THE CEDILLA it is a diacritical mark used under the letter Ç. It has the sound of SS and as follows: Ç. It can never start words and is always used before vowels THE, O and U. Along with the vowels AND and I, only the letter is used Ç.
Rules for using the cedilla
1. In words of Arabic, indigenous or African origin, Ç is used.
Examples: Itauçu, alligator-açu, saffron, açaí, butchery, sugar, lily, weir, arrack, liquor, youngest, Iguazu, beads, Muslim, peanut candy, Paiçandu, Paraguay.
2. Use of suffixes -SSÃO, -SÃO or -ÇÃO:
In general, when the primitive verb ends in -MER, -MIR -TER, -TIR, -DER, -DIR, suffixes are used -SSION (after vowel) and -THEY ARE (after consonant).
Examples:
seize - seize
Print - print
redeem - remission
aggress - aggression
regress - regression
progress - progression
transgress - transgression
omit - omit
dismiss - dismissal
admit - admission
allow - permission
broadcast - broadcast
give in - assignment
succeed - succession
grant - grant
intend - claim
ascend - ascend
pour - version
reverse - reverse
Convert - convert
Subvert - Subversion
expel - expel
repel - repel
Observation: There are some exceptions for the above case. Look:
hold - hold
detain - detention
ater - attention
abstain - abstain
get - get
When the primitive verb has any other ending other than those mentioned above, the suffix is used -DOG.
Examples:
narrate - narration
Promote - Promotion
propagate - propagate
Retaliate - retaliation
transform - transformation
train - training
fix - fix
Read too: Land or land?
3. Ç is used after diphthongs.
Examples:
Election
Betrayal
Feature
Treacherous
Origin of cedilla
Although no longer used in Spanish since the 18th century, the cedilla has its genesis in Spain. The word comes from "ceda", letter name Z, in Spanish. Originally, the "dash" that is placed below the Ç was a small Z whose purpose was to indicate that the letter corresponded to the sound of s.
Read too: Spectator or Spectator?
Why is Ç not in the alphabet?
THE Ç not a letter, but the joining of the letter Ç with the diacritical mark (distinctive) cedilla. It is not in the alphabet for the same reason that the Ã. The diacritical marks of Portuguese are the cedilla, you graphic accents (high and circumflex), O useful and, until recently, the now extinct shake. This means that just the letter Ç must be in the alphabet.
See below some cases in which the use of cedilha may raise doubts:
→ SECTION, ASSIGNMENT and SESSION
The word section comes from the verb to section, soon means breakdown.
Examples:
go to the section of the company's human resources.
At section from the supermarket, you will find toothbrush.
The word assignment originates from the verb to yield, so it means Donation.
Example:
The city has just made a assignment of land for needy families.
The word session it means meeting, a set of people who come together for an end.
Examples:
- Cinema session
- Session for voting on a bill in the National Congress
→ HUNTING and CASSING
To hunt means to slaughter an animal or prey.
Example:
It is forbidden to hunt wild animals.
cancel it is the withdrawal of a mandate from a politician.
Example:
Congress must revoke the deputy's mandate.
Summary
THE CEDILLA it is a diacritical mark used under the letter Ç. It features the sounds of SS and as follows: Ç. It can never start words and is always used before vowels THE, O and U. Along with the vowels AND and I, only the letter is used Ç. Its origin goes back to Spanish, in which a small z (“ceda” in Spanish) was placed below the Ç to give you sound of S. It is used in words of Arabic, African and indigenous origin, in forms with the suffix -dog etc.
by Jairo Beraldo
Portuguese Language Teacher