The Vowel Sounds of Spanish
Fine Tuning the Production of Spanish Vowel “Sounds” Using Basic Consonant-Vowel Graphemes
Let’s turn immediately to the fundamental elements that will make your pronunciation of Spanish accurate and intelligible to those listening to you.
While English vowels have a rather complicated 18 different sounds, depending on their location in a word and the nature of the vowels or consonants that surround them, Spanish has five very clear, open sounds.
They are flat, they have no diphthong sounds associated to their presence and they usually alternate after a consonant.
The alternating Consonant-Vowel, Consonant-vowel structure of Spanish words is in very direct contrast to the consonant-crowding nature of English words/sounds.
Compare:
Hamburguesas Y Bebidas
Mi Casa Tiene Dos Puertas
Hamburgers And Drinks
My House Has Two Doors
So while in English there are close to 18 different sounds of the vowel, depending on its location in a word, in Spanish there are 5 unique sounds that are always pronounced.
In English, we only truly voice (pronounce) the Vowels located in Stressed or “accent” Syllables.
In Spanish we pronounce All Vowels, no matter their location in a word.
Compare:
Family
Newspaper
Runner
Jewellery
Butcher
Familia
Periodico
Corredor
Joyeria
Carnicero
The Five Sounds of Spanish Vowels:
A = Mi Mama Me Ama, Mi Papa Me Mima
E = El Enemigo Esta Encerrado
I = Inciamos Mi Incursion Inicial
O = O Lo Compones O Lo Olvidas
U = Un Auto Unicos Es Un Util Uber Usado
Notice that ALL vowels and consonants are pronounced, from left to right. All vowel sounds are Flat and there are no diphthong sounds attached to any of the vowels.
Let’s practice these sounds in sentences that will help you with key vowel AND consonant sounds. They are all traditional fun tongue twisters that come from different regions in different countries in Latin America and in Spain.
Please note: To use the practice record function you will need to be in Chrome.
Tongue Twisters
Audio Introduction:
Now let’s have some fun with tongue twisters in Spanish. Like in English, it’s all about a repeating theme, a repeating sound.
Tongue Twister #1
This exercise focuses on the “cua” and “cue” sounds. Make sure you produce a heavy K sound with each “c” and the diphthongs UA and UE are heavily stressed in the vowels.
Cuando cuentes cuentos, cuenta cuantos cuentos cuentas, cuando cuentes cuentos.
When you tell tales, count how many tales you tell when you tell tales
Listen carefully again and then record yourself to hear your pronunciation. Can you match the recording?
Cuando cuentes cuentos, cuenta cuantos cuentos cuentas, cuando cuentes cuentos.
Tongue Twister #2
This tongue twister focuses on the “co,” “po,” “pa,” and “é” sounds. The accented “é” is the stressed vowel in the words “compré and pagué (where you put more force on the stressed syllable). Also, remember the other vowels are fully pronounced with flat open “o” and “a” values.
Compré pocas copas, pocas copas compré y como compré pocas copas, pocas copas pagué.
I bought few cups , few cups I bought and since I bought few cups, few cups I paid for
Listen carefully again and then record yourself to hear your pronunciation. Can you match the recording?
Compré pocas copas, pocas copas compré y como compré pocas copas, pocas copas pagué.
Tongue Twister #3
This tongue twister focuses on the sound value represented by “ge”. Remember that when the “R” is single and in between vowels, it’s a light “r,” not a hard “r” (“rr”) sound, like in the word “ARROZ”
De generación en generación las generaciones se degeneran con mayor degeneración.
From generation to generation, the generations degenerate with greater degeneration
Listen carefully again and then record yourself to hear your pronunciation. Can you match the recording?
De generación en generación las generaciones se degeneran con mayor degeneración.
Tongue Twister #4
This tongue twister focuses on the “i” “a” “o” sounds. This one can be a little difficult because of the multiple PIR/PIN/PIPIRI sequences.
Tengo una gallina pinta pipiripinta gorda pipirigorda y sorda que tiene tres pollitos pintos pipiripintos gordos pipirigordos. Si la gallina no hubiera sido pinta pipiripinta gorda pipirigorda los pollitos no hubieran sido pintos pipiripintos gordos pipirigordos
Listen carefully again and then record yourself to hear your pronunciation. Can you match the recording?
Tengo una gallina pinta pipiripinta gorda pipirigorda y sorda que tiene tres pollitos pintos pipiripintos gordos pipirigordos. Si la gallina no hubiera sido pinta pipiripinta gorda pipirigorda los pollitos no hubieran sido pintos pipiripintos gordos pipirigordos
Tongue Twister #5
This tongue twister focuses on the”ó” and “ón” sounds.
Un dragón tragón tragó carbón y el carbón que tragó el dragón tragón le hizo salir barrigón
Listen carefully again and then record yourself to hear your pronunciation. Can you match the recording?
Un dragón tragón tragó carbón y el carbón que tragó el dragón tragón le hizo salir barrigón
Tongue Twister #6
This tongue twister focuses on the “i” “a” “o” sounds. This one can be a little difficult because of the diphthongs IERES/IERA/IERE/IERO
¿Cómo quieres que te quiera si quien quiero que me quiera no me quiere como quiero que me quiera?
Listen carefully again and then record yourself to hear your pronunciation. Can you match the recording?
¿Cómo quieres que te quiera si quien quiero que me quiera no me quiere como quiero que me quiera?
Tongue Twister #7
This tongue twister focuses on the double “rr” or rolled RR sound. Perhaps one of the most difficult consonant utterances of Spanish. It’s a popular and classic challenge taught to children at a young age.
Erre con erre cigarro, erre con erre barril, rapido corren los carros cargados de azucar al ferrocarril.
Listen carefully again and then record yourself to hear your pronunciation. Can you match the recording?
Erre con erre cigarro, erre con erre barril, rapido corren los carros cargados de azucar al ferrocarril.
Tongue Twister #8
This tongue twister focuses on the “ll” sounds. This one can be a little difficult because of the position of your tongue inside your mouth. A little useful tip is to anchor the tip of your tongue against the lower teeth and then practice listening and repeating.
Yo lloro si lloras, si lloras yo lloro. tu llanto es mi llanto; y tu llanto, mi lloro. si tu ya no lloras, tampoco yo lloro.
Listen carefully again and then record yourself to hear your pronunciation. Can you match the recording?
Yo lloro si lloras, si lloras yo lloro. tu llanto es mi llanto; y tu llanto, mi lloro. si tu ya no lloras, tampoco yo lloro.
Tongue Twister #9
This tongue twister focuses on the single “R” sounds. This one can be a little difficult because of the Alternating CAMARÓ – CARAME Phonemes.
Camarón, caramelo. caramelo, camarón. camarón, caramelo. caramelo, camarón.
Listen carefully again and then record yourself to hear your pronunciation. Can you match the recording?
Camarón, caramelo. caramelo, camarón. camarón, caramelo. caramelo, camarón.
Tongue Twister #10
This tongue twister focuses on the non-plosive sounds of P. This one can be a little difficult as you force yourself to produce a very light sound of “P”. It will also demand concentration on the alternating value of Consonants and Vowels.
Pedro pérez pereira, pobre pintor portugués, pinta pinturas por poca plata, para pasear por Portugal.
Listen carefully again and then record yourself to hear your pronunciation. Can you match the recording?
Pedro pérez pereira, pobre pintor portugués, pinta pinturas por poca plata, para pasear por Portugal.
Tongue Twister #11
This tongue twister focuses on the “tr” sound. The “r” sound is pretty difficult for new Spanish speakers – and even more difficult is the “rr” sound. Try your best to say this tongue twister yourself first, then listen to the audio to see if you got it right.
Tres tristes tigres tragaban trigo en un trigal.
Listen carefully again and then record yourself to hear your pronunciation. Can you match the recording?
Tres tristes tigres tragaban trigo en un trigal.
Tongue Twister #12
This tongue twister focuses on the hard “r” sound (same as the “rr” sound). The hard “r” sound seems to be difficult for almost all non-native Spanish speakers. With practice you’ll be able to roll your “r” sounds — just be patient.
Un perro rompe la rama del árbol
Listen carefully again and then record yourself to hear your pronunciation. Can you match the recording?
Un perro rompe la rama del árbol.
Tongue Twister
This tongue twister focuses on the “p” and “pl” sounds. These sounds aren’t too difficult but you must remember to keep your lips pursed for a very light “P” rather than the very plosive English sound of P (as in the words Parent, Please, Purse, Pierce).
Pancha plancha con cuatro planchas. ¿Con cuantas planchas pancha plancha?
Listen carefully again and then record yourself to hear your pronunciation. Can you match the recording?
Pancha plancha con cuatro planchas. ¿Con cuantas planchas pancha plancha?
