Portuguese (Portugal) · Pronunciation Guide

How do you pronounce "amor" in Portuguese (Portugal)?

Q: How do you pronounce amor in Portuguese (Portugal)?

amor is pronounced with the stress described below. In IPA it is written [ɐˈmoɾ]. It means “love.” Say "uh-MOR", with a light "uh" first and a clear, closed "oh" plus a tapped "r" on the stressed second syllable.

Say "uh-MOR", with a light "uh" first and a clear, closed "oh" plus a tapped "r" on the stressed second syllable.

amor [ɐˈmoɾ]

Stress falls on the second syllable "mor"; the initial unstressed "a" reduces to a light "uh", and the final r is a quick tap, not rolled.

Listen: amor

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Sound it out

a Unstressed initial "a" reduces to a light, quick "uh" sound.

mo A clear, stressed, closed "oh" as in English "go", but shorter and without the glide.

r A light tongue-tap, similar to the quick "tt" in American English "butter", not a strong rolled or guttural "r".

Hear it in a sentence

O amor é importante na vida.

Love is important in life.

Listen: O amor é importante na vida.

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"O amor é importante na vida" means "Love is important in life." Here "é" (from ser) is correct, not "está", because this is a general, timeless truth about love rather than a temporary state — a good contrast case against the estar-heavy sentences elsewhere in this word set.

Where English speakers slip

English speakers often stress the first syllable, saying "AH-mor" by analogy with the English word "amateur" or Spanish patterns. Portuguese firmly stresses the second syllable, "mor", and the initial "a" should stay light and unstressed — don't let it compete with the stressed vowel.