Brazilian Portuguese Grammar

s or z in the verbal suffix -izar or isar?	Most verbs take -izar exceptions: analisar *to analyze* paralisar *to paralyze* catequizar *to catechize*	pulverizar *to pulverize* batizar *to baptize* moralizar *to moralize* *Tip: If the last syllable in a primitive word is made up of is + vowel, the verb usually takes -izar* for the corresponding verb**
s or ss? (as in sin)	-ns- -rs- -ls- -cess- -ciss- -press- -gress-	tensão *tension* dispersão *dispersion* impulsivo *impulsive* procissão *procession* compressão *compression* regressão *regression*
c or ç? (as in sin)	Words of Arabic, African or Tupi (Indian) origin are spelled with a ç (cê-cedilha)	paçoca *a kind of peanut brittle* açúcar *sugar* muçulmano *Muslim*
x or ch? ( as in she)	Words of African or Tupi (Indian) origin are spelled with an x	maxixe *bur gherkin* *(Cucumis auguria L.)* abacaxi *pineapple* xavante *name of an Indian tribe*
g or j? (as in vision)	Words of Arabic, African, Japanese or Tupi (Indian) origin are spelled with a j	jiló *scarlet eggplant* canjica *sweet dish made of corn, coconut milk, sugar and cinnamon* judô *judo*

Your knowledge of English spelling can help you a lot with Portuguese spelling, since most of the English vocabulary also comes from Latin:

English

Portuguese

intervention

eviction

detention

intervenção

evicção

detenção

suggestion

digestion

question

sugestão

digestão

questão

sabotage

garage

mirage

sabotagem

garagem

miragem

succession

procession

aggression

sucessão

procissão

agressão

nomenclature

tablature

nomenclatura

tablatura

android

ovoid

andróide

ovóide

political

economic, economical

historic, historical

político

econômico

histórico

religious

famous

curious

religioso

famoso

curioso

Portuguese

Chinese

Japanese

português

chinês

japonês

innocence

decadence

arrogance

inocência

decadência

arrogância

important

excellent

different

importante

excelente

diferente

Visit Sound Files