sotaque
/soˈta.ki/masculine
The English word accent translates to Portuguese as sotaque. Wiktionary also lists acento.
Meaning: distinctive pronunciation associated with a region, social group, etc. (noun)
Ways to say it
| Portuguese | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| sotaque | /soˈta.ki/ (Brazil) /suˈta.ki/ (Brazil) |
masculine |
| acento | /aˈsẽ.tu/ (Brazil) /ɐˈsẽ.tu/ (Portugal) |
masculine |
The term refers to a distinctive pronunciation associated with a region, social group, etc.
Which one should you use?
Use sotaque when referring to the distinctive way people from a specific region or social group pronounce words. Use acento when referring to the emphasis placed on a syllable or the diacritical marks (like the acute accent) used in writing.
Related words
How do you pronounce it?
The word is pronounced /soˈta.ki/. It has 3 syllables, with the stress on the 2nd of 3 syllables.
What mistakes should you avoid?
English speakers often mistakenly use acento to mean a regional pronunciation, but in Portuguese, sotaque is the correct term for a regional accent.
Did you know?
- The word sotaque might actually trace back to the Arabic phrase ṣōtak, which means 'your voice'.
- In Brazil, referring to someone's sotaque can be a way to signal regional pride or affection, such as admiring the musicality of the Northeastern accent.
- The term sotaque only began appearing in written records in the early 18th century, making it much younger than the Latin-derived acento.
Examples in context
- Que acento é esse?What accent is that?This sentence is useful for asking about a specific accent using acento.Tatoeba #10735665 by omniglotman, translation #5922587 by mailohilohi
- Adoro o seu sotaque.I love your accent.This sentence is useful for expressing affection for someone's sotaque.Tatoeba #6766526 by lucasmg123, translation #6104464 by mailohilohi
- Eu não tenho sotaque!I don't have an accent!This sentence is useful for stating that one does not possess a sotaque.Tatoeba #3068236 by carlosalberto, translation #3068196 by Hybrid
- Ele tem um sotaque francês encantadorHe has a charming French accent
- Ela tem um acentinho espanhol quando fala portuguêsShe has a little Spanish accent when speaking Portuguese
- Você tem um sotaquinho charmosoYou have a charming little accent
- Adoro o seu modo de falar mineiroI love your Minas Gerais way of speaking
- Seu sotaque de Portugal é muito claro e eleganteYour Portuguese accent is very clear and elegant
- Adoro o acentinho soteropolitanoI love the little accent from Salvador, Bahia
- Ela tem um sotaquinho encantador do interiorShe has a charming little accent from the countryside
- 65 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Rodrigo and Mariana are talking about a new colleague.
- RodrigoVocê já ouviu o sotaque do novo colega?Have you heard the new colleague's accent yet?
- MarianaSim, ele tem um sotaque muito forte.Yes, he has a very strong accent.
- RodrigoEu acho que o sotaque dele é do Nordeste.I think his accent is from the Northeast.
- MarianaÉ verdade, o sotaque dele é bem bonito.That's true, his accent is very beautiful.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “accent” translations and entries sotaque, acento, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries acento, sotaque, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
