When it comes to pronouncing the letter X in Brazilian Portuguese, there are a few different ways to do it depending on the word, its origins, regional dialects, and a handful of other factors.
There are some “rules” as to when to use each pronunciation, but for the most part, it is just a matter of becoming more familiar with each pronunciation and naturally incorporating them into your speaking.
Without further ado…
The four main pronunciations of the letter X:
- /SH/ — as in shampoo
- /KS/ — as in accident, axe
- /S/ — Sarah, samba
- /Z/ — zen, zealous
/SH/ — This is the most common pronunciation and is similar to the English /SH/ sound.
Examples with audios
- xĂcara
- xadrez
- xarope
- xampu
- caixa
- peixe
- faixa
- baixa
- ameixa
- queixa
- lixo
- abacaxi
- coxinha
- puxar
- enxugar
Fast and loose rules:
- When a word begins with the letter X — xĂcara
- After the letters EN - enxugar
- After diphthongs (multiple vowels in a row) — caixa
/KS/ — This pronunciation is most common for words borrowed from other languages.
Examples with audios
- complexo
- anexo
- fixo
- sexo
- fluxo
- Alexia
/S/ — this pronunciation depends on regional accents, as most Cariocas will opt for the /SH/ sound instead. However, many (if not most) Brazilians will use the /S/ sound for the following words:
Examples with audios
- texto
- extra
- experiĂŞncia
- excelente
- excesso
- exceção
Note: this /S/ pronunciation typically occurs in combination with /EXC/ and can almost sound muted or can be completely omitted.
/Z/ — This pronunciation is typically found in English cognates (words that also exist in English):
Examples with audio
- exemplo
- exercĂcio
- exatamente
- exame
- exausto
- exagero
- exĂlio
Final notes:
- For more examples and pronunciation practice, visit https://forvo.com
- Don’t worry too much about the rules 🤪
- Listen to the podcast episode with the worksheet here — S08:E09 — How to pronounce the letter X in Brazilian Portuguese (podcast & worksheet)