Have you ever been right in the middle of a conversation, right in the middle of speaking a sentence out loud in Spanish, just to struggle with one little word? And you know the word! You’ve seen it, you know the meaning, you’re using it right… But you just can’t pronounce it.
There’s nothing to worry or be ashamed of. This is a very common struggle among Spanish students of all levels. From beginners who might confuse “pero” and “perro”. To advanced learners who are stunned by a word like “añejo”. We are all on this journey together.
There are many reasons and explanations for why some words and sounds are harder than others. Most importantly, there are many things you can do on how to sound natural in Spanish. If you want some Spanish pronunciation tips and to stop doubting tricky sounds in Spanish, you’re going to need this guide.
Why are some Spanish sounds harder than others?
If you are unsure about certain sounds in Spanish, there is an explanation for that. In fact, this is such a common problem that I bet I could guess what sounds you find the most difficult.
Is it maybe the “r” and “rr”? Or is the iconic “ñ”? Perhaps the problem is the “j” or the “g”. All these sounds are always cause for trouble in Spanish students. But there is no need to panic! Before showing you what you can do to master these sounds, let’s find out exactly why you have this problem.
- The confusion can be due to a lack of a direct equivalent in English. For example, the “ñ” is a completely new sound for English speakers. There are similarities and tricks to master it. But, technically it is brand new.
- Next up, we have subtle but significant differences. We might have the same vowels but we pronounce them noticeably differently. Something as short and simple as the letter A!
- These two reasons and more combine into one big problem: The impulse to read words in Spanish with an English pronunciation. It’s an understandable reaction to a new word! But it will stop you from proper pronunciation.
Knowing the source of the problem is really helpful. But what you need now is some strategies to improve not only your pronunciation in Spanish but also your confidence when speaking. You will notice that these two things go hand in hand.
What are the most difficult Spanish sounds?
If you need help identifying your struggles with Spanish, it can be useful to know this. These are the sounds that most Spanish students struggle with when learning the language. Try them out and see which one you find most difficult:
- The “R” and “RR” sounds and their difference
- The “J” sound, which isn’t exactly like the English’ “H”
- The “Ñ” sound, something new for English speakers
- The “LL” and “Y” sounds, which can sound differently in some Spanish-speaking regions
- The “D” and “T”
- The “B” and “V”, and their subtle difference
- The vowels, “A, E, I, O, U”
If you struggle with one or more than these, you are not alone. It’s not wrong or bad or your fault. Most importantly, like every student facing this problem, you can improve and finally master these Spanish sounds.
What are some Spanish pronunciation tips?
In this case, the problem isn’t just pronunciation. We are tackling a more specific issue. This is about being unsure of certain sounds. For this reason, there are also specific things you can do. We’ll start with identifying your personal struggles and go on until you master the sounds giving you trouble. Let’s go!
Listen to native speakers
How can you be sure you’re making mistakes in your pronunciation? The first step is to have a clear idea of how Spanish is supposed to sound like. For this reason, you need to listen closely to native Spanish speakers.
Focus on the rhythm, tone, pronunciation, accent, and all the small details of the language. You don’t need to sound the same way right away! But having a good understanding of how Spanish sounds will help you get there.
Record yourself
If you’re wondering how to sound natural in Spanish, you need to be aware of any mistakes you could be making. There is no need to feel shy or embarrassed. But if you still want to take this first step by yourself, you can!
Recording yourself sounds simple but it’s a great tool in the language learning process. This way, you can work on identifying your mistakes and the things you struggle with. This is how you can know what you need to work on.
Ask for feedback
Yes, you can get started by yourself. But remember, learning a new language is a social experience. You are meant to be interacting with other people. It is so important to receive the influence of native speakers to sound natural in Spanish.
There are many options to choose from! Maybe you have family members or friends who are native Spanish speakers. Or maybe neighbors or coworkers you can talk to. If not, there are always local or online groups, a few apps, and even better, the guidance of a professional tutor. These people can give you real Spanish pronunciation tips that you can’t get from a book!
Shadowing
The speech shadowing method is something like mimicking. But it isn’t as simple as it sounds. It can actually be really helpful to imitate, learn, and memorize the speech patterns of native speakers. It’s a very interesting method that learners from all levels can try out at home.
The Shadowing method consists of this. First, you pick some form of audio from a native speaker. You can be creative and use movies and podcasts. But ideally you’ll pick comprehensible input or specific Shadowing videos. It’s more useful than you think to actually see the person pronounce the words.
Then, after each sentence, there is a pause. During this pause, you, the listener, will repeat the sentence. The goal is to imitate the pronunciation of the native speaker as closely as possible. Then on to the next sentence, and on and on. This is great practice to get used to difficult sounds in Spanish.
More pronunciation exercises
This is just the start actually! There are many more Spanish pronunciation tips you can try. For example, tongue twisters. They might seem impossible at first, but they can be a very fun way to practice Spanish pronunciation! Plus, you’ll find many specific to each sound that you struggle with.
Example: “Erre con erre cigarro, erre con erre carril, rápido corre el ferrocarril.”
Yes, the goal is to practice with real conversations. But, if you feel stuck on certain sounds, it’s okay to practice with repetition. For example, every day, repeat “pero, perro, pero, perro” until you master the difference in pronunciation.
Spanish pronunciation can be tricky at first, but anyone can learn. Start today and with patience and constant practice, every goal is possible!
