Pronunciation of r in Brazilian Portuguese

The r of Brazilian Portuguese is different from that of Spanish. As in Spanish, the intervocalic r is an alveolar flap but in other positions, the pronunciation varies. In the south of Brazil, the r can be pronounced in all positions as in Spanish, but this is not the case for most speakers. Let us look at examples.

In world-initial position, most Brazilians pronounce the r as a glottal or velar fricative. This sound occurs in real (royal), rio (river) and roda (wheel).

When the r is word-final, it can be pronounced as a velar fricative, glottal fricative, alveolar approximant, alveolar trill or not pronounced at all. This depends on the dialect. Examples include jantar (dinner), lar  (home) and mar (sea).

Between vowels, the r is realized as an alveolar flap. Examples include amarelo (yellow), muro (wall) and ouro (gold).

Most Brazilians pronounce the double r the same as the word-initial r. It is a glottal or velar fricative. Examples include carro (car), cigarro (cigarette) and garrafa (bottle).

In words such as honra (honour), the r is not classified as intervocalic even though the first vowel is fully nasalized. Here the r is realized as a glottal or velar fricative. This is in contrast to hora (hour) in which the r is an alveolar flap.

The r of Brazilian Portuguese has different realizations. It can be a glottal/velar fricative, alveolar trill, alveolar approximant or alveolar flap. In word-final position, many Brazilians do not pronounce the r at all. Speakers who use the glottal/velar fricative do not use the alveolar trill, and speakers who use the alveolar trill do not use the glottal/velar fricative.