Why the letter E disappears in European Portuguese (and how to hear it)

The vowel E is one of the most complex sounds in European Portuguese and one of the most revealing. This post breaks down its four main forms: the open stressed é, the closed stressed ê, the unstressed "swallowed" sound that defines the European accent, and the nasal E that appears before M and N. With common vocabulary examples throughout, it's a practical guide to understanding not just how the letter sounds, but why it matters for speaking naturally in Portugal.