they understand English 



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