Lesson 3: Pronunciation of /é/ and /ê/, Public Health and Health Insurance

Lesson 3: Pronunciation of /é/ and /ê/, Public Health and Health Insurance

Author: College of Liberal Arts, University of Texas at Austin November 13, 2006 Duration: 8:45
asset title: Lesson 3: Pronunciation of /é/ and /ê/, Public Health and Health Insurance filename: tafalado_03.mp3 track number: 3/46 time: 8:45 size: 6.15 MB bitrate: 96 kbps Welcome to one of the great challenges of Brazilian Portuguese pronunciation. Sometimes 'e' sounds similar to the English sound in words like 'get, met, set.' Other times Brazilian 'e' sounds like the Spanish 'e' in words like 'bebe, vive, lleve.' Valdo and Michelle help us out. Culturally they also help us understand how different it is for Brazilians to have to worry about personal health insurance. Dialog Portuguese Valdo: Você já quebrou o pé? Michelle: Quebrei a perna. E você não sabe como pesou no bolso. Valdo: Por quê? Michelle: Porque paguei uma nota pelo gesso. Até mesmo com seguro-saúde o preço é elevado. Valdo: Teve que engessar, é? Michelle: O médico achou que era melhor. Dê uma olhada aqui e veja você mesmo como ficou. Spanish Valdo: ¿Usted se ha quebrado el pié? Michelle: Me quebré la pierna. Y usted no sabe como pesó en mi bolsillo. Valdo: ¿Por qué? Michelle: Porque pagué mucha plata por el yeso. Así mismo con el seguro médico, el precio es elevado. Valdo: Tuviste que enyesarlo, ¿verdad? Michelle: El médico pensó que era mejor. Dé una mirada aquí y vea usted mismo como quedó. English Valdo: Have you ever had a broken foot? Michelle: I broke my leg. And you can't imagine how hard it hit my wallet. Valdo: Why? Michelle: Because I paid a lot for my cast. Even with insurance the price was high. Valdo: So you had to get a cast? Michelle: The doctor thought it would be better. Check it out yourself and see how it ended up.

For anyone who speaks Spanish and wants to learn the distinct sounds of Brazilian Portuguese, Tá Falado is a focused and practical resource. This podcast comes from the College of Liberal Arts at the University of Texas at Austin, and it’s built on a simple, effective idea: your existing knowledge of Spanish is a powerful starting point. Each episode deliberately contrasts the two languages, breaking down specific pronunciation challenges like vowel sounds, nasal consonants, and intonation patterns that often trip up Spanish speakers. You’ll hear clear comparisons and practice examples that highlight these differences directly. Beyond the mechanics of speech, the podcast naturally weaves in cultural notes and real-life scenarios, offering glimpses into daily life and social interactions in Brazil compared to common experiences in the United States. It’s this combination of linguistic precision and cultural context that makes the lessons stick. As part of the broader Brazilpod project, Tá Falado is academically informed but entirely approachable, turning a potentially difficult learning curve into a series of manageable, insightful steps. The goal isn’t just to be understood, but to sound more authentic and confident when speaking.
Author: Language: en-us Episodes: 46

Tá Falado: Brazilian Portuguese Pronunciation for Speakers of Spanish
Podcast Episodes
Grammar Lesson 20: This Just Isn't Spanish, Adapting to Handicapped [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 11:03
asset title: Grammar Lesson 20: This Just Isn't Spanish, Adapting to Handicapped filename: tafalado_gra_20.mp3 track number: 46/46 time: 11:03 size: 7.77 MB bitrate: 96 kbps Oh man, where did this word come from? After a…
Grammar Lesson 19: Present Perfect, Naming People [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 16:09
asset title: Grammar Lesson 19: Present Perfect, Naming People filename: tafalado_gra_19.mp3 track number: 45/46 time: 16:09 size: 11.36 MB bitrate: 96 kbps One of life's great mysteries is if a Brazilian marries someone…
Grammar Lesson 18: Word Order, Buses and Services [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 10:56
asset title: Grammar Lesson 18: Word Order, Buses and Services filename: tafalado_gra_18.mp3 track number: 44/46 time: 10:56 size: 7.69 MB bitrate: 96 kbps So how weird would it be to be a Brazilian in the United States…
Grammar Lesson 17: Também x Também não, Online Activities [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 9:44
asset title: Grammar Lesson 17: Também x Também não, Online Activities filename: tafalado_gra_17.mp3 track number: 43/46 time: 9:44 size: 6.85 MB bitrate: 96 kbps Spanish speakers who are used to saying tampoco will now…
Grammar Lesson 16: Placement of Indirect Pronouns, Greeting Friends [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 12:33
asset title: Grammar Lesson 16: Placement of Indirect Pronouns, Greeting Friends filename: tafalado_gra_16.mp3 track number: 42/46 time: 12:33 size: 8.82 MB bitrate: 96 kbps In this lesson, Michelle claims that most peop…
Grammar Lesson 15: False Cognates, Driver's License [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 10:50
asset title: Grammar Lesson 15: False Cognates, Driver's License filename: tafalado_gra_15.mp3 track number: 41/46 time: 10:50 size: 7.62 MB bitrate: 96 kbps No kidding, Orlando was in Mexico City one time and saw a man…
Grammar Lesson 14: Absence of Direct Object Pronouns, Mobile Homes [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 10:24
asset title: Grammar Lesson 14: Absence of Direct Object Pronouns, Mobile Homes filename: tafalado_gra_14.mp3 track number: 40/46 time: 10:24 size: 7.32 MB bitrate: 96 kbps OK, so you are driving down the freeway and you…
Grammar Lesson 13: Gender in Portuguese and Spanish, Buying Alcohol [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 11:33
asset title: Grammar Lesson 13: Gender in Portuguese and Spanish, Buying Alcohol filename: tafalado_gra_13.mp3 track number: 39/46 time: 11:33 size: 8.12 MB bitrate: 96 kbps To be clear, we are referring to gender agreem…
Grammar Lesson 11: Topic-Comment Patterns, Special Needs Privileges [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 12:01
asset title: Grammar Lesson 11: Topic-Comment Patterns, Special Needs Privileges filename: tafalado_gra_11.mp3 track number: 37/46 time: 12:01 size: 8.46 MB bitrate: 96 kbps Just look at that barriga! Clearly the polite…