Chapter I: Sounds and Accents

ALPHABET

=1.= The Portuguese alphabet is the same as the English except that it contains no _w_.

Following are the Portuguese names of the letters together with their approximate pronunciations.

LETTERS PORTUGUESE NAMES PRONUNCIATIONS WITH ENGLISH VALUES =a= _a_ ah =b= _be_ bay (short)[5] =c= _ce_ say (short)[5] =d= _de_ day (short)[5] =e= _é_ ay (as _ea_ in health) =f= _effe_ or _fê_ éffe _or_ fay =g= _ge_ or _ji_ hjay (_hj_ = French _j_)[5] =h= _agá_ agáh =i= _i_ ee =j= _jóta_ hjóta (_hj_ = French _j_) or _zh_ =k= _ka_ kah =l= _elle_ or _lê_ élle[6] _or_ lay =m= _emme_ or _mê_ émme[6] _or_ may =n= _enne_ or _nê_ énne[6] _or_ nay =o= _ó_ o (as in nor) =p= _pe_ pay (short)[5] =q= _que_ kay (short)[5] =r= _erre_ or _rê_ érre[6] _or_ ray =s= _esse_ or _si_ ésse[6] _or_ see =t= _te_ tay (short)[5] =u= _u_ oo (as in poor) =v= _ve_ vay (short)[5] =x= _xiz_ or _xê_ shiz _or_ shay =y= _ypsilon_ ypsilon =z= _ze_ zay (short)[5]

+Note.+--The letter =w= is only used in the foreign words in which it
occurs. It is called =dobleú=, very much as in English.

PRONUNCIATION

=2.= =Vowels.=--For the most part the vowels are pronounced separately, so that each one forms a syllable. The only exceptions to this rule are the nasal diphthongs.

The sounds of the vowels are characterized as _long_, _short_, _open_, _close_, and _nasal._

+Sounds of the Vowels+

+PHONETIC APPROXIMATING THE
VALUES ENGLISH+ +EXAMPLES+
{ long _a_ in farther =sofá=
=a= { short _u_ in but =boca, festa=
{ nasal =manso=

The =a=-sounds differ in quantity rather than quality.

+PHONETIC VALUES+ +APPROXIMATING THE ENGLISH+ +EXAMPLES+
{ open _ea_ in health =café= (so accented)
{ close _a_ in table =sello= (sometimes
=e= { accented, as =mercê=)
{ short (or mute)[7] _e_ in winter =caracter=
{ nasal _ai_ in paint =pente=[8]

{ long _ee_ in bee =frío=
=i= { short _i_ in it =quási=
{ nasal _i_ in pin =injusto=

{ open _o_ in not =pó= (so accented)
=o= { close _o_ in note =boa, avô= (so accented)
{ short (or mute)[9] _o_ in block =locação, cravo=
{ nasal _o_ in long =pómpa=

{ long _ue_ in blue =perú=
=u= { short _oo_ in boot =tríbu=
{ (only shorter)
{ nasal _oo_ in room =túmba=

=u= is silent when preceded by =q= and followed by =e= or =i=: =aqui=
(pr. =akee=).

=y= is pronounced =ee= as if it were =i= long; it is nasal when
followed by =m=, as =tympano=. =Y= is much used in Brazil in words of
Tupy origin, as =Ivahy=, =Apody=.

=3.= =Diphthongs.=--It is customary to regard as pure diphthongs such vowel combinations as =ae= in =pae=, =ai= in =vai=, =au= in =pau=, =ei= in =lei=, =eo= in =deo=, =eu= in =breu=, =oe= in =heroe=, =iu= in =viu=, =oi= in =boi=, =ui= in =fui=. It is to be noted, however, that these combinations are pronounced, not as single sounds, but as if the letters were sounded separately yet with a slight abbreviation from the full values of the separate vowels.

The true diphthongs are known in Portuguese as the _nasal diphthongs_. These are =ãe= as in =mãe=, =ão= as in =mão=, =õe= as in =põe=, =ũi= as in =muito=. (=Muito=, however, is a unique case.)

=4.= =Nasal Sounds.=--There are nasal sounds for most of the vowels. These are indicated either by the nasal diphthongs or by the single vowels followed by =m= or =n=, as =tão= or =tam=, =bem=, =sim=, =bom=, =um=. These words are pronounced as if they ended with an English _ng_ in which the _g_ is not heard. =Tão= is pronounced nearly as if written =towng= with the =ng= sound omitted or cut short. =Bem= is pronounced as if written =beng=, but without the =g= being sounded; =um= as if written =oong= but omitting the =g= sound.

All syllables ending in =em=, =en=, =im=, =in=, =õ=, =om=, =on=, =um=, and =un= have the nasal sound whether at the end of a word or followed by a consonant.

=5.= =Consonants.=--The consonants not mentioned here are pronounced as in English.

=b= is silent in =subdito=, _subject_ (pronounced as if written
=súdito=), and in =subjeitar=, an old form of =sujeitar=.

=ç= with the cedilla (=cedílha=) is soft as in French. The cedilla is
used to soften the sound of =c= before =a=, =o=, and =u=: =calças=
(pr. as if written =cálsas=).

=c= is silent when followed by =t= or =c=: =activo= (pr. as if
written =ativo=), =acção= (pr. as =ação=). Except =convicto=,
=pacto=, =fricção=, =convicção=.

=ch= has the sound of _sh_ in _she_: =chá= (pr. as if written
=shah=); before consonants and in words of Greek origin it has the
sound of _k_: =Christo= (pr. as =Krísto=).

=g= is hard before =a=, =o=, and =u= in all cases; before =e=, =i=,
and =y= it has the sound of the French =j=: =gelo= (pr. as if written
_hjelo_).

When =g= would ordinarily precede =e= or =i=, =u= is added
before those vowels in order to give or preserve the hard sound:
=entregar=, _to deliver_, has =entregue= for the past participle,
thus preserving the hard =g= sound.

=g= when followed by =n= is silent: in the words =signal= (as if
=sinal=) and =signalar= and words beginning with =assign=: as
=assignar=, =assignatura=.

=h= has no sound of its own in Portuguese; it is not a letter,
properly speaking, but an etymological mark or sign. It has a value,
however, in connection with =c=, =l=, =n=, and =p=, which see.

=j= is pronounced as in French, like _g_ in _midge_.

=lh= is pronounced like _lli_ in _million_. In writing and printing
these two letters belong to the syllable whose vowel follows
and must be kept together. The syllables of =cordilheira= are
=cor-di-lhei-ra=; of =filha= they are =fi-lha=.

=m= at the end of a word or syllable is nasal. =Bem= is pronounced as
if spelled =beng=, but without the final =g=-sound; =bemdito= (pr.
=bengdeeto=, but with the =g= silent).

In some words the =m= is apparently silent on account of the nasal
sound: =damno= (pr. as if written =dánno=).

=n= never ends a word in Portuguese except =irman=, _sister_, =iman=,
_magnet_, =hyphen=, =colon=, and certain antiquated forms like
=christan= for =christã=;[10] when it precedes final =s= it is nasal.

=nh= is sounded like _ni_ in _union_, that is like the Spanish _ñ_,
the Italian _gn_, or the French _gn_: =banho=, _bath_, =lenha=,
_fire-wood._ In syllabication these two letters, when so pronounced,
always belong with the vowel that follows them: =lenha= is divided
=le-nha.=

There are a few words, however, which are compounded of the prefix
=an= or =in=, in which the =nh= is not so pronounced or written:
such as =anhydro=, =inhabil=, =inhalar=, =inhibir=, =inhumano=.

=p= is silent before =t=: =prompto= (pr. as if spelled =prónto=);
=escripto= (pr. as if written =escríto=). Except that the =p= is
pronounced in =captar=, =raptar=, =optar=, =repto=, and =mentecapto=.
In =exempção= also the =p= is silent (pr. =izenssão=).

=ph= is pronounced like _f_: =photographia= (pr. as if spelled
=fotografía=).

=q= is always followed by =u=, and always has the sound of _k_. =Qu=
varies somewhat: before =a= and =o= the =u= is sounded, as =quando=
(pr. =kwándo=); but before =e= and =i= the =u= is used with the =q=
only for the purpose of producing or preserving the _k_ sound and is
therefore not heard: =quer= (pr. =ker=); =aqui= (pr. =akee=).

+Exceptions+: the =u= is sounded in =consequencia=, =frequente=,
=equestre=, =antiquíssimo=. It is also allowable to sound the =u=
in =questão=.

=r= has two sounds: when it begins a word, or is double, it is rolled
as in French or Spanish: =río=, =érro=; in other positions it is
pronounced by striking the tongue lightly against the roof of the
mouth almost as if pronouncing the letter =d=: =arara= (pr. nearly
as if spelled =adada= but with the =d= approaching the English
_r_-sound). Except: that the single =r= is rolled after =l=, =m=,
=n=, =s=: =honrar=, =tenro=, =genro=, =Henrique=, =melro=, =chilrar=.

=s= has the soft or hissing =s=-sound, and that of soft =z=. It has
the =z=-sound when it stands between vowels: =rosa=, =casa= (pr. as
if spelled =róza=, =cáza=). Except in cases of compound words where
it has the =s=-sound.

It has the soft =s=-sound in most other cases.

=th= has the sound of =t=: =theoria= is pronounced as if written
=teoria=.

=w= is used only in foreign words and should be pronounced as in the
language from which those words are taken.

=x= has several sounds as follows:

1. like the English _ks_ in words ending in =ex=, =ix=, and =ux=, =fixar= and its compounds and derivatives, =flexão= and related words such as =flexibilidade= and =sexo=, =fluxo=, =maximo=, and =lexicologia= (=index= and =appendix= are pronounced =índes= and =appéndes= in addition).

+Note.+--There are, however, some local differences in the
pronunciation of some of these words: =flexão= properly pronounced
=fleksão=, in Bahia is pronounced =flechão=.

2. like =s= when followed by =c=, =t=, or =p=: =extenso=, =excepto= (pr. as if =esténso=, =escépto=).

3. like =z= when preceded by =e= and followed by a vowel or by =h= and a vowel: =exemplo= (pr. =ezémplo=); =exercito= (pr. =ezército=); =exhausto= (pr. =ezausto=).

4. It is like =ss= or =ç= in =trouxe=, =anxiedade=, =syntaxe=, =defluxo=.

5. At the beginning of words, and in places other than those mentioned above, it is pronounced like the English _sh_; most cases fall under this rule: =xarope= (pr. as if =sharópe=); =exministro= (pr. as if written =eijminístro=); =baixo= (pr. =báisho=); =lixo= (pr. =leesho=).

DIALECTICAL

=6.= In certain parts of Portugal one hears many pronunciations that are purely dialectical. In Minho for example the people generally say =binho= instead of =vinho=, _wine_, and =sordado= instead of =soldado=, _soldier_. In Traz-os-Montes they say =tchapeo= for =chapeo=, _hat_, =tchave= for =chave=, _key_, =djente= for =gente=, _folks_; the =caipiras= or backwoodsmen of the state of São Paulo in Brazil have a similar pronunciation which was probably introduced from Portugal.[11] See the example quoted in the exercise at page 166.

In Portugal as a rule the quantity of the short syllables is perceptibly shorter than in Brazil. =Sobrado=, =perigo=, and =pessoa= are so pronounced in full in the latter country, while in Portugal they are commonly pronounced =s’brado=, =p’rigo=, and =p’ssoa=. The =d= is pronounced in Brazil nearly as it is in the English language, but in Portugal it frequently has a strong resemblance to the English _th_ in _these_, so that =desde= in Portugal sounds very like =thézthy=, and =dedo=, like =dáytho=, the _th_ being soft like that in _though_.

=7.= =Slang.=--Like other languages Portuguese has its slang words or expressions; such words and expressions are called =calão=, =gíria=, or =geringónça=. Some of them are not Portuguese but simply fantastic expressions; for the most part, however, they are the ordinary words of the language used in some figurative or special sense. For example, =estar na bagagem= literally means _to be in the baggage_, but it is a slang expression used in regard to a person who is _behindhand_, or who is _a slow coach_. =Mandachuva=, _one who orders the rain_, is slang equivalent to the American expression _political boss_.[12]

ACCENT MARKS

=8.= The cedilla is used with =c= to show that that letter has the soft =c= sound.

The tilde (~) is used to show that the vowel over which it is placed is a nasal. It is only used over =a= and =o=.

The acute accent (´) and the circumflex (^) are used:

1. To show the position of the tonic accent, especially in homonyms where there is a chance of mistaking one word for another, as =esta=, _this_, and =está=, _it is_; =séria=, _serious_, and =sería=, _would be_.

2. To indicate contractions: =em relação á= (for =a a=) =idéa=, _with regard to the idea_.

+Note.+--The omission of the accent sometimes entirely changes the
meaning of a sentence; for example, =matar a sede= means _to quench
one’s thirst_, while =matar á sede= means _to kill with thirst_. In
the second sentence the =á= is a contraction of the preposition =a=,
_by_ or _with_, and the article =a=, _the_.

3. To indicate what are called open (´) and close (^) sounds of the vowels =e= and =o=: =café=, =mercê=, =paletó=, =avô=.

TONE ACCENT

(See Exercise III, page 121)

=9.= Tone accent is a matter of so much importance in Portuguese that it is often quite impossible to understand the spoken language when the accents are improperly placed. Take as an illustration the word =sabia=: the accent may make it =sábia=, a learned woman, =sabía=, _I knew_ or _he knew_, or =sabiá=, _the Brazilian robin_.

This kind of a case is not exceptional. In speaking the language, therefore, it is of the utmost importance that the accent be properly placed.

The tone accent always falls on one of the last three syllables. There is an apparent exception to this rule in the enclitic monosyllables which are joined to certain other words, as =digo-lhe=, _I tell you_; =gosta-lo=, _to like it_. In these instances the addition of this enclitic does not change the position of the accent even when it falls on the syllable preceding the antepenult. Example: =fála-se-lhes=.

_a._ There are no short and compact rules for guidance in the placing of the tone accent, and to almost every rule formulated there are many exceptions. The greatest number of words have it on the penult; fewest have it on the antepenult. The following suggestions may be found useful. For the accents of verbs see the models at § 107, pages 72-75.

_b._ The following words take the accent on the _final syllable_:

1. Those ending in the nasal diphthongs:

=ão=,[13] except =bénção=, =frángão=, =órfão=, and =órgão=;

=ãos=;

=ães=;

=ões=.

2. Words ending in

=i=, except =álcali=, =espermacéti=, =quási=;

=l=, except words of Latin origin ending in =ilis=, as =dócil=,
=fácil=, =hábil=, =útil=, and those ending in =vel=: =amável=,
=agradável=, =crível=, =nível=;

=im=;

=r=, except =assúcar=, =cadáver=, =cáncer=, =carácter=, =éther=,
=júnior=, =mártyr=, =néctar=, =súlphur=, and a few foreign words like
=repórter= and =revólver=;

=u=, except =tríbu=;

=y=, except =júry=, =tílbury=;

=z=.

_c._ The following have the accent on the _penult_:

1. Erudite forms from the Greek ending in =ia=: as =democracía=, =geología=, =philosophía=, =autopsía=,[14] etc. Except the following which take it on the antepenult: =comédia=, =polícia=, =encyclopédia=, =geodésia=, =estratégia=, =necrománcia=, =pharmácia=.

2. Words ending as follows:[15]

+List of Words having the Accent on the Penult+

ENDING EXAMPLE

=-aco-a= velhaco =-aço-a= bagaço =-acho-a= despacho =-acto-a= contacto =-ado-a= delgado =-ade= idade =-ago-a= estrago =-age-em= estalagem =-aldo= ribaldo =-alo-a= _exc._ escándalo, sándalo =-alho-a= soalho =-ama= panorama =-ame= arame =-ampo-a= estampa =-ança= balança =-anco-a= alavanca =-ando-a= contrabando =-anho-a= campanha =-ano-a= porcelana =-anto-a= adianta =-ante= abundante =-arco-a= comarca =-ardo-a= mostarda =-argo= amargo =-aro= amparo, _exc._ pássaro =-arro-a= cigarro =-asso-a= devasso =-asto-a= nefasto =-aste= contraste =-ato-a= combata =-ate= abacate =-avo-a= escravo =-axo-a= (_see_ =acho=) =-eço-a= aconteça =-edo-a= brinquédo =-ego-a= _exc._ tráfego =-eiro= ferreiro =-eite= leite =-eito= respeito =-ejo-a= gracejo =-elho= evangelho =-ello-a= cancello-a =-elo= cogumelo =-emo= extremo =-eme= leme, _exc._ íngreme =-ença= nascença =-endo-a= legenda =-enho-a= engenho =-enso-a= imprensa =-ense= cearense =-ento-a= alimenta =-ente= presente =-erso-a= conversa =-erto-a= concerto =-essa= impressa =-esto= modesto =-eto-a= completo =-ete= canivete =-exa= perplexa =-eza= baroneza =-ice= velhice, _exc._ ápice, vertice, obice =-icho= rabicho =-iço-a= roliço =-ife= recife =-igo-a= _exc._ código, pródigo =-ilho-a= quartilho =-ilo-a= crocodilo =-imba= cacimba =-indo-a= tamarindo =-ingo-a= domingo =-ino-a= pepino =-into-a= precinto-a =-inte= ouvinte =-ique= alambique =-ira= caipira =-isco-a= marisco =-ismo-a= fatalismo =-iso= paraiso =-isto-a= revista =-istro= registro =-ite= limite, _exc._ trámite =-ivo-a= objectivo =-ixo-a= suffixo =-izo-a= prejuizo =-oa= canoa, _exc._ nódoa, névoa =-oço-a= almoço =-ode= pagode =-ogo-a= fogo =-oito-a= biscoito =-olho-a= escolho =-olo-a= viola, _exc._ frívolo, malévolo =-olto-a= revolta =-olvo= revolvo =-oma= diploma =-ombo-a= quilombo =-ona= azeitona =-onça= geringonça =-ondo-a= redondo maribondo =-onga= oblonga =-onha= vergonha risonha =-ono= abandono =-onto-a= affronta =-onte= horizonte =-oque= reboque =-ora= espora, _exc._ víbora, ámphora, cánfora =-orço-a= esforça =-orma= reforma =-orme= conforme =-orno-a= contorno =-orro-a= cachorro =-orto-a= morto =-orte= consorte =-oso= caprichoso =-osso= colosso =-osto-a= desgosta =-oto-a= gafanhoto terremoto =-ote= serrote =-uco-a= caduco maluco =-udo-a= agudo =-ude= altitude saude =-ugem= ferrugem =-uega= Noruega =-ulho-a= embrulho =-umo-a= resumo =-ume= betume =-uno-a= gatuno =-umno-a= alumno =-undo-a= fecunda =-unho-a= testemunho =-uncto-a= defuncta =-upo-a= chalupa =-uque= batuque =-uro-a= figura =-urro-a= empurra =-uso-a= confusa abuso =-usto-a= robusta arbusto =-uto-a= enxuto =-ucto= fructo =-upto= corrupto

d. The following take the accent on the _antepenult_:

1. Masculine nouns from the Greek such as =astrónomo=, =geólogo=, =philósopho=.

2. Absolute superlatives in =-imo=: =illustríssimo=, =óptimo=.

3. Words ending as in the following:

+List of Words having the Accent on the Antepenult+

ENDING EXAMPLE

=-acio= palacio =-aculo= espectaculo =-afico= biografico =-aia= praia =-alo= (_few_) escandalo, _exc._ badálo =-ancia= abundancia =-andega= alfandega =-ania= subterrania =-anico= vulcanico =-antico= romantico =-astico-a= elastica =-atico-a= aquatico =-eio-a= passeio =-elico= evangelico =-encia= corpulencia =-enito= congenito =-erico-a= generica =-erio-a= materia, _exc._ bateria =-errimo= miserrimo =-etico-a= magnetico =-etrico-a= geometrico =-fugo= centrifugo =-geno-a= indigena =-icio-a= sacrificio =-icie= superficie =-iculo-a= agricola =-idio-a= suicidio =-ifero= montifero =-ifico= magnifico =-igero= belligero =-ilio= exilio =-inio-a= dominio =-irio-a= delirio =-itico-a= politica =-itimo-a= legitimo =-ivoro= carnivoro =-odico= methodico =-ogico= logico =-ogio= relogio, _exc._ elogío =-ographo= geographo =-olico-a= diabolico =-oloio= espolio =-ologo= geologo =-onico-a= carbonico =-onio-a= demonio =-onymo-a= enonymo =-ore= arvore, marmore =-orico-a= categorico =-orio-a= historia, _exc._ categoría =-otico-a= narcotico =-uncio-a= pronuncio =-undio-a= gerundio =-unio= importunio =-uo= melifluo, _exc._ amúo =-uria= penuria =-usculo= maiusculo

_e._ There is a natural tendency in Portuguese to avoid placing the accent as far back as the antepenult; so much so that words thus accented are called =esdrúxulos=, a word of Italian origin (=sdrúcciolo=, _slippery_) which is used figuratively in Portuguese to mean _odd_, _strange_, _extravagant_. The =esdrúxulos= are few in number and are nearly all erudite forms.

QUANTITY

=10.= The tonic or accented vowels are always long; the atonic or unaccented ones are generally short: =útil=, =agradável=.[16]

SYLLABICATION

(See Exercise IV, page 123)

=11.= In syllabication,

_a._ Diphthongs cannot be separated.

_b._ Monosyllables cannot be divided.

_c._ The consonant combinations =lh=, =nh=, =rh=, and =ph= cannot be separated from each other or from the following vowels with which they form syllables: =ma-nhã=, =ba-ta-lha=, =phi-lo-so-phí-a=.

_d._ A consonant between vowels belongs with the second one: =na-ríz=, =bár-ba-ro=.

_e._ =G= and =q= followed by =u= remain with the vowel that follows: =guin-das-te=, =qual-quer=.

_f._ Double consonants are separated: =bel-lo=, =af-fli-cto=.

_g._ Mute letters, =c= in =ch=, =t= in =th=, =g= in =gn=, =t= in =ct=, =t= in =pt=, go with the following vowel: =ar-chi-tec-tu-ra=, =pan-the-is-mo=, =si-gnal=, =fru-cto=, =ca-pti-vo=, =ex-em-pto=.

_h._ In nasal syllables =m= and =n= generally belong with the preceding vowel: =bem-di-to=, =man-so=, =dan-sar=.

_i._ But when =m= is followed by =n= both of these letters belong with the following vowel: =so-mno=, =da-mno=.

_j._ Compound words are divided according to their elements: =sub-stan-ti-vo=.

CAPITAL LETTERS

=12.= The rules for capitals are the same in general as in English; except that adjectives derived from proper names and =eu=, _I_, are not written with capitals save for some other reason such as at the beginning of a sentence: =francez=, _French_; =inglez=, _English_. This rule is not invariable, however, and one sees the proper adjectives sometimes with the capital and sometimes without. The use of the capital in such cases is regarded by some authors as more strictly the Portuguese custom.

In addressing persons as =Senhor=, =Senhora=, =Vossa Senhoria=, =Vossa Santidade=, etc., it is the custom to begin these words with capitals. But capitals are not used when a person is referred to without the name, as =o sr. engenheiro tomou conta da estrada=.

ORTHOGRAPHY

=13.= Portuguese orthography is remarkably phonetic, and after a little practise one can usually spell correctly words heard for the first time. The etymology of the words, however, is not lost sight of, though some writers adhere more closely to the etymology while others tend toward phonetic simplification.

The only exceptions to the phonetic writing of vowel sounds are:

1. That unaccented =o= is generally pronounced like =u= short, as =bonito= (pr. as if =bonítu=).

2. Unaccented =e= is often pronounced like =i= short, as =doce= (pr. as if =dóci=).

_a._ The following will serve as examples of words spelled in different ways. For present purposes either spelling may be regarded as correct.

ETYMOLOGICAL PHONETIC SPELLING SPELLING MEANING

=apprender= =aprender= to learn =approximar= =aproximar= to approach =charidade= =caridade= charity =commigo= =comigo= with me =dicto= =dito= said =edade= =idade= age =egreja= =igreja= church =eschola= =escola= school =escripto= =escrito= written =logar= =lugar= place

There are also many antiquated forms found in old books such as:

=he= for =é= is =hum=, =huma= for =um=, =uma= a _or_ one =sam= for =são= are

_b._ It is to be expected that the spelling of the present day should differ considerably from that of the sixteenth century, but aside from these differences one finds certain variations (called syncretic forms) that often puzzle the beginner. These come chiefly from the equivalence of the diphthongs =ou= and =oi=. The following is a list of the most common syncretic forms. Either form is allowable.

+List of Common Syncretic Forms+

=açoute= =açoite= whip-lash =cousa= =coisa= thing =couro= =coiro= leather =doudo= =doido= crazy =dous= =dois= two =lousa= =loisa= paving slate =mouta= =moita= coppice =noute= =noite= night =ouro= =oiro= gold =thesouro= =thesoiro= treasure =vindouro= =vindoiro= future

_c._ On the whole the tendency is toward the phonetic spelling, a tendency that has lately received much fresh impulse. These variations, however, are not to be regarded as license to spell words in any way.[17]

FOOTNOTES:

[5] In these words the =ay= is not drawn out; for example the =day= has the sound of _day_ in Friday.

[6] These words take the tonic accent on the first syllable; the final =e= is short.

[7] Unaccented =e= at the beginning or end of a word and before =s= and =a= has the phonetic value of =i= short: =bréve= = =brevi=; =estíma= = =istíma=; =egual= = =igual=; =veádo= = =viádo=; =leão= = =lião=.

[8] The =e= is nasal when followed by =n=, as in =desenho=, =tenha=, =bens=; it also sounds as if written =ei= when followed by =j=, as =desejo=, =igreja=, =seja=, =veja=, etc., which are pronounced as if written =deseijo=, etc.

[9] Unaccented =o= at the end of a word is equivalent to =u= short: =póvo= = =póvu=.

[10] It has lately been proposed in favor of orthographical reform that short final syllables now ending in =ã= shall be written =an=, as =iman=, =firman=, =orphan=, and the long ones shall end with the =ã=, as =irmã=, =manhã=, and =allemã=.

[11] Julio Ribeiro, _Grammatica Portugueza_, 9-10.

[12] _A giria Brazileira_, “Brazilian Slang,” is the title of an interesting little book published at Bahia in 1899 by an able Brazilian scholar.

[13] It was formerly the custom to write the final syllable of the third person plural of the first conjugation =ão=, thus =ámão=, =amávão=, =amarão=, =amaríão=. In these cases the accent does not fall on the final =ão= except in the future =amarão=. It is now the custom to end these words in =am=, reserving the =ão=, for the future which is accented according to the rule.

[14] In Rio de Janeiro they say =autópsia=.

[15] This list might be extended, but the exceptions become too numerous for convenience.

[16] Professor Said Ali kindly adds the following important note regarding this rule: When the tonic vowel is followed by =c=, =f=, =p=, =rr=, =ss=, or =t=, it is short. Compare =bote=, =bode=; =mato=, =medo=; =faca=, =vaga=.

[17] The most comprehensive study of modern Portuguese orthography is _Ortografia nacional, simplificação e uniformização sistematica das ortografias portuguesas_. Por A. R. Gonçalvez Viana. Lisboa, 1904.