Portuguese Alphabet: Spell Your Name and Email in Brazil
Letter names help you spell personal details over the phone or at a counter. They are different from the sounds those letters make inside Portuguese words.
Real Life Portuguese · 7 min read · Updated October 14, 2026
The short answer
The Portuguese alphabet has 26 letters. Letter names are useful when someone asks you to spell your name, email, hotel reservation, or street. The I Speak Portuguese source guide compares names and pronunciation; this adaptation focuses on making your details understood in a practical exchange.
Use letter names when you need to spell something
A letter's name is not always a guide to the sound it makes in a word. For example, cê is the name of C, but C has different sounds in casa and cidade. First learn the name you need for spelling, then learn pronunciation from complete words and audio.
Como se escreve seu sobrenome?
How do you spell your last name?
Meu sobrenome é Silva.
My last name is Silva.
Pode soletrar seu nome?
Could you spell your name?
Learn letter names that often need clarification
Some letter names can sound similar over a phone connection. B is bê, D is dê, and P is pê; pause between them and repeat the letter if the other person is unsure. M is eme, N is ene, and S is esse. These longer names can be easier to recognize than a single sound.
The names of K, W, and Y may be pronounced cá, dáblio, and ípsilon. People may also use other familiar variants, especially with foreign names and borrowed words. Ask which letter the listener heard instead of assuming every speaker uses the same naming habit.
B de Brasil.
B as in Brazil.
M de Maria, N de Natal.
M as in Maria, N as in Natal.
É com S ou com Z?
Is it spelled with S or with Z?
Spell email addresses one part at a time
Start with the name before the symbol, say arroba for @, then spell the domain. You can say ponto for a dot. Pause at each boundary so the person can enter and confirm the address before you continue.
Portuguese spelling conventions in email addresses are practical rather than perfectly standardized in speech. If a letter is unclear, provide a familiar example word or write the address down. Avoid giving private details in a public place when someone nearby could hear them.
Meu email é ana ponto lima arroba exemplo ponto com.
My email is ana dot lima at example dot com.
Pode repetir a parte antes do arroba?
Could you repeat the part before the at sign?
Vou escrever para você.
I’ll write it down for you.
Confirm the spelling before ending the exchange
After spelling your information, ask the other person to read it back. This quick check catches a missed vowel or consonant before a reservation or message is sent. You can also ask them to type the address and show it to you.
For sound practice, listen to the Brazilian alphabet lesson linked on I Speak Portuguese and repeat the letter names in groups. Then try spelling your own email slowly. Real Life Portuguese can help you practice related phrases with native audio, and an I Speak Portuguese teacher can role-play the conversation with you.
Pode confirmar se está certo?
Could you confirm whether it is correct?
Você pode ler o endereço para mim?
Could you read the address back to me?
Isso mesmo. Obrigado pela ajuda.
That’s right. Thank you for your help. (speaker: man)
Put it into practice
Practice spelling your first and last name, then one email address. Pause at arroba and ponto, and ask the listener to confirm each part before you finish.
Quick practice
Which Portuguese example matches “How do you spell your last name”?
Choose an answer to check yourself.
This guide is an original Real Life Portuguese adaptation of an earlier article from I Speak Portuguese.
Keep practicing with the Real Life Portuguese app
Build on this guide with everyday expressions and native Brazilian audio. Choose iPhone, Android, or the web app.