Portuguese (Portugal) · Pronunciation Guide

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

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

perto is pronounced with the stress described below. In IPA it is written ['pɛɾtu]. It means “near.” Say "PEHR-too," with an open "eh" vowel and a very light, almost swallowed r before the t.

Say "PEHR-too," with an open "eh" vowel and a very light, almost swallowed r before the t.

perto ['pɛɾtu]

Stress is on the first syllable; the r before a consonant is a light tap or sometimes barely audible in fast Lisbon speech, and the final -o reduces to [u].

Listen: perto

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Sound it out

per An open "eh" as in English "bet," followed by a light tapped r — in casual European Portuguese speech this r can soften almost to nothing before the t.

to A true dental t plus the reduced "oo" ending, never a soft "toh."

Hear it in a sentence

O supermercado é perto daqui.

The supermarket is near here.

Listen: O supermercado é perto daqui.

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"O supermercado é perto daqui" (The supermarket is near here) shows "perto" combining with "daqui" ("de" + "aqui," meaning "from here") to express relative distance — this de + location pattern is essential for giving directions. "Ser" is used here because proximity is being stated as a general fact about the supermarket's location, not a momentary observation.

Where English speakers slip

English speakers often give the r in "perto" its full English pronunciation, pulling the tongue back. In European Portuguese this coda r is a light, quick sound, and in natural fast speech it can be reduced almost to a breathy release rather than a distinct consonant — the word should feel quick and clipped, closer to "PEH-too" with just a hint of r, not a heavy "PER-toh."