How to Spell Any Word in Portuguese Like a Native

Knowing how to spell in Portuguese is one of those small skills that feel tiny until you actually need them: giving your email over the phone, confirming a name, or reading out an address. And here comes the important part, here in Brazil we don't just rattle off letter by letter, we use an example word for each one.

That's why, more than memorizing the Portuguese alphabet, what you're really going to learn is how we actually use it here in Brazil: which word goes with each letter (A de Amor, B de Bola, C de Casa...) so the person on the other end understands you with no mix-ups.

In this lesson you get the full alphabet with its pronunciation, the list of words for spelling, and a video to hear every letter. That way you'll be able to spell any word in Portuguese with a native's confidence and leave the Portuñol behind.

Video: How to Spell in Portuguese

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Which Words to Use as Examples for Spelling in Portuguese

• A de Amor - ❤️
• B de Bola - ⚽️
• C de Casa - 🏠
• D de Dado - 🎲
• E de Escola - 🏫
• F de Faca / Foca - 🔪
• G de Gato - 😺
• H de Homem - 🙍
• I de Igreja - ⛪
• J de João - 👨🦳
• L de Laranja - 🍊
• M de Maria - 👵
• N de Navio - 🚢
• O de Ovo - 🥚
• P de Pato - 🦆
• Q de Queijo - 🧀
• R de Rato - 🐀
• S de Sapo - 🐸
• T de Tatu - 🦝
• U de Uva - 🍇
• V de Vitória - ✌️
• X de Xícara - ☕️
• Z de Zebra - 🦓

Phrases for Talking on the Phone in Portuguese

Now that you know which letters we use to spell in Portuguese, learn some useful phrases for talking on the phone in Portuguese.

Article in Portuguese: Como falar bem ao telefone com cliente? 14 práticas essenciais

How to Spell Out Accents and Symbols in Portuguese

When you spell in Portuguese it's not enough to say the letters: you also have to name the accents and symbols, because they change the word completely. Here in Brazil we use a specific name for each one, and it doesn't always line up with what you'd expect in English. These are the ones you'll need most:

• Acento agudo (´): we say "com acento agudo", as in á, é, í, ó, ú.
• Acento circunflexo (^): we say "com circunflexo", as in â, ê, ô.
• Til (~): we say "com til", as in ã and õ, the nasal sound that doesn't exist in English.
• Cedilha (ç): we call it "cê-cedilha", that c with a little tail that sounds like an s.
• Hífen (-): we say "com hífen" when the word is written with a hyphen.

And here's the detail that surprises almost all of us: á, ã, and â aren't just written differently, they sound completely different, and that nasal sound of the til can change the meaning of a word. If you want to hear how each vowel changes with its accent, with audio for every one, I walk you through it step by step in the guide to accentuation and vowels in Portuguese.

There's another situation where you'll be spelling things out for sure: when you dictate Brazilian acronyms and documents. Do you know how to read CPF, RG, CEP, CNPJ, or CNH? Some are said letter by letter and others as a single word, and mixing them up is a classic when you've just arrived in Brazil. You've got the full list with meanings and pronunciation in this guide to acronyms and abbreviations in Portuguese.

Pronunciation Details for Some Letters in Portuguese

When you spell in Portuguese there are letters that sound different from English, and they're exactly the ones that cause the most trouble when giving a name or a word over the phone. These are the three that trip people up the most, and in each full guide you can hear them with audio and examples:

• Letter X: a single letter that can sound four different ways depending on the word. In the guide you hear each sound with audio and even find out why in Brazil an "X-burguer" is called that.
• Letter Q: in Portuguese the Q is called "quê", and spelling it out the wrong way when you dictate a name like Joaquín can make you say a rude word without meaning to. I show you how to avoid that awkward moment.
• Letters Z, S, SS, Ç: words like zoar, suar, soar, and caçoar sound almost identical but mean very different things. Here you'll see which is which and how that Ç (cê-cedilha) that doesn't exist in English sounds.

Improve Your Portuguese Pronunciation

Spelling well is only the first step: to sound natural you also have to work on the accent and the rhythm of Brazilian Portuguese. The good news is that pronunciation is trained with the right habits, not with talent.

I put together my best strategies for sounding like a real Brazilian (daily immersion, music, podcasts, and even what Brazil's neutral accent is), with audio and readings to train your ear: recommendations for improving your pronunciation in Portuguese.