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Fourth Edition 2016
HarperCollins Publishers 1993, 2007, 2010, 2016
Source ISBN: 9780008135935
Ebook Edition March 2016 ISBN: 9780008163495
Version: 2016-03-01
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Editor
Holly Tarbet
Contributors
Wendy Graa
Vanda Meneses Santos
David White
For the Publisher
Gerry Breslin
Janice McNeillie
Helen Newstead
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Whether youre on holiday or on business, your Collins Gem Phrasebook and Dictionary is designed to help you locate the exact phrase you need, when you need it. Youll also gain the confidence to go beyond what is in the book, as you can adapt the phrases by using the dictionary section to substitute your own words.
The Gem Phrasebook and Dictionary includes:
Over 60 topics arranged thematically, so that you can easily find an expression to suit the situation
Simple pronunciation which accompanies each word and phrase, to make sure you are understood when speaking aloud
Tips to safeguard against any cultural faux pas, providing the essential dos and donts of local customs or etiquette
A basic grammar section which will help you to build on your phrases
FACE TO FACE dialogue sections to give you a flavour of what to expect from a real conversation
A handy map of the country which shows the major cities and how to pronounce them
YOU MAY HEAR sections for common announcements and messages, so that you dont miss important information when out and about
A user-friendly 3000 word dictionary to ensure youll never be stuck for something to say
A short chapter of LIFELINE phrases for quick reference. These basic words and phrases will be essential to your time abroad
Before you jet off, its worth spending time looking through the topics to see what is covered and becoming familiar with pronunciation.
Contents
Portuguese is much easier to read than to speak. However, the pronunciation guide used in this book gives as accurate a guide as possible to the sounds of the language. The syllable to be stressed is printed in bold. Note that in conversation words tend to run together.
Vowels (a, e, i, o, u)
vowel | example | pronunciation | sounds like |
a | s a co | s ah -koo | as in f a ther |
f a ma | f u muh | h u m |
fic a | feek uh | a bout |
e | t e rra | t e rr-uh | t e rror |
e norme | eh -norm | e henquire |
especial | ee sh-pessyahl | happ y |
de | d uh | a bout |
i | f i ca | f ee kuh | pol i ce |
md i co | med ee koo | happ y |
o | c o bra | k oh -bruh | a ll |
h o mem | o may | au pair |
vas o | vah-z oo | b oot |
u | l u vas | l oo vush | b oo t |
Notes:
The article a sounds like uh (as in the), unless stressed, i.e. (ah).
e can sound like ay, e.g. fecho (fayshoo), but tends to be silent at the end of words, e.g. pode (pod) unless stressed, e.g. beb (be-be). The word e (meaning and) always sounds like ee.
The article o and the letter o at the end of words always sound like oo.
Vowel combinations
ai | mais | m y sh |
ei | peixe | p ay sh |
oi | coisa | k oy -zuh |
ou | outro | oh -troo |
Nasal vowels
Vowels with a tilde ~ or followed by m or n in the same syllable should be pronounced nasally (letting air out through the nose as well as the mouth), as in French. We have represented this sound in the pronunciation by , e.g.
tem = tay | com = ko | um = oo |
po = pow | manh = mun-ya | pe = poy |
Other letters
example | pronunciation | sounds like |
servio | servee s oo |
ch | ch | sh ah |
g | gelo | zh ay-loo | as in mea s ure |
h | always silent |
j | loja | |