Portuguese · Difficult words

How to pronounce funcionário in Portuguese

funcionário

Employee

foo-see-oh-NAH-ryoo/fũ.si.oˈna.ɾju/

Brazilian Portuguese; reference: Brazil · Choose 1.00× to hear the original pace.

funcionário is pronounced /fũ.si.oˈna.ɾju/ in Portuguese. In funcionário: For vowels marked with a tilde, let air resonate through the nose while the mouth keeps its vowel shape. Listen to the word on its own, then compare it with the example sentence.

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Find the sounds in funcionário

Read funcionário in these IPA segments: fũ · si · o · ˈna · ɾju. 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. 1.Nasal resonance

    In funcionário: For vowels marked with a tilde, let air resonate through the nose while the mouth keeps its vowel shape.

    Watch out: Do not add a strong n or m just because an English respelling uses one to suggest nasality.

  2. 2.A light tapped r /ɾ/

    In funcionário: Touch the tongue tip briefly to the ridge behind the upper teeth, then move straight to the next sound.

    Watch out: Do not hold a strong English r in this position.

  3. 3.A steady /o/ vowel

    In funcionário: 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

Um funcionário me acompanhou até a seção de cabos.

An employee walked me to the cable aisle.

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 funcionário. 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 funcionário

How do you pronounce funcionário?

funcionário is pronounced /fũ.si.oˈna.ɾju/ in Portuguese. In funcionário: For vowels marked with a tilde, let air resonate through the nose while the mouth keeps its vowel shape. Listen to the word on its own, then compare it with the example sentence.

What should I listen for first?

In funcionário: For vowels marked with a tilde, let air resonate through the nose while the mouth keeps its vowel shape. Start at 0.75×, then return to 1.00× to hear the natural rhythm.

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