LH vs. NH in Portuguese: Pronounce Filho and Caminho
Portuguese lh and nh are different sounds: lh is a palatal lateral, while nh is a palatal nasal, as in filho and caminho.
Real Life Portuguese · 6 min read · Updated October 14, 2026
The short answer
NH represents a palatal nasal sound, similar to the ny in canyon for many English speakers. The middle of your tongue rises toward the hard palate while air resonates through your nose. Keep it as one smooth consonant instead of saying a separate n followed by h.
Make NH as one nasal sound
Practise the sound inside familiar words: manhã (morning), banho (bath), and caminho (path). A full phrase makes it easier to hear how the sound connects to the surrounding vowels.
Tomo banho de manhã.
I take a bath in the morning.
O caminho até a praia é curto.
The way to the beach is short.
Amanhã a gente conversa.
We’ll talk tomorrow.
Make LH with the sides of the tongue
LH is a palatal lateral consonant. Raise the middle of your tongue toward the hard palate and let air pass along its sides. In some Brazilian accents, lh sounds close to a y-like sound; pronunciation varies, so use native audio from your target region as a model.
Practise slowly, then return to a natural pace. You do not need to exaggerate tongue movement in conversation; clear placement and repeated listening matter more than force.
Meu filho trabalha no centro.
My son works downtown.
A mulher escolheu uma toalha azul.
The woman chose a blue towel.
A folha caiu no chão.
The leaf fell on the floor.
Put it into practice
NH is a palatal nasal, as in amanhã. LH is a palatal lateral, as in trabalho; its exact sound can vary by region. Practise both inside useful phrases.
Quick practice
Which Portuguese example matches “My son works downtown”?
Choose an answer to check yourself.
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