Brazilian Portuguese Grammar

Consonant sounds & spelling

Portuguese spelling	Pronounced as in...	Rule	Example
c	kiss	before a, o, u	coisa *thing* casa *house* cuidado *care*
c	sound	before e, i	aceso *participle of verb to lighten (up)* cipó *liana*
ç	sound	before a, o, u	cabeça *head* aço *steel* açude *weir*
sc	skip	before a, o, u	escada *stairs* escudo *shield* esconderijo *hiding place*
sc	descend	before e, i	descer *to go down* piscina *swimming pool*
sç	descend	before a, o	desça *a present form of verb to go down* cresço *a present form of verb to grow*
cç	vaccine	before a	convicção *conviction, certainty*
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