Title: Refold Sounds of Spanish

Index: 1
IPA Symbol: a
Similar Sound 1: ɑ
Similar Sound 2: æ
Notes: Vowels are tough to hear. Practice listening for the differences!
Spanish Word: lavar
Spanish Word IPA: laˈβar

Index: 2
IPA Symbol: e
Similar Sound 1: eɪ
Similar Sound 2: ɛ
Notes: An English speaker might hear this /e/ as being the same as in the word "play." It is not.
Spanish Word: espejo
Spanish Word IPA: esˈpexo

Index: 3
IPA Symbol: i
Similar Sound 1: ɪ
Notes: Listen to the "length" (amount of time the vowel is said for) difference in the words.
Spanish Word: digno
English Word: scream
Spanish Word IPA: ˈdigno
English Word IPA: skɹiːm

Index: 4
IPA Symbol: o
Similar Sound 1: ɤʊ
Spanish Word: cola
Spanish Word IPA: ˈkola

Index: 5
IPA Symbol: u
Similar Sound 1: ʊ
Similar Sound 2: ɵu
Notes: Listen carfully to the similar sounds for this one.
Spanish Word: salud
Spanish Word IPA: saˈluð

Index: 6
IPA Symbol: ɪ
Similar Sound 1: i
English Word: pill
English Word IPA: pʰɪɬ

Index: 7
IPA Symbol: ɛ
Similar Sound 1: e
Similar Sound 2: eɪ
English Word: dress
English Word IPA: dɹɛs

Index: 8
IPA Symbol: ə
Similar Sound 1: a
Notes: This is another sound that your brain may hear in Spanish. It doesn't exist.
English Word: tough
English Word IPA: tʰəf

Index: 9
IPA Symbol: ɑ
Similar Sound 1: a
Similar Sound 2: æ
English Word: office
English Word IPA: ˈɑfɪs

Index: 10
IPA Symbol: ɵu
Similar Sound 1: u
Notes: This is an awesome sound we have in many English accents, but it's not in Spanish!
English Word: lose
English Word IPA: lɵuːz

Index: 11
IPA Symbol: ɤʊ
Similar Sound 1: o
English Word: coach
English Word IPA: kʰɤʊtʃʰ

Index: 12
IPA Symbol: r
Similar Sound 1: ɾ
Similar Sound 2: ɹ
Notes: You may see this IPA symbol used in English dictionaries. That's only because r is easier to type than ɹ.
Spanish Word: correr
Spanish Word IPA: koˈrer

Index: 13
IPA Symbol: ɾ
Similar Sound 1: r
Similar Sound 2: ɹ
Notes: Notice that in the English example, it's spelled "tt" not "r."
Spanish Word: pareja
English Word: letter
Spanish Word IPA: paˈɾexa
English Word IPA: ˈlɛɾɚ

Index: 14
IPA Symbol: ɹ
Similar Sound 1: r
Similar Sound 2: ɾ
Notes: Your brain may "think" it hears this sound in Spanish, but it does not appear. Listen carefully.
English Word: relax
English Word IPA: ɹəˈlæks

Index: 15
IPA Symbol: p
Similar Sound 1: pʰ
Similar Sound 2: b
Similar Sound 3 Audio: "
Notes: Technically, this does appear in English, but only after another consonant, like in "spit" (but NOT "pit")
Spanish Word: palabra
Spanish Word IPA: paˈlaβɾa

Index: 16
IPA Symbol: pʰ
Similar Sound 1: p
Notes: This sound doesn't appear in Spanish.
English Word: pay
English Word IPA: pʰeɪ

Index: 17
IPA Symbol: k
Similar Sound 1: kʰ
Notes: Technically, this does appear in English, but only after another consonant, like in "skill" (but NOT "kill")
Spanish Word: cuenta
Spanish Word IPA: ˈkwenta

Index: 18
IPA Symbol: d̪
Similar Sound 1: d
Similar Sound 2: ð
Notes: The symbol below the /d/ means "against the teeth," also known as "dental."
Spanish Word: dolor
Spanish Word IPA: doˈlor

Index: 19
IPA Symbol: ð
Similar Sound 1: d
Similar Sound 2: t̪
Similar Sound 3: z
Notes: These sounds aren't exactly the same in English and Spanish, but very close.
Spanish Word: sed
English Word: there
Spanish Word IPA: seð
English Word IPA: ðɛɚ

Index: 20
IPA Symbol: b
Similar Sound 1: v
Spanish Word: beso
English Word: bright
Spanish Word IPA: ˈbeso
English Word IPA: bɹaɪtʰ

Index: 21
IPA Symbol: β
Similar Sound 1: b
Similar Sound 2: v
Spanish Word: avión
Spanish Word IPA: aβiˈon

Index: 22
IPA Symbol: ɟ
Similar Sound 1: dʒ
Similar Sound 2: j
Spanish Word: lleno
Spanish Word IPA: ɟeno

Index: 23
IPA Symbol: ʝ
Similar Sound 1: ɟ
Similar Sound 2: dʒ
Similar Sound 3: j
Notes: Appears between vowels, like in the example.
Spanish Word: silla
Spanish Word IPA: ˈsiʝa

Index: 24
IPA Symbol: j
Similar Sound 1: ʝ
English Word: year
English Word IPA: jiɚ

Index: 25
IPA Symbol: l
Similar Sound 1: ɫ
Notes: Many English accents don't use the same L as Spanish, so listen for the subtle difference.
Spanish Word: lana
English Word: lot
Spanish Word IPA: ˈlana
English Word IPA: lɑtʰ

Index: 26
IPA Symbol: ɫ
Similar Sound 1: l
Notes: In most accents of English, ɫ occurs only at the end of a syllable.
English Word: full
English Word IPA: fʊɫ

Index: 27
IPA Symbol: x
Similar Sound 1: h
Similar Sound 2: kʰ
Notes: This sound varies between Spanish speaking regions.
Spanish Word: traje
Spanish Word IPA: ˈtɾaxe

Index: 28
IPA Symbol: h
Similar Sound 1: x
English Word: hotel
English Word IPA: hɤʊˈtʰɛl

Index: 29
IPA Symbol: ɣ
Similar Sound 1: ɡ
Notes: Listen carefully for this sound, it's very slight.
Spanish Word: agudo
Spanish Word IPA: aˈɣuðo

Index: 30
IPA Symbol: ɡ
Similar Sound 1: ɣ
Spanish Word: gordo
English Word: guess
Spanish Word IPA: ˈɡoɾðo
English Word IPA: ɡɛs

Index: 31
IPA Symbol: ɣʷ
Similar Sound 1: w
Spanish Word: aguantar
Spanish Word IPA: aɣʷanˈtar

Index: 32
IPA Symbol: n
Similar Sound 1: ɲ
Spanish Word: nadie
English Word: nice
Spanish Word IPA: ˈnaðie
English Word IPA: naɪs

Index: 33
IPA Symbol: ɲ
Similar Sound 1: n
Similar Sound 2: ŋ
Notes: This is one sound, not just an "n" plus a "y"
Spanish Word: sueño
Spanish Word IPA: ˈsweɲo

Index: 34
IPA Symbol: z
Similar Sound 1: s
Notes: Even though the letter z is in Spanish, this sound is not.
English Word: amazing
English Word IPA: əˈmeɪzɪŋ

Index: 101
IPA Symbol A: r
IPA Symbol B: ɾ
Word A: tierra
Word B: tiera
Word A IPA: ˈtiera
Word B IPA: ˈtieɾa
Notes: tiera is not a real word that exists.

Index: 102
IPA Symbol A: r
IPA Symbol B: ɾ
Word A: tierra
Word B: tiera
Word A IPA: ˈtiera
Word B IPA: ˈtieɾa
isATheCorrectWord: TRUE
Notes: tiera is not a real word that exists.

Index: 103
IPA Symbol A: ɾ
IPA Symbol B: r
Word A: bárbaro
Word B: bárrbaro
Word A IPA: ˈbaɾbaɾo
Word B IPA: ˈbarbaɾo
isATheCorrectWord: TRUE
Notes: barrbaro is not a real word that exists.

Index: 104
IPA Symbol A: ɾ
IPA Symbol B: r
Word A: bárbaro
Word B: bárrbaro
Word A IPA: ˈbaɾbaɾo
Word B IPA: ˈbarbaɾo
Notes: barrbaro is not a real word that exists.

Index: 105
IPA Symbol A: ɾ
IPA Symbol B: r
Word A: pero
Word B: perro
Word A IPA: ˈpeɾo
Word B IPA: ˈpero

Index: 106
IPA Symbol A: ɾ
IPA Symbol B: r
Word A: pero
Word B: perro
Word A IPA: ˈpeɾo
Word B IPA: ˈpero
isATheCorrectWord: TRUE

Index: 107
IPA Symbol A: n
IPA Symbol B: ɲ
Word A: mono
Word B: moño
Word A IPA: ˈmono
Word B IPA: ˈmoɲo

Index: 108
IPA Symbol A: n
IPA Symbol B: ɲ
Word A: mono
Word B: moño
Word A IPA: ˈmono
Word B IPA: ˈmoɲo
isATheCorrectWord: TRUE

Index: 109
IPA Symbol A: ð
IPA Symbol B: d
Word A: estados
Word B: estadows
Word A IPA: esˈtaðos
Word B IPA: esˈtados
isATheCorrectWord: TRUE
Notes: estadows is not a real word that exists.

Index: 110
IPA Symbol A: ð
IPA Symbol B: d
Word A: estados
Word B: estadows
Word A IPA: esˈtaðos
Word B IPA: esˈtados
Notes: estadows is not a real word that exists.

Index: 111
IPA Symbol A: ʝ
IPA Symbol B: h
Word A: allí
Word B: ahí
Word A IPA: aʝˈi
Word B IPA: aˈi
isATheCorrectWord: TRUE
Notes: The H sound isn't broken! H is completely silent in Spanish.

Index: 112
IPA Symbol A: ʝ
IPA Symbol B: h
Word A: allí
Word B: ahí
Word A IPA: aʝˈi
Word B IPA: aˈi
Notes: The H sound isn't broken! H is completly silent in Spanish

Index: 113
IPA Symbol A: ɟ
IPA Symbol B: dʒ
Word A: llamar
Word B: dgamar
Word A IPA: ɟaˈmar
Word B IPA: dʒaˈmar
Notes: dgamar is not a real word that exists.

Index: 114
IPA Symbol A: ɟ
IPA Symbol B: dʒ
Word A: llamar
Word B: dgamar
Word A IPA: ɟaˈmar
Word B IPA: dʒaˈmar
isATheCorrectWord: TRUE
Notes: dgamar is not a real word that exists.

Index: 115
IPA Symbol A: a
IPA Symbol B: ɑ
Word A: casa
Word B: cahsah
Word A IPA: ˈkasa
Word B IPA: ˈkɑsɑ
isATheCorrectWord: TRUE
Notes: cahsah is not a real word that exists.

Index: 116
IPA Symbol A: a
IPA Symbol B: ɑ
Word A: casa
Word B: cahsah
Word A IPA: ˈkasa
Word B IPA: ˈkɑsɑ
Notes: cahsah is not a real word that exists.

Index: 117
IPA Symbol A: e
IPA Symbol B: ɛ
Word A: beso
Word B: behso
Word A IPA: ˈbeso
Word B IPA: ˈbɛso
Notes: behso is not a real word that exists.

Index: 118
IPA Symbol A: e
IPA Symbol B: ɛ
Word A: beso
Word B: behso
Word A IPA: ˈbeso
Word B IPA: ˈbɛso
isATheCorrectWord: TRUE
Notes: behso is not a real word that exists.

Index: 119
IPA Symbol A: i
IPA Symbol B: ɪ
Word A: piso
Word B: pihso
Word A IPA: ˈpiso
Word B IPA: ˈpɪso
isATheCorrectWord: TRUE
Notes: pihso is not a real word that exists.

Index: 120
IPA Symbol A: i
IPA Symbol B: ɪ
Word A: piso
Word B: pihso
Word A IPA: ˈpiso
Word B IPA: ˈpɪso
Notes: pihso is not a real word that exists.

Index: 121
IPA Symbol A: o
IPA Symbol B: ɤʊ
Word A: pongo
Word B: pohngoh
Word A IPA: ˈpoŋɡo
Word B IPA: ˈpɤʊŋɡɤʊ
Notes: pohngoh is not a real word that exists.

Index: 122
IPA Symbol A: o
IPA Symbol B: ɤʊ
Word A: pongo
Word B: pohngoh
Word A IPA: ˈpoŋɡo
Word B IPA: ˈpɤʊŋɡɤʊ
isATheCorrectWord: TRUE
Notes: pohngoh is not a real word that exists.

Index: 123
IPA Symbol A: ɤʊ
IPA Symbol B: o
Word A: blow
Word B: bloo
Word A IPA: blɤʊ
Word B IPA: blo
Notes: bloo is not a real word that exists.

Index: 124
IPA Symbol A: ɤʊ
IPA Symbol B: o
Word A: blow
Word B: bloo
Word A IPA: blɤʊ
Word B IPA: blo
isATheCorrectWord: TRUE
Notes: bloo is not a real word that exists.

Index: 201
Sentence IPA: ˈtoðo okuriˈo mui ˈrapiðo
Sentence: Todo ocurrió muy rápido.
Notes: Notice how she says the "r" in rápido.

Index: 202
Sentence IPA: ˈeʝa ˈsaβe ˈeʝa ˈsiempɾe ˈsaβe
Sentence: Ella sabe. Ella siempre sabe.
Notes: Listen to the "b" sounds in this sentence.

Index: 203
Sentence IPA: no ˈpueðo expliˈkaɾ ˈtoðo aˈoɾa
Sentence: No puedo explicar todo ahora.
Notes: This is a great example of the "d" sounds.

Index: 204
Sentence IPA: no es tan ˈfasil
Sentence: No es tan fácil.
Notes: Notice the final "l" sound in this sentence.

Index: 205
Sentence IPA: le di mi diɾekˈsion
Sentence: Le di mi dirección.
Notes: Listen to how short the "i" sounds are.

Index: 206
Sentence IPA: el es peˈkeɲo ˈpeɾo ˈfueɾte
Sentence: Él es pequeño, pero fuerte.
Notes: Fantastic example of the "e" sound.

Index: 207
Sentence IPA: ˈnuŋka se lo ˈdixe a ˈnaðie
Sentence: Nunca se lo dije a nadie.
Notes: Can you hear the mid-word "j" sound?

Index: 208
Sentence IPA: mis ˈoxos son aˈsules
Sentence: Mis ojos son azules.
Notes: Did you hear how "z" and "s" sound the same?

Index: 209
Sentence IPA: ˈsolo keˈɾia aʝuˈdar al eˈkipo
Sentence: Solo quería ayudar al equipo.
Notes: "Stress" is where the emphasis falls in a word. Marked with '.

Index: 210
Sentence IPA: mi muˈxeɾ es ˈmeðika
Sentence: Mi mujer es médica.
Notes: Another good example of "j" and "d" between vowels.

Index: 211
Sentence IPA: ˈeste ˈliβɾo es ˈbiexo
Sentence: Este libro es viejo.
Notes: The letters "b" and "v" are fluid and don't work like English!

Index: 212
Sentence IPA: el leˈon es el rei de la ˈselβa
Sentence: El león es el rey de la selva.
Notes: Notice how rey sounds. And the "v" in the middle of the word.

Index: 213
Sentence IPA: le peˈði aˈʝuða a mi ˈpaðɾe
Sentence: Le pedí ayuda a mi padre.
Notes: Listen for the "stressing" differences in the words.

Index: 214
Sentence IPA: aˈkel ˈpuente no es ˈlaɾɣo
Sentence: Aquel puente no es largo.
Notes: Listen carefully to the "g" sound in largo.

Index: 215
Sentence IPA: kambiˈar ˈnuŋka es ˈfasil
Sentence: Cambiar nunca es fácil.
Notes: Notice that "m" and "b" together make it a stronger "b" sound.

Index: 216
Sentence IPA: el no es ˈriko ˈpeɾo es feˈlis
Sentence: Él no es rico, pero es feliz.
Notes: This is a good example of the two "r" sounds.

Index: 217
Sentence IPA: espeɾˈamos ˈɟuβia oi
Sentence: Esperamos lluvia hoy.
Notes: The word lluvia sounds very different than you may first expect.

Index: 218
Sentence IPA: fue ðiˈfisil al pɾinˈsipio
Sentence: Fue difícil al principio.
Notes: Listen for the initial "d" in difícil.

Index: 219
Sentence IPA: ˈeʝa lo rekoxiˈo en la estasiˈon
Sentence: Ella lo recogió en la estación.
Notes: Notice the "g" in the middle of the word sounds like "j" here.

Index: 220
Sentence IPA: ˈeʝa se kiˈto el aˈβɾiɣo
Sentence: Ella se quitó el abrigo.
Notes: More examples of the "between vowel" sounds.