Learning to pronounce words correctly is essential for learning any language, including Spanish. When we feel that we are not speaking fluently or that something is lacking even if we comprehend most of what is said, have an extensive vocabulary, and are proficient in grammar it is an indicator that we need to deep dive in pronunciation.
Pronouncing words correctly in Spanish is crucial to good communication and avoiding misunderstandings. Here we will help you with the basics of the pronunciation of the vowels in spanish and we are including an audio of the pronunciation of the vowels in spanish, to help you mimic the sound!
Basics Of Pronouncing Vowels In Spanish
The five vowels in the Spanish alphabet are a, e, i, o, and u. The five vowels in Spanish are the same as those in English, except the duration of the Spanish vowels is often shorter. Here are their basics of pronunciation.
Image of the 5 vowels in spanish A E I O U
So, how to pronounce the Spanish vowels phonetically ?
1. Vowel A
The initial vowel, /a/, is described as low, front, and open, indicating how it forms in the mouth. The term “front” describes how the tongue is front in the mouth rather than retracted or in the centre. “open” refers to a mouth and lips that are neither closed nor rounded. The /a/ sound, a key element in terms like gato (meaning “cat”), manzana (meaning “apple”), and anaranjado (meaning “orange”) is shorter than its English equivalent.
Here you can find a video of the pronunciation of the vowel A with exercises that you can try at home or with your teacher
2. Vowel E
/e/ is the second vowel in Spanish. This vowel is front, unrounded, and mid-closed. The lips will be apart when making this vowel, and the mouth will be somewhat closed. Hablé (meaning “I spoke”), arete (meaning “earring”), and español (meaning “Spanish”) are a few words that include the /e/ vowel.
3. Vowel I
Examine the third vowel, /i/, which is frontal, high, and unrounded. Linguists define “high” as the tongue rising to a higher place inside the mouth. The lips are extended to the sides rather than rounded, and the mouth is almost closed. In Spanish, some words that start with the letter “i” include identificar, which means “to identify,” and increíble, which means “incredible.” The English /i/ sound found in words like “free,” “we,” and “heat” is comparable to this sound.
4. Vowel O
The vowel /o/ is rounded, closed, back, and mid. This vowel is pronounced correctly only if your lips are rounded and stay that way throughout the vowel. This sound, central to understanding” is made by pulling the tongue back into the mouth. Words beginning with “o” include “bear,” “butterfly,” and “clock,” mariposa, and reloj.
5. Vowel U
/u/ is a closed, backward, and rounded vowel in Spanish, and it will be the last vowel I study. This vowel is formed by rounding the lips, partially closing the mouth, and arching the middle of the tongue back into the mouth. The phrases uniforme (meaning “uniform”) and uvas (meaning “grapes”) are a few instances of /u/.
In this video you can listen and shadow the sounds of the vowels in spanish. In case you need it, you can stop the video and repeat.
Words with Mixed Vowels E and I in Spanish
Mastering the pronunciation of the vowels E and I is a common challenge for beginners in Spanish. These vowels have distinct sounds: E is a front, unrounded, mid-closed vowel, while I is a front, high, unrounded vowel.
Okay so: How to learn the correct pronunciation of the vowels in spanish?
To improve, learners should:
- Listen and Mimic: Pay close attention to the pronunciation of native speakers, you can find many videos about the topic in our YouTube channel here
- Use Minimal Pairs: Practice with words like ‘peso’ (weight) and ‘piso’ (floor) to understand the subtle differences, we have made a course specifically targeting those sounds, you can find it here
- Record and Compare: Record your pronunciation and compare it with native speakers to identify areas for improvement, or ask your teacher to check your pronunciation, you can find a teacher here
- Engage in Conversation: Practice with native speakers for practical experience. All our teachers are local spanish speakers from latin America!
Consistent practice with these strategies will help learners accurately pronounce E and I in Spanish, enhancing their overall language proficiency. And remember: you have us to join and push your spanish learning journey! Even if is alone or with a teacher! We have many free resources online in our YouTube channel and socials !