Italic branch. I speak Portuguese (Brazil)

Depending on the area and the words. As Atarilynx says, in "Rio" the "r" sounds like "h - head", you must talk like this in the words that starts with r or words like "carro (car)", with "rr". Words like "caro (expensive)" the sound is different. If you want add me on skype, we can talk more about it. P.S. I'm sorry if i wrote something wrong, I'm learning and I make mistakes... :) skype: elaine.argolo

as someone that is learning portuguese...I notice the "r" sound too. in Rio de Janeiro, the "r" is like an english "h" sound.

Yes, depending on where a person lives some words are pronounced differently. I don't know how to write the pronunciation sound, if I could record or something I could show you.