Portuguese · Food & drink
How to pronounce picanha in Portuguese
picanha
picanha
Brazilian Portuguese; reference: Brazil · Choose 1.00× to hear the original pace.
picanha is pronounced /piˈkɐ̃.ɲɐ/ in Portuguese. In picanha: 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 picanha
Read picanha in these IPA segments: pi · ˈkɐ̃ · ɲɐ. 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.Nasal resonance
In picanha: 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.The nh sound /ɲ/
In picanha: Make a single palatal consonant, with the middle of the tongue raised. It resembles the linked “ny” in “canyon”.
Watch out: Do not pronounce n and h as two separate consonants.
3.Front-vowel position
In picanha: Listen for the distinction between the closer /i/ and the more relaxed /ɪ/ when shown. Keep your tongue toward the front.
Watch out: Do not decide vowel quality from English spelling alone.
Hear it in context
No cardápio está escrito «picanha».
The menu says “picanha”.
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 picanha. 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.
Questions about picanha
How do you pronounce picanha?
picanha is pronounced /piˈkɐ̃.ɲɐ/ in Portuguese. In picanha: 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 picanha: 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.
