How to Pronounce NH and LH in Brazilian Portuguese — Practice
A guided practice lesson with English explanations, Brazilian Portuguese examples, and answers you can check. Read the examples, recall the meaning, then say a version of your own.
Recognize nh as one sound
In Brazilian Portuguese, nh represents a palatal nasal sound. It is one sound rather than a clearly separated n followed by h. English does not have the same spelling pattern, so listen to a native example and repeat the whole syllable.
Focus on the contrast between the target word and a familiar syllable. Slow practice helps you notice the sound before you say the word at a natural pace.
| Brazilian Portuguese | English meaning |
|---|---|
| manhã | morning |
| banho | bath |
| vinho | wine |
Practice lh without adding an extra vowel
The spelling lh represents a palatal lateral sound. Keep it inside the syllable rather than inserting an extra vowel between l and h.
Brazilian accents vary in their precise sound quality. For a useful target, listen to more than one speaker and imitate a clear example rather than chasing a single accent.
| Brazilian Portuguese | English meaning |
|---|---|
| trabalho | work |
| filho | son |
| melhor | better |
Use a short repetition routine
Say each word slowly, then put it in a short phrase. Record yourself once and compare the syllable with a reliable native audio example. Aim for intelligibility, not a perfect imitation.
For other common Brazilian Portuguese sounds, continue with our guides to ão, R and RR, and final S.
| Brazilian Portuguese | English meaning |
|---|---|
| Amanhã eu trabalho. | Tomorrow I work. |
| Meu filho gosta de banho de mar. | My son likes swimming in the sea. |
| Melhor falar devagar primeiro. | It’s better to speak slowly first. |
Remember: Practice three nh words and three lh words, then repeat them in a phrase at a comfortable speaking pace.
Check your understanding
Choose the English meaning of each Portuguese example. Answer before looking back at the tables. These questions check the written examples in this guide; they are not a listening or proficiency test.
Recall the Portuguese, then say it
Read the English prompt and say a Portuguese version before opening the answer. The answer shows the example from the lesson; other natural translations may also work. Compare the meaning and the situation rather than counting a different word as automatically wrong.
morning
Show a Portuguese answer
manhã
bath
Show a Portuguese answer
banho
wine
Show a Portuguese answer
vinho
work
Show a Portuguese answer
trabalho
son
Show a Portuguese answer
filho
better
Show a Portuguese answer
melhor
Make the phrase useful to you
Choose one example you could actually use. Say it once from memory, then change one detail that fits your life, such as the person, place, time, or object. Check whether your change also needs a different verb form, article, or adjective ending. If it does, compare it with the pattern in the explanation.
Practice three nh words and three lh words, then repeat them in a phrase at a comfortable speaking pace.
Return to two prompts tomorrow without opening the answers first. If a phrase still feels difficult, shorten it to a useful chunk and build the complete sentence again.
Sources and your next lesson
This I Speak Portuguese practice guide builds on our How to Pronounce NH and LH in Brazilian Portuguese lesson on Real Life Portuguese, with written recall tasks and additional speaking practice. The explanations and examples are teaching material; the practice questions are exercises, not a transcript of a recording.
To add Brazilian audio to your routine, choose a lesson in the Real Life Portuguese app. The app offers its own lessons and practice; this page does not imply that every example here has an app recording.
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