Portuguese (Portugal) · Pronunciation Guide

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

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

nervoso is pronounced with the stress described below. In IPA it is written [nɨɾˈvozu]. It means “nervous.” Say "nuhr-VO-zoo" — the first syllable shrinks to a quick "nuhr," and the s between vowels buzzes like a z.

Say "nuhr-VO-zoo" — the first syllable shrinks to a quick "nuhr," and the s between vowels buzzes like a z.

nervoso [nɨɾˈvozu]

Stress falls on "vo," the second syllable; the unstressed ner- reduces almost to "nr," and the intervocalic s in -oso is voiced to [z].

Listen: nervoso

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Sound it out

ner- Reduces heavily — closer to a clipped "nuhr" than a full English "nerve," since it's unstressed.

-VO- The clear, stressed syllable: a full "vo" as in "vote," said with energy.

-so Sitting between two vowels, this s buzzes into "zoo" rather than a hissed "so."

Hear it in a sentence

Estou nervoso antes da entrevista.

I'm nervous before the interview.

Listen: Estou nervoso antes da entrevista.

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"Estou nervoso antes da entrevista" uses antes de ("before"), contracted here with the feminine article as antes da, to set up the timing of the nervousness relative to the interview. This is another estar-plus-adjective construction typical of describing a temporary emotional or physical state in Portuguese.

Where English speakers slip

Because the word looks just like the English "nervous," learners tend to stress the first syllable as in English ("NER-vo-so"); European Portuguese stresses the second syllable instead, "ner-VO-so," and shrinks the first vowel almost to nothing. Getting the stress backwards is the single most common mistake, and it also throws off the natural vowel reduction that gives the word its authentic Lisbon rhythm.