Portuguese · Difficult words
How to pronounce dor de cabeça in Portuguese
dor de cabeça
Headache
Brazilian Portuguese; reference: Brazil · Choose 1.00× to hear the original pace.
dor de cabeça is pronounced /ˈdoʁ d͡ʒi kaˈbe.sɐ/ in Portuguese. In dor de cabeça: The IPA shows a joined “ch” or “j” sound. This occurs in many Brazilian pronunciations before an i-like vowel. Listen to the word on its own, then compare it with the example sentence.
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Find the sounds in dor de cabeça
Read dor de cabeça in these IPA segments: ˈdoʁ d͡ʒi ka · ˈbe · sɐ. Dots and stress marks identify the boundaries shown in the reference; these symbols are not English spelling. The mark /ˈ/ comes immediately before the main stressed syllable. Give that syllable a little more prominence without swallowing the others.
1.A softened stop
In dor de cabeça: The IPA shows a joined “ch” or “j” sound. This occurs in many Brazilian pronunciations before an i-like vowel.
Watch out: Use the recorded variety as your model; other Brazilian accents can keep a plain t or d here.
2.A steady /e/ vowel
In dor de cabeça: Keep the tongue toward the front and sustain a single /e/ vowel. Listen for its exact height in the recording.
Watch out: English “ay” often ends with a glide; do not automatically carry that glide into this vowel.
3.A steady /o/ vowel
In dor de cabeça: Round the lips and keep the tongue toward the back for a steady /o/. Follow the length indicated in the transcription.
Watch out: Avoid automatically turning a single /o/ into the moving vowel of English “go”.
Hear it in context
Desculpa, estou com dor de cabeça e vou deitar.
Sorry, I have a headache and I’m going to lie down.
Listen once, say it aloud, then replay at 1.00×. Keep the word connected to the surrounding sentence rather than giving every syllable equal weight.
Pronunciation and variety
The recording uses a Brazilian Portuguese voice for dor de cabeça. Portuguese in Portugal and other regions can differ in vowel reduction and consonants. The reference may list several realizations; the transcription here is selected for a Brazilian or unmarked pronunciation.
The English-style respelling is approximate. Use the IPA and recording together for vowel quality and consonants that do not have an exact English equivalent.
Meaning and everyday use
Questions about dor de cabeça
How do you pronounce dor de cabeça?
dor de cabeça is pronounced /ˈdoʁ d͡ʒi kaˈbe.sɐ/ in Portuguese. In dor de cabeça: The IPA shows a joined “ch” or “j” sound. This occurs in many Brazilian pronunciations before an i-like vowel. Listen to the word on its own, then compare it with the example sentence.
What should I listen for first?
In dor de cabeça: The IPA shows a joined “ch” or “j” sound. This occurs in many Brazilian pronunciations before an i-like vowel. Start at 0.75×, then return to 1.00× to hear the natural rhythm.
