Minimal pair · Brazilian Portuguese
Portuguese /s/ vs /z/Caça or casa?
Learn to hear the difference between s and z in Portuguese words.
Practice these sounds/s/
An unvoiced hiss
Listen for the narrow, hissing sound in the target consonant.
As incaça
/z/
A voiced buzz
Compare the voiced buzzing sound with the hiss in the other category.
As incasa
WHAT TO LISTEN FOR
A small change.
A different word.
Caça/casa, assa/asa and caço/caso put /s/ and /z/ between vowels. The first pair is hunt/house; the second contrasts a verb form with wing.
Listen for the target sound in each word.
A common trap
The letter ç and doubled ss represent /s/ in these examples. A single s between vowels represents /z/ here; listen before applying the spelling pattern.
Sound examples
Tap to hear each wordcaça
/ˈkasa/hunt; game animalsassa
/ˈasa/roastscaço
/ˈkasu/I huntmassa
/ˈmasa/doughosso
/ˈosu/bonecasa
/ˈkaza/houseasa
/ˈaza/wingcaso
/ˈkazu/case; ifmesa
/ˈmeza/tablerosa
/ˈʁɔza/rose10 words. Words stay hidden during practice unless you choose to reveal them.