How to Pronounce B and V in Portuguese (With Practice Words)

The B and V in Portuguese are two different sounds, and if you speak English, you already have a head start: B is made by pressing both lips together, like in "boy," and V by resting your upper teeth on your lower lip, like in "very." Here in Brazil, "bela" (beautiful) and "vela" (candle) are completely different words, so if you mix them up, you change the meaning of the sentence.

Where most learners slip is when they also speak Spanish. In a big part of Latin America, the two letters sound almost identical, but we Brazilians clearly hear the difference between B and V, which is why "bala" (candy) and "vala" (ditch) never get confused in a conversation. If Spanish is in your head too, the B vs V in Portuguese mix-up is the one to watch.

Below you'll find a short video on Portuguese B and V pronunciation, a quick breakdown of how each sound is formed, and lists of Portuguese words with V and Portuguese words with B so you can practice out loud until they come out naturally.

Video: How to Pronounce B and V Correctly

In this short video I show you how B and V are pronounced in Portuguese. Watch my mouth closely: for the B my lips close, and for the V my upper teeth touch my lower lip. Repeat after me out loud a couple of times before moving on.

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Phonetic Features of B and V

The difference between B and V in Portuguese comes down to the position of your mouth: B is bilabial, because both lips touch, and V is labiodental, because your upper teeth brush against your lower lip. Here's each sound with examples.

B in Portuguese is a voiced bilabial stop, just like the English B in "boy." You make it by pressing your lips together and releasing the air with a small burst.

Examples:

• boca
• bebê
• bala
• banco
• bater
• bando

V in Portuguese is pronounced by brushing your lower lip with your upper teeth, exactly like the English V in "very."

Examples:

• vida
• vaca
• vala
• vovô
• vale
• viver

Why Do B and V Get Mixed Up?

In Spanish, words like "vaca" and "vino" are pronounced as if they were "baca" and "bino." English doesn't have this problem, but if you learned Spanish before Portuguese, that habit tends to sneak in. In Portuguese, this confusion doesn't exist: B and V are two distinct sounds, pronounced clearly every time. Mixing them up can lead to misunderstandings and make you harder to understand.

In Spanish you say "estaba" with a B, but in Portuguese the correct form is "estava," with a V. This isn't just a spelling change: in Portuguese there's a real difference you can hear between the two sounds, and a Brazilian will never mix up the pronunciation of B and V.

Portuguese Words with B and V to Practice

Portuguese words with B and V are the best way to practice, because saying them out loud teaches your mouth the right movement. Here are the ones we use most in everyday life in Brazil, with their meaning in English.

Portuguese Words with B

Portuguese words with B are pronounced by pressing your lips together, just like in English. The only thing to watch is not softening the B between vowels (a habit Spanish speakers often bring along): in Brazil it always sounds firm, like at the start of "boca."

• bairro – neighborhood
• beijo – kiss
• bolo – cake
• brincar – to play
• bagunça – mess
• bobo – silly
• bicho – critter, small animal
• bem – well

Portuguese Words with V

Portuguese words with V are the ones that give Spanish speakers away: if you say "bocê" instead of "você," any Brazilian notices right away. English speakers usually get these right, but practice them anyway, resting your teeth on your lower lip:

• você – you
• vizinho – neighbor
• viagem – trip
• verdade – truth
• vontade – desire, feeling like doing something
• vassoura – broom
• velho – old
• vez – time (as in "one time")

Words Spelled with B in Spanish but V in Portuguese

If you also speak Spanish, this is the most common mistake I hear in my classes: since these words are spelled with B in Spanish, many people say them with a B in Portuguese, when in Brazil we write and pronounce them with a V.

• estava – was (Spanish: estaba)
• governo – government (Spanish: gobierno)
• cavalo – horse (Spanish: caballo)
• livro – book (Spanish: libro)
• árvore – tree (Spanish: árbol)
• nuvem – cloud (Spanish: nube)
• advogado – lawyer (Spanish: abogado)
• escrever – to write (Spanish: escribir)
• dever – to owe, duty (Spanish: deber)
• provar – to try, to taste (Spanish: probar)
• varrer – to sweep (Spanish: barrer)

B and V Word Pairs That Change the Meaning

In Portuguese, swapping B for V can change the whole meaning of a word. These B and V word pairs are great for training your ear and checking whether you can already hear the difference:

• bela (beautiful) / vela (candle, sail)
• bala (candy or bullet) / vala (ditch)
• bem (well) / vem (comes)
• bota (boot) / vota (votes)
• bago (grain, berry) / vago (vacant, vague, lazy)

Tips to Improve Your Pronunciation

To stop mixing up B and V in Portuguese, you don't need to study phonetics, you just need to train your ear and your mouth every day. These are the habits I recommend most to my students, especially the ones who also speak Spanish:

• Listen carefully to native speakers and focus on spotting the contrast between B and V.
• Practice out loud, imitating the way each sound is formed. Conscious repetition is key to getting rid of interference from Spanish or any other language.
• Use resources like recordings, videos, and materials with audio examples.

Want to go further? Check out my post on Brazilian Portuguese pronunciation.

Other Letters That Sound Different in Portuguese

B and V aren't the only letters that give learners away when they speak Portuguese. If you've already got this difference down, I challenge you to find out how these other letters really sound in Brazil:

• The R and RR in Portuguese
• Z, S, SS, and Ç in Portuguese
• Portuguese words with X
• The letter Q in Portuguese (pay special attention)
• Vowels and accent marks in Portuguese
• All the letters in Portuguese (guide with video and PDF)