0 in Portuguese = zero

The number 0 in Portuguese is "zero" pronounced "ZEH-roo" (Brazilian) or "ZEH-roh" (European) with stress on the first syllable.

Quick Answer

Pronunciation

Zero has two syllables: ze-ro

Brazilian Portuguese:

• "ZEH-roo"
• The "r" is like English "h" in "hello"
• The final "o" becomes "oo"

European Portuguese:

• "ZEH-roh"
• The "r" is rolled/trilled
• The final "o" is closer to "oh"

Step by step:

1. "Ze" - Say "ZEH" (like "zeh" with open "e")
2. "ro" - Say "roo" (BR) or "roh" (PT)
3. Stress on first syllable: ZE-ro

Common mistakes:

• Not differentiating Brazilian vs European pronunciation
• Using English "r" sound
• Stressing the second syllable

The Word "Zero"

Spelling: zero

• Masculine noun: o zero
• From Arabic via Italian/Spanish

Origin: Like other Romance languages, from Arabic صفر (sifr)

Practical Usage

Counting: When counting: zero, um, dois, três, quatro, cinco...

Phone numbers: Each digit is pronounced separately:

• 0 = zero
• Example: 011 = zero um um (São Paulo area code)

Prices:

• R$0 = zero reais (Brazilian Real)
• €0 = zero euros
• Zero rarely appears alone in prices

Times:

• 00:00 = zero hora / meia-noite (midnight)
• More commonly: meia-noite (midnight)

Dates:

• Zero doesn't appear in dates (days start from 1)

Temperature:

• 0°C = zero graus
• Below zero = abaixo de zero
• Minus: menos zero

Scores:

• In sports: 3-0 = três a zero

Grammar Notes

Gender: Zero is masculine

• o zero (the zero)

Plural:

• os zeros (the zeros) - rare usage

Common Phrases

do zero: From scratch, from zero

começar do zero: Start from scratch

voltar ao zero: Go back to zero, reset

zero a zero: Zero-zero (tied score)

temperatura abaixo de zero: Temperature below zero

zero grau: Zero degrees

zero vírgula: Zero point (in decimals)

• Example: 0,5 = zero vírgula cinco (0.5)

Writing Numbers in Portuguese

Decimals:

• Use comma: 0,5 (not 0.5)
• Read as "zero vírgula cinco"

Thousands:

• Use period: 1.000 (not 1,000)

Regional Variations

Brazilian Portuguese:

• ZEH-roo
• Softer "r" (like "h")
• Open vowels

European Portuguese:

• ZEH-roh
• Rolled "r"
• Final "o" less open

African Portuguese (Angola, Mozambique):

• Similar to European Portuguese
• Some variations in rhythm

Quick Takeaways

• 0 in Portuguese is zero, pronounced "ZEH-roo" (BR) or "ZEH-roh" (PT)
• Stress on the first syllable
• Brazilian: soft "r", final "o" = "oo"
• European: rolled "r", final "o" = "oh"
• Masculine: o zero
• Use comma for decimals: 0,5
• "Do zero" = from scratch
• In sports: três a zero = 3-0

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If you're traveling in Portuguese-speaking countries, TravelNum shows you how numbers are pronounced in Portuguese.