OVERVIEW
Here you’re going to learn and practise some Spanish sounds.
I’m going to take you step by step through this lesson’s pronunciation section. By the time you reach the bottom of this page, you’ll be familiar with some of the main Spanish sounds.
PRONUNCIATION PRACTICE
Step 1: repeat these sounds after the Spanish speaker. Alternatively, play the interactive flashcards now.
PLAY THE SOUNDS & SAY THEM OUT LOUD
- ra
- re
- ri
- ro
- ru
Step 2: let’s practise the ‘r’ sound in these words.
PLAY THE WORDS & SAY THEM OUT LOUD
- tardes
- eres
- gracias
- pronto
- María
- hora
- claro
- dar
- ordenador
- sirve
Step 3: notice the difference between the ‘r’ and the ‘rr’ sounds.
PLAY THE WORDS & SAY THEM OUT LOUD
- radio
- cafetería
- reserva
- firme
- recepcionista
- ver
Don’t forget that the ‘r’ at the beginning of a word always has a ‘rr’ sound.
Step 4: it is good to learn where the stress goes on each word.
Many Spanish words are stressed on the second last syllable, but not all of them. Practise saying these words.
PLAY THE WORDS & SAY THEM OUT LOUD
- adiós
- también
- estás
- hotel
- algún
- teléfono
- electrónico
Step 5: let’s link words. Practise saying these sentences like the Spanish speaker in the recording.
Notice that when a word ends in a consonant and the next one starts with a vowel (like ‘sardinas asadas’) these two words are run together and sound like one long word with no break.
Also, when a word starts with the same letter that the previous word finishes with (like the ‘e’ in ‘dónde están’) you only say that letter once.
PLAY THE WORDS & SAY THEM OUT LOUD
- ¿qué van a tomar?
- ¿dónde están los servicios?
- las sardinas asadas y el atún
- ¿tienen algún plato vegetariano?
Step 6: here are the most difficult words in this lesson. Listen to them and practise saying them.
PLAY THE WORDS & SAY THEM OUT LOUD
- tiene
- volver
- primero
- filete
- pollo
- vino
- servicios
- recomienda
- vegetariano
- tortilla
- mayonesa
- arroz
- pimienta
Do you want to improve your Spanish accent really fast?
In the next step, I bring you the multimedia flashcards. There, you can practise saying all those words one by one, at your own pace.
Step 7: press Play to hear the flashcards. Press the red arrows to flip them and see the pronunciation tips.
Notice that the single R is not rolled.
Notice that the single R is not rolled.
Notice that the single R is not rolled.
Notice that the single R is not rolled.
Notice that the single R is not rolled.
afternoons, evenings
Notice that the single R is not rolled.
you (tú) are
Notice that the single R is not rolled.
thank you
Notice how the A and I are said in the recording. Imitate the native speaker.
soon
Make sure your Spanish O always sounds like in the English word LOT.
Mary
Notice that the single R is not rolled.
hour
Make sure your H is silent, and notice that the single R is not rolled.
of course
Notice that the single R is not rolled.
to give
Notice that the single R is not rolled.
computer
Notice that neither R is rolled.
he/she/it serves
Notice that the single R is not rolled, and remember that the Spanish V sounds like the B.
radio
The initial R is always rolled. To roll it, place the tip of your tongue as if you were going to say the letter T in English.
cafeteria
Notice that the single R is not rolled.
reservation
Notice that the initial R is rolled, but the second R is not.
sign
Notice that the single R after another letter is not rolled.
receptionist
The initial R is always rolled. To roll it, place the tip of your tongue as if you were going to say the letter T in English.
to see
Notice that the single R after another letter is not rolled.
goodbye
Notice how the A, I and O are said in the recording. Imitate the native speaker.
too, also
Notice how the A, I and E are said in the recording. Imitate the native speaker.
you (tú) are
Make sure your Spanish E always sounds like in the English word EGG.
hotel
Make sure your H is silent.
any, some
Make sure your Spanish U always sounds like in the English word PUT.
telephone
Make sure your Spanish O always sounds like in the English word LOT.
electronic
Make sure your Spanish O always sounds like in the English word LOT.
what are you going to have?
Make sure you join together the words VAN and A (vana).
where are the toilets?
Make sure you join together the words DÓNDE, ESTÁN; and LOS, SERVICIOS by saying only one E and one S (dondestan – loservicios).
the grilled sardines and the tuna
Make sure you join together the words LAS, SARDINAS, ASADAS (lasardinasasadas); and EL, ATÚN (elatun).
do you have any vegetarian dishes?
Make sure you join together the words TIENEN and ALGÚN (tienenalgun).
he/she/it has, you (usted) have
Make sure you never drop the final E.
to come back
Remember that the Spanish V sounds like the B.
first
Avoid adding a short U sound after the final O.
steak
Make sure you never drop the final E.
chicken
Make sure your Spanish O always sounds like in the English word LOT, and avoid adding a short U sound after the final O.
wine
Remember that the Spanish V sounds like the B, and avoid adding a short U sound after the final O.
toilets
Remember that the Spanish V sounds like the B.
he/she/it recommends, you (usted) recommend
Make sure your Spanish A always sounds like in the English word FATHER.
vegetarian
Remember that the Spanish V sounds like the B, and avoid adding a short U sound after the final O.
omelette
Make sure your Spanish A always sounds like in the English word FATHER.
mayonnaise
Make sure your Spanish A always sounds like in the English word FATHER, and your E like in the word EGG.
rice
To roll the R, place the tip of your tongue as if you were going to say the letter T in English.
pepper (spice)
Make sure your Spanish A always sounds like in the English word FATHER.
Step 8: Play those flashcards once more!
Play them as many times as you want. Aim at saying all the words like the native speakers.
HOW TO GET A GREAT ACCENT
The fastest way to improve your Spanish pronunciation is with exercises like these, where you get to focus on a particular sound.
Come back to this page from time to time to make sure you’ve mastered all the sounds.
MORE SPEAKING
Before you go to the next section, Curiosities, you’re going to say the three conversations in this lesson out loud, along with the native speakers.
Pay particular attention to your pronunciation.
PLAY CONVERSATION 1 & SAY IT OUT LOUD
PLAY CONVERSATION 2 & SAY IT OUT LOUD
PLAY CONVERSATION 3 & SAY IT OUT LOUD
CONGRATULATIONS!
You’ve done the Lesson 4 Pronunciation. Don’t forget to mark this page as Complete.
Now you’re going to move on to the Curiosities section.