Pronunciation
Hotel: Same Word, Different Sound
When learning Portuguese, some words look like old friends. Hotel is one of them.
It’s spelled the same in Portuguese and English, and it even means the same thing — but here’s the catch: the pronunciation is very different in European Portuguese.
Pronunciation in European Portuguese
In English, we say “oh-tel” with a strong ‘h’ sound.
In European Portuguese, the ‘h’ is completely silent.
The correct pronunciation is more like:
The emphasis is on the second syllable, and the ‘h’ isn’t pronounced at all.
You can hear the correct Portuguese pronunciation here.
Why It Matters
Words like this can trip you up if you assume they sound the same as they do in English.
In Portuguese, many words that start with ‘h’ are pronounced as if the ‘h’ isn’t there at all.
Other examples:
- homem (man) → sounds like “OH-meng”
- hora (hour) → sounds like “OH-ra”
Quick Tips
- If a Portuguese word starts with ‘h’, assume it’s silent.
- Remember to put the stress on the correct syllable. In ‘hotel,’ it’s the second syllable.
- Listen to native pronunciation as often as possible to train your ear.
Final Thought
Hotel is a friendly cognate, but only if you respect the local sound.
The written word can be a bridge, but pronunciation keeps you from sounding like a tourist.
Stay tuned for more posts in this series to help you spot the easy wins, and avoid the common traps, in Portuguese vocabulary.