Here the spelling tries to contain the sound, but it is the voice that gives soul and meaning to the words
Since medieval times, Portuguese has already had irregularities: accents, slang and phonetic mutations that escaped the logic of spelling. Writing fixes a form; speech, alive, transforms.
It is this tension between what is read and what is heard that leads us to discover six whose pronunciation tends to deceive even the most attentive — according to linguistic studies and reference dictionaries.
6 words in Portuguese that have a different pronunciation than they seem, according to linguistics
1. Lawyer
A classic of Brazilian speech. Many pronounce it “adivogado” or “adevogado”, inserting an extra sound between the “d” and “v”.
This phenomenon is known in linguistics as epenthesis, that is, the introduction of a sound to facilitate articulation. According to the JusBrasil website, the form “adevogado” is widely used orally, although criticized in formal contexts.
2. Hieroglyph
It seems simple, but it’s not. The correct pronunciation is /hi-e-ró-gli-fo/, with the “e” clearly marked after the “h”. Many people omit the sound, transforming it into something like “hiro-glo-fo” or “hi-ró-glo-fo”.
According to the website Bab.la, which features native audios, the term must maintain a clear gap between “hi” and “e”.
3. Myopic
It is common to hear “miúpe” — an attempt to better fit the rhythm of the word.
However, as linguists explain in forums and online dictionaries, the correct one is “mí-o-pe”, with two well-marked syllables and without the invented “u”.
4. Period
Another phonetic trap. In much of the country, you hear “periudo” — changing the position of the tonic and changing the final “o”.
It is a typical case of regional rhythmic adaptation, common in spontaneous speech, according to recent linguistic discussions.
5. Eyebrow
Many speakers add an invisible “m” and say “shadow”.
This confusion, according to Dicio, comes from the sound similarity between “sob” and “sound” — and the natural tendency to assimilate nearby sounds.
6. Company
Finally, a word that confuses even voice professionals: the silent “h” and the encounter “nhia” lead many to say “company”.
The form is so widespread that it already appears in regional music and speech. However, according to Priberam, the only accepted pronunciation is /kom-pa-nhi-a/.
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