Portuguese (Portugal) · Pronunciation Guide

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

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

preocupado is pronounced with the stress described below. In IPA it is written [pɾiɔkuˈpaðu]. It means “worried.” Say "pree-oh-koo-PA-doo," running the first three syllables together quickly before hitting the stressed "PA."

Say "pree-oh-koo-PA-doo," running the first three syllables together quickly before hitting the stressed "PA."

preocupado [pɾiɔkuˈpaðu]

Stress lands on "pa," the fourth syllable; the pre- and -o- blend almost into one breath since neither is stressed, a typical European Portuguese compression of unstressed vowels.

Listen: preocupado

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Sound it out

pre-o- Runs together fast, closer to "pree-oh" said quickly than two separate, equally weighted syllables.

-cu- A plain "koo," hard c before u.

-PA-do "PA" is the loud stressed syllable; "do" softens to "doo" at the end with a true dental d.

Hear it in a sentence

Estou preocupado com o exame.

I'm worried about the exam.

Listen: Estou preocupado com o exame.

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"Estou preocupado com o exame" again shows estar plus adjective for a temporary emotional state, with com o exame meaning "about the exam" — Portuguese uses com where English typically says "about" for the source of worry. Note the definite article o is required before exame, unlike the more article-light English phrasing.

Where English speakers slip

The four unstressed vowels surrounding the stress can tempt English speakers to give each one equal, textbook weight; European Portuguese instead swallows them, so "pre-o-cu" comes out closer to a fast "preo-koo" than four crisp syllables. This heavy vowel reduction, much stronger than in Brazilian Portuguese, is exactly the rhythm that makes European speech sound clipped and consonant-heavy to English ears.