The most curious thing is that, often, the error is so common that it even sounds “normal”
Some words may seem simple at first glance, but when they say them, many people end up getting confused.
These words, which we use frequently, deceive even those who are fluent in the language.
And the most curious thing is that, often, the pronunciation error is so common that it even sounds “normal”.
6 Portuguese words that seem easy, but many people still pronounce them wrong without realizing it
1. Bicarbonate (not “bicarbonate”)
This is one of the most confused words. The correct name is bicarbonate, with the “r” before the “n”.
Many people change the order of the letters and end up saying “bicabornato”.
The tip is to remember the word “carbon” inside it — after all, the name comes from the chemical substance sodium bicarbonate.
2. Asterisk (not “asteristic”)
Here’s another classic mistake. Many people insist on adding a “ti” that doesn’t exist.
The correct one is asterisk, with only three syllables. To remember, think of the symbol that appears on keyboards and phones
.
Saying “asteristic” is a common mistake, but easy to correct.
3. Brain (not “celebrity”)
This confusion happens because the sound of the letters can deceive the ear. The right one is brain, with “r” in the middle of the word.
When someone says “celebrity”, they end up changing the sound and creating a non-existent form.
As a tip, try saying it slowly: “cé-re-bro”. This way, you get it right on time!
4. Rhombus (not “lozenge”)
Another curious case is that of the diamond geometric shape.
Many people, perhaps by association with words like “triangle” and “rectangle”, end up saying “lozenge”.
However, the correct name does not have the “gulo” at the end. A rhombus is a figure with four equal sides and equal opposite angles.
5. Eyebrow (not “eyebrow”)
This is one of the most commonly used words in speech.
The error comes from the influence of the word “shadow”, but the correct one is eyebrow, without the “m”.
The term comes from “under” + “ancer”, which means something that is over the eyes.
So, no “eyeshadow” — even though the name reminds you of makeup!
6. Mortadella (not “mortandela”)
To close the list, we have one of the oldest confusions. The correct one is mortadella, without the “n”.
The word has Italian origins, and there it is also pronounced “mortadella”.
The nasal sound ended up being mistakenly incorporated into Portuguese, but the correct spelling continues without the “n”. Follow the Portal 6
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