- Vowels can make different sounds based on where they appear in the word
- In stressed syllable, open
- Not in stressed syllable, close
- 9 oral vowels, 4 nasal vowels
- Identifying stressed syllable
- graphic accent mark 1. á à â
- õ 1. if both, go with #1
- Word ends in L, U, Z, I, R 1. 95% of times, last syllable is stressed 2. Verbs in Portuguese in infinitive form, always end in “R” (and stress is always on last syllable)
- Stress second last syllable 1. Act like you’re calling for the word. e.g., “sa-PA-to”
Vowels
Name of the letter is the wide open.
5 nasal, 9 oral Nasal vowels will change if you close your nose because they are escaping through the nose. Oral vowels will not change much. Close nose and see if you feel it. If so, you are doing the nasal vowel.
open vs. closed
Open- batman, latin close- schwa, sounds like a “u” Open in stressed, closed in not stressed syllable
E
Stressed
Wide open- egg more closed- i like igloo “ele”- i-luh “ela”- e-lah
Unstressed
Do not read the “e” or it makes an “uh” sound Unless it’s at the beginning of the word. Then, you read like “i’“. Few exceptions like “engineer.”
O
Stressed
Between “O” and “ah” Medium open is like Japanese “O”
Unstressed
“Ooo” as in saPAto Unless it’s in the beginning of the word. Then, you read like one of the stressed sounds. “oliVAL” is like “ah-lee-val” obriGAdo- Thank you
I
Makes long “e” sound
U
“oo” like in Japanese In some situations, don’t read it as in que (coo), qui (key), gue (goo), gui (gey)
Notes
s or z in final syllable makes “ish”