[s]
Like "s" in the following English words (see notes below):
- Sit
- Bus
- Houee
- Sun
Examples:
Sol
/ˈsɔw/
Sun
Passar
/pa.ˈsaʁ/
To pass
Sentir
/sẽ.ˈtʃiʁ/
To feel
Açúcar
/a.ˈsu.kaʁ/
Sugar
The IPA sound [s] is known as the voiceless alveolar fricative. It's a consonant sound that is produced by bringing the tip of the tongue close to the alveolar ridge and forcing the air through a narrow channel, causing a hissing sound.
In Brazilian Portuguese, the [s] sound is pronounced similarly to its English counterpart. The tongue is placed close to the alveolar ridge, and a steady stream of air is released, creating a hissing sound. It's important to note that in some regions of Brazil, particularly in the Rio de Janeiro area, the [s] sound may be slightly modified to a voiced "zh" sound, similar to the "s" sound in the English word "measure."