Spanish & Portuguese – similarity cheatsheet

Quick tips to help you learn one from the other.

Writing by an American who isn’t an expert at either. (So proceed with caution.)

Basic sounds:

  • “j” is replaced by “lh” – trabajo becomes trabalho.
  • “h” is replaced by “f” – hijo becomes filho, habla becomes fala.
  • “z” is replaced by “ç” – almuerzo becomes almoco, cocino become cozinho.
  • “y” replaced by “j” – ya becomes ja.
  • “h” replaced by “g” – ahora becomes agora.
  • “ie” > “e” – tambien becomes bem.

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