Spanish Pronunciation: Rules & Trabalenguas 🗣️

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Bienvenido/a de vuelta to Master Spanish Weekly, your space to practice real Spanish, one useful lesson at a time.

This time, we’re focusing on something every Spanish learner needs (but often skips): pronunciation.

Whether you're just getting started or you're already speaking with confidence, polishing your sound will help people understand you more easily and make you feel more natural when you speak. Let’s work on that together today. ¡Vamos!

🌤️ ¿Cómo está el clima hoy?

📚 This Week’s Lesson: Spanish Pronunciation

This week’s lesson focuses on 5 major pronunciation areas that Spanish learners often struggle with.

1️⃣ Clear & Consistent Vowels

In Spanish, vowels are always pronounced the same, no matter where they appear. This is different from English, where vowel sounds often change depending on the word.

🔁 Practice Tip:
Say: café, cine, comida, número, fruta
Listen carefully to how each vowel stays consistent.

2️⃣ The Famous R and RR

It's a challenge at first. But here’s the key:

• Single R (between vowels): a soft flap, like the "tt" in butter (American accent)

  • pero (but), caro (expensive), mira (look)

• Double RR (rolled R): strong vibration

  • perro (dog), carro (car), cerrar (to close)

3️⃣ Consonants That Matter

✅ B vs. V

In Spanish, they sound the same, like a soft B.

• Bello/a (beautiful) and Vello (hair) sound identical.

✅ D Between Vowels

Very soft, like a quick “th” in ‘this’

• cada día → sounds like cah-da thee-ah

✅ Z, C, and S

In Latin America, Z, soft C, and S all sound like S.

• cielo, zapato, casa → all have the “S” sound

In Spain, Z and soft C = “th” sound (like think)

• zapato → tha-pa-to

4️⃣ H is Always Silent

No matter the word — always silent.

• hombre → pronounced OM-breh

• hola → OH-la

But be careful with "J" — it’s not like English! It has a strong throat sound, like clearing your throat.

• jugar (to play), jamón (ham), jefe (boss)

🎧 Say this aloud: Hola Javier, ¿quieres jugo de naranja?

5️⃣ Word Stress & Accent Marks

In Spanish, where the stress falls can change the meaning of a word. Accent marks tell you where to put the stress.

🧠 Quick Rules:

• If there’s no written accent and the word ends in a vowel, N, or S → stress the second-to-last syllable.

• If there’s no written accent and the word ends in a consonant, except N or S → stress the last syllable.

🎧 Audio Practice: Trabalenguas Edition

Practice your Spanish pronunciation with 5 classic Trabalenguas (tongue twisters). They are an excellent and fun way to level up pronunciation.

1. Erre con erre cigarro,
   erre con erre barril,
   rápido ruedan las ruedas
   del ferrocarril.

2. Tres tristes tigres tragan trigo en un trigal.
   En un trigal tragan trigo tres tristes tigres.

3. Juan junta juncos junto a la zanja.
   Junta juncos Juan junto a la zanja.

4. Poquito a poquito, Paquito empaca poquitas copitas
   en pocos paquetes.

5. El cielo está encapotado,
   ¿quién lo desencapotará?
   El desencapotador que lo desencapote,
   buen desencapotador será.

🧩 Mini Quiz: Pronunciation Check

Test your understanding with this quick quiz:

1. The letter H in Spanish is:

   • a) Pronounced like English "H"

   • b) Silent

   • c) Pronounced like "J"

2. The double R (RR) in Spanish requires:

   • a) A soft roll

   • b) A strong roll

   • c) No roll

3. The vowel E in Spanish is pronounced as:

   • a) "ee"

   • b) "eh"

   • c) "ay"

4. In the word cada, the "D" is:

   • a) Hard, like in "dog"

   • b) Soft, between vowels

   • c) Silent

5. If there’s no written accent and the word ends in a vowel, N, or S

   • a) You stress in the last syllable

   • b) You stress in the second-to-last syllable

   • c) You stress in the first syllable

Complete the quiz and check your answers:

🆚 English vs. Spanish: 5 Uses of "Llevar"

Discover the versatility of the verb llevar in my Instagram reel.

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Gracias por leer

Gracias por estar aquí una semana más, practicando y mejorando tu español paso a paso. Nos vemos en la próxima edición de Master Spanish Weekly.

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