Minimal pair · Brazilian Portuguese
Portuguese /f/ vs /v/Faca or vaca?
Learn to hear the difference between f and v in Portuguese words.
Practice these sounds/f/
Unvoiced lip-and-teeth friction
Air passes between the lower lip and upper teeth. Listen to the first sound.
As infaca
/v/
Voiced lip-and-teeth friction
A continuous, voiced consonant. Compare it with the other beginning in the pair.
As invaca
WHAT TO LISTEN FOR
A small change.
A different word.
Faca/vaca, fila/vila and fala/vala keep the rest of the word unchanged. Listen to the initial f or v in the Brazilian variety used here.
Listen for the target sound in each word.
A common trap
Do not assume that a familiar-looking Portuguese word sounds exactly like its Spanish or English relative.
Sound examples
Tap to hear each wordfaca
/ˈfaka/knifefila
/ˈfila/queue; linefala
/ˈfala/speech; speaksfogo
/ˈfoɡu/firefita
/ˈfita/ribbon; tapevaca
/ˈvaka/cowvila
/ˈvila/small townvala
/ˈvala/ditchvida
/ˈvida/lifevoto
/ˈvɔtu/vote10 words. Words stay hidden during practice unless you choose to reveal them.