The use of the vowels "o" and "u"

Spelling is an important element inherent to the written modality of language. As a result, it is necessary for us to be able to put into practice our knowledge on this subject, thus aiming at a good performance as interlocutors, in order to adapt to the formality required by the standard in focus.

However, some doubts share our daily life, especially when it comes to words consisting of a notorious sound similarity, such as travel, travel, majesty, rust, among others. Therefore, the correct use of certain letters plays an important role towards the achievement of the aforementioned skills and, speaking of letters, we must not forget the "o" and "u".

Therefore, aiming at a more accurate linguistic improvement, let us analyze some issues related to this occurrence, as evidenced as follows:

* They are spelled with “o”:

bar, tavern, backpack, stain, tenement, gizzard, mosquito, grief, kid, cough, throat, swallow, polenta, toilet, joke, etc.

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* They are spelled with “u”:

amulet, manhole, mouse, fifties, agouti, tannery, tortoise, jabuticaba, clog, inlay, jaw, supetão, board, board, nettle, urticaria, among others.


Noteworthy remarks:

Constituting this interim there is another particularity concerning the vowels “i” and “e”, whose change from one to another implies only the meaning expressed by them. Let's look at some cases:


area (surface) - aria (melody)
denounce (denounce) – dilate (extend)
emigrate (leave a country) – immigrate (enter a country)
recreation (fun) – recreation (creating again)
venous (related to veins) – vinous (which produces wine)

Here's another one of the many linguistic curiosities!

By Vânia Duarte
Graduated in Letters
Brazil School Team

Grammar - Brazil School

Would you like to reference this text in a school or academic work? Look:

DUARTE, Vânia Maria do Nascimento. "The use of the vowels “o” and “u”"; Brazil School. Available in: https://brasilescola.uol.com.br/gramatica/o-emprego-das-vogais-u.htm. Accessed on June 27, 2021.

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