How do I pronounce quem?
Iām not sure if English is your native language, or where you are hailing from. Here is what Iāll say from my North Eastern, American English.
Quem = Kime, like the English word ātime,ā (but donāt let your lips reach full closer as you get to that āmā sound). Whatās actually happening with my mouth when I say it is that Iām ending with the arc of my tongue against the roof of my mouth.
I should have said that itās ākimeā like ātimeā.
English is actually my native tongue despite my Arabic first and last names. The linguistic origins of someoneās name are not always a telling sign of what their first language is.
Iām originally from Sudbury Ontario Canada, but grew up in the Northeast US which is a home away from home for me. So I pronounce time in a northern us accent and know how American northerns pronounce time.
Last but not least, I have already put to use your strategy for pronouncing quem correctly and so far it has worked.
In the U.S. you can never tell by a personās name where they may be from. And on Practice Portuguese, Iām even less likely to be able to guess.
I am so glad to hear that my explanation worked. Good luck with your Portuguese!
Thatās true - If I just look at your first name, I would think youāre French. Your ancestors must have come from France and settled in the U.S.
Portuguese is a beautiful language and Iām happy to be learning it even though its pronunciation can be quite challenging.
Speak up if you have any other pronunciation questions. I love trying to figure out how to explain the trickier sounds. Iām assuming that your being able to put it into practice right away was with the recorded ātestsā.
What do you mean recorded tests?
The sort of ātest your pronunciationā towards the ends of lessonāwhere you hit the microphone to record yourself and they tell you how well youāre doing.
That feature is really a game changer in my Portuguese learning journey.
I have yet to practice saying the word in a recording. It probably wonāt happen until I go through the unit dealing with interrogatives.