{"id":172,"date":"2016-12-20T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2016-12-20T00:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/log.cudoo.com\/2018\/03\/11\/12-spanish-words-to-practice-sounding-like-a-native-speaker\/"},"modified":"2022-10-19T17:13:01","modified_gmt":"2022-10-19T13:13:01","slug":"12-tough-to-pronounce-spanish-words","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cudoo.com\/blog\/12-tough-to-pronounce-spanish-words\/","title":{"rendered":"12 Hardest Words to Pronounce in Spanish"},"content":{"rendered":"

It\u2019s usually said that in Spanish, we write as we pronounce. However, it\u2019s not easy to catch our speed as when we speak, we tend to go really fast! There are sounds that don\u2019t exist in other\u00a0languages<\/a>, such as our beloved \u201c\u00f1\u201d or our double r \u201crr\u201d and, with the latter, one better be ready to roll their tongue. Here are 12 words with tricky pronunciation we are sure you can master with just a bit of practice!<\/p>\n

Exercise: Clench your jaw, pout the lips and exhale out with pressure while humming. Not do the same thing with open mouth while pronouncing the R sound. The tongue is supposed to roll and flick at a rhythm while you are saying this. Practice sustaining this RR (It is best to practice this exercise in solitude or with friends only). Try to sustain this sound with the rolling tongue for as long as you can. Children do this a lot when playing by themselves. C\u2019mon try it, learning is very much like being a child again.<\/span><\/p>\n

12 of the toughest Spanish words<\/h2>\n

Perro<\/em><\/strong> = Dog<\/strong><\/h2>\n

\"dog-1665101_1920.jpg\"<\/strong><\/p>\n

To successfully pronounce our strong \u2018r\u2019, simply roll the \u2018rr\u2019 on your tongue and get the sound right! Perro<\/em> means dog. However, you need to be careful with the accurate pronunciation as a soft \u201cr\u201d will change the meaning \u2018dog\u2019 to \u2018but\u2019 which is spelled as pero<\/em>.<\/p>\n

Mispronunciation: peh- rO<\/p>\n

Correct pronunciation: pEh – rroh<\/strong><\/p>\n

Idea<\/em><\/strong> = Idea<\/strong><\/h2>\n

\"light-bulbs-1125016_1920.jpg\"<\/strong><\/p>\n

This Spanish word is written exactly like it is in English but watch out for the pronunciation!<\/p>\n

Mispronunciation: I \u2013 dee – ah<\/p>\n

Correct pronunciation: ee-dEh-ah<\/strong><\/p>\n

Horrible <\/em><\/strong>= Horrible<\/strong><\/p>\n

So what is the difference between the Spanish and English pronunciation of this word when it\u2019s spelled exactly the same, you may ask? The H is silent in Spanish and we also have the double \u2018r\u2019, a little bit of a challenge here.<\/p>\n

Mispronunciation: HOh \u2013 ree- bleh<\/p>\n

Correct pronunciation: Oh \u2013 rrEE – bleh<\/strong><\/p>\n

Refrigerador<\/em><\/strong> = Refrigerator<\/strong><\/h2>\n

\"owl-1645301_1920.jpg\"<\/strong><\/p>\n

The \u2018g\u2019 in Spanish has two sounds depending on the following vowel. Ga, Go, Gu would have the sound of \u2018G\u2019 as it does in the word \u2018goat\u2019. But, if it\u2019s followed by \u2018e\u2019 or \u2018i\u2019, the sound changes to a strong \u2018h\u2019 from your throat. Remember that the \u2018r\u2019 at the beginning would have the strong, rolling \u2018r\u2019. Have fun with this one!<\/p>\n

Mispronunciation: reh \u2013 free \u2013 ge \u2013 rA – tor<\/p>\n

Correct pronunciation: Rre \u2013 free \u2013 he \u2013 rAh – dor<\/strong>\u00a0<\/strong>Mejores Mujeres <\/em><\/strong>= Best Women<\/strong><\/p>\n

Perhaps a tiny bit like a tongue twister for a non-native speaker, take on the challenge by saying it fast! Quick tip; the \u2018J\u2019 in Spanish<\/a> is a strong \u2018h\u2019 and not what you\u2019d assume to be the \u2018j\u2019 sound from the English language.<\/p>\n

Mispronunciation: Meh-jO-res Moo-jE-res<\/p>\n

Correct pronunciation: Meh-hO-res Moo-hE-res<\/strong><\/p>\n

Hotel<\/em><\/strong> = Hotel<\/strong><\/h2>\n

\"dgyj.png\"<\/strong><\/p>\n

Once again written the same way as it is in the English language<\/a>, the world has our famous silent \u2018h\u2019.<\/p>\n

Mispronunciation: Ho – tEl<\/p>\n

Correct pronunciation: Oh – tEl<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"most<\/a>Otorrinolaring\u00f3logo<\/em><\/strong> = Ear\/Nose\/Throat Specialist<\/strong><\/h2>\n

\"wt.png\"<\/strong><\/p>\n

Yes, in Spanish we can have some very long words and they\u2019re challenging simply because they have many syllables!<\/p>\n

Mispronunciation: O-to-ri-no-la-rin-gO-lo-go<\/p>\n

Correct pronunciation: oh-to-rrih-noh-lah-rin-gOh-loh-goh<\/strong><\/p>\n

Paella <\/em><\/strong>= Paella<\/strong><\/h2>\n

\"paella-1127334_1920.jpg\"<\/strong><\/p>\n

Yumm… <\/em>This delicious Spanish rice dish originated from\u00a0Valencia,\u00a0Spain<\/a> and is popular all over the world! The double \u2018l\u2019 in the word is pronounced similar to \u2018y\u2019 in the English language. Pretty unimaginable, isn\u2019t it?<\/p>\n

Mispronunciation: pah-Eh-la<\/p>\n

Correct pronunciation: pah-Eh-ya<\/strong>\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

Ferrocarril<\/em><\/strong> = Railway<\/strong><\/h2>\n

\"railtrack-1867076_1920.jpg\"<\/strong><\/p>\n

Challenge! Roll up your \u2018r\u2019 twice to get it right!<\/p>\n

Mispronunciation: feh-rO-ca-ril<\/p>\n

Correct pronunciation: feh-rro-cah-rrIl<\/strong><\/p>\n

Esternocleidomastoideo<\/em><\/strong> = Sternocleidomastoid<\/strong><\/p>\n

Similar to the English counterpart but a bit longer, you need to pronounce all the sounds because there are many!<\/p>\n

Mispronunciation: S-te-nor-cleh-I-do-mas-to-I-dee-Oh<\/p>\n

Correct pronunciation: eh-s-teh-r-noh-cleh-ee-doh-mas-toh-ee-dEh-oh<\/strong>
\n<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

Ni\u00f1o<\/em><\/strong> = Boy<\/strong><\/h2>\n

\"hg.png\"<\/strong><\/p>\n

A unique Spanish sound, \u2018\u00f1\u2019 is pronounced similar to the \u201cnio\u201d in Onion.<\/p>\n

Mispronunciation: nih-no<\/p>\n

Correct pronunciation: NEEh-nio<\/strong><\/p>\n

Arroz<\/em> = Rice<\/strong>\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0<\/strong><\/h2>\n

\"rice-498688_1920.jpg\"<\/strong><\/p>\n

Again, roll up your \u201cr\u201d! \u2018Z\u2019 is pronounced like a strong \u201cth\u201d from the English language.<\/p>\n

Mispronunciation: A-ro-s<\/p>\n

Correct pronunciation: Ah-rr-Oh-th<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Conclusion<\/p>\n

With native languages, it becomes our second nature to be able to say the words and pronounce every sound the right way, so much so that we don\u2019t have to think about the pronunciation at all when speaking. However, when it comes to learning new languages, some people get scared away when learning absolutely new sounds that are yet not part of their linguistic system. Some sounds become particularly challenging as you try to form the words using your tongue and lips differently than you are used to. Rest assured, if you give it your time and dedication, you\u2019ll be surprised at how quickly you may ending passing this stage and how easily these new sounds and words start rolling from your tongue.<\/span>
\n<\/span>
\n<\/span>As you continue to practice and progress, your brain strengthens these new neurological pathways and before you know it, the words flow like second nature and the language becomes \u2018normal\u2019 to you.\u00a0<\/span>Gone are the days when it was next to impossible to learn non-local languages. Thanks to the internet and Cudoo, all you need to master a new language is the will and dedication of practice.<\/span><\/p>\n

Up for the challenge of learning some more sizzling Spanish words?<\/a>\u00a0Vamos!<\/p>\n

\n

Fact: Spanish is spoken by 400 million people – but; the total population of Spain is 47 million. Go ahead and\u00a0learn about the different people that speak Spanish worldwide.<\/a><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

It\u2019s usually said that in Spanish, we write as we pronounce. However, it\u2019s not easy to catch our speed as when we speak, we tend to go really fast! There are sounds that don\u2019t exist in other\u00a0languages, such as our beloved \u201c\u00f1\u201d or our double r \u201crr\u201d and, with the latter, one better be ready […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":37,"featured_media":354,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"_exactmetrics_skip_tracking":false,"_exactmetrics_sitenote_active":false,"_exactmetrics_sitenote_note":"","_exactmetrics_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[],"yst_prominent_words":[259,1402,1406,56,798,54,1405,3841,2682,1403,1409,1404,3840,973,1412,306,3117,1407,1414,60],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/cudoo.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/172"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/cudoo.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/cudoo.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cudoo.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/37"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cudoo.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=172"}],"version-history":[{"count":25,"href":"https:\/\/cudoo.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/172\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":7708,"href":"https:\/\/cudoo.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/172\/revisions\/7708"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cudoo.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/354"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/cudoo.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=172"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cudoo.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=172"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cudoo.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=172"},{"taxonomy":"yst_prominent_words","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cudoo.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/yst_prominent_words?post=172"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}