Portuguese (Portugal) · Pronunciation Guide

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

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

três is pronounced with the stress described below. In IPA it is written [ˈtɾeʃ]. It means “three.” Roughly "trehsh" — a light, tapped "r" right after the "t," an open "e" like in "bed," and a final "sh" instead of an "s."

Roughly "trehsh" — a light, tapped "r" right after the "t," an open "e" like in "bed," and a final "sh" instead of an "s."

três [ˈtɾeʃ]

One syllable; the "r" after "t" is a quick tap of the tongue (not an English "r"), and word-final "s" always becomes "sh" in EU Portuguese.

Listen: três

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Sound it out

tr The "r" is a fast single tap of the tongue tip against the roof of the mouth, similar to the "tt" in American "butter," not an English "r."

ê An open vowel like the "e" in English "bed," not the closed "ay" sound English speakers often default to.

s Word-final "s" is pronounced "sh," as in English "fish" — a hallmark of the European accent.

Hear it in a sentence

Ela tem três gatos.

She has three cats.

Listen: Ela tem três gatos.

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"Ela tem três gatos" means "She has three cats." Unlike "dois/duas," the number "três" doesn't change for gender, so it stays the same whether counting masculine or feminine nouns. "Tem" here is the third-person form of "ter" (to have), a very common irregular verb worth memorizing early.

Where English speakers slip

Learners often turn the "r" into a full English "r" sound or skip the final "sh," saying something closer to "trace." In EU Portuguese the tapped "r" is quick and light, and the final "s" must land as "sh" — Brazilian speech would soften that "s" less sharply, so leaning on Brazilian-media memory here will sound noticeably off.