Top 50 Hard Spanish Words To Pronounce + Tongue Twisters (Audio)
Are you a Spanish language learner or someone eager to improve their pronunciation skills?
Then you should look no further than this blog post, dedicated to the top 50 hard Spanish words to pronounce.
To enhance your pronunciation to match that of a native speaker and extend your camouflage, watch this video where Spring Languages (a project I’m a co-founder) teacher, Mariana covers 15 commonly mispronounced hard Spanish words by English native speakers.
Below, you will find not only English translations of these 50 hard-to-pronounce words but also audio recordings that will directly help your pronunciation – complete with examples showing when and how each word is used in conversation!
1. Top 20 hardest words to pronounce in Spanish
- Desarrollador – Developer
- Murciélago – Bat
- Refrigerador – Refrigerator
- Paralelepípedo – Parallelepiped
- Fisioculturismo – Bodybuilding
- Reconocimiento – Recognition
- Equivalente – Equivalent
- Satisfactoriamente – Satisfactory
- Impermeabilizante – Waterproofing
- Aeropuerto – Airport
- Inconscientemente – Unconsciously
- Electrodomésticos – Appliances
- Internacionalización – Internationalization
- Desafortunadamente – Unfortunately
- Fotografía – Photography
- Subestimado – Underestimated
- Incomprensible – Incomprehensible
- Anticonstitucionalmente – Unconstitutionally
- Circunstancialmente – Circumstantially
- Ferrocarril – Railroad
2. Top 10 tricky Spanish sounds and letters to pronounce
Spanish sounds and letters can be challenging to master.
There are several hard Spanish words that appear easy to pronounce but can actually be quite tricky!
These words often have unique stress patterns or phonetic rules that can cause difficulties for non-native speakers.
Rojo (Red)
The word for red, rojo can be difficult for English speakers to pronounce due to the distinct ‘r’ sound and the pronunciation of ‘j’ as ‘h’. The stress on the first syllable is unexpected for English speakers accustomed to stress falling on the second to last syllable.
- El coche es de color rojo y brilla bajo el sol. (The car is red and shines under the sun.)
Learn more about how to roll your r’s in Spanish.
Gracias (Thank you)
In the same way, gracias (thank you) may appear straightforward, but the ‘ci’ combination produces a ‘th’ sound, which can surprise language learners.
- Gracias por ayudarme con mis deberes. (Thank you for helping me with my homework.)
Beso (Kiss)
When pronouncing the soft “B” sound and the short “e” sound, it is important to pay close attention to their specific characteristics.
The soft “B” sound is produced by gently pressing the lips together and releasing a subtle burst of air, while the short “e” sound is created by positioning the tongue closer to the front of the mouth and producing a quick, crisp sound.
- Le di un beso a mi madre antes de salir. (I gave my mother a kiss before leaving.)
Playa (Beach)
The “y” in this particular word is pronounced with a soft “j” sound, similar to the “j”. This subtle distinction adds a unique characteristic to the pronunciation of this word.
- Vamos a la playa este fin de semana. (We are going to the beach this weekend.)
Y in Spanish can cause a lot of trouble in pronunciation, so it’s best to learn it thoroughly.
Gente (People)
Mastering the pronunciation of the soft “g” and the soft “e” can be quite challenging, especially when they come together.
- Hay mucha gente en el concierto esta noche. (There are many people at the concert tonight.)
Listen to the audio to practice and check out other usages of g in Spanish.
Huevo (Egg)
The silent “h” at the beginning of certain words can often catch English speakers off guard. It’s a subtle linguistic thing that may seem unnecessary at first, but it adds another layer of complexity to the Spanish language.
- Me gusta comer un huevo revuelto para el desayuno. (I like to eat scrambled eggs for breakfast.)
Fuego (Fire)
The letter “g” in this context is pronounced with a soft “g” sound, similar to the way the English word “hug” sounds.
- El fuego en la chimenea nos mantiene calientes. (The fire in the fireplace keeps us warm.)
Vino (Wine)
In Spanish, the “v” sound is typically pronounced like a soft “b” sound, where the lower lip gently touches the upper teeth.
This subtle difference in pronunciation adds a unique flavor to the language and is one of the characteristics that sets Spanish apart from other languages. It’s what also makes it so difficult to pronounce these hard Spanish words with “v”.
- El vino tinto es perfecto para acompañar la cena. (Red wine is perfect to accompany dinner.)
Jirafa (Giraffe)
In the Spanish word jirafa (giraffe), the letter “j” is pronounced as a soft “h” sound, similar to the gentle exhale of a breath.
- La jirafa es el animal más alto del mundo. (The giraffe is the tallest animal in the world.)
J in Spanish is a tricky letter that you should look out for.
Llluvia (Rain)
In Spanish, the letter combination “ll” is pronounced like the letter “y”, which gives the language a special sound.
- La lluvia es necesaria para que crezcan las plantas. (Rain is necessary for plants to grow.)
You can read more on ll in Spanish in our dedicated article.
3. Top 10 hard Spanish words to translate
Sobremesa (Lit.: Table talk)
Sobremesa refers to the time spent lingering at the table and chatting with others after a meal, particularly during a social gathering.
It can be loosely translated as “table talk,” although this doesn’t completely convey the true essence of sobremesa.
- La sobremesa es un momento perfecto para charlar después de la cena. (The sobremesa is a perfect time to chat after dinner.)
Antojo (Craving)
Antojo is a strong and sudden desire for something, often related to food but can also apply to other things.
It includes emotional and impulsive elements that “whim” or “craving” come close to describing.
- Tengo un antojo de chocolate que no puedo resistir. (I have a craving for chocolate that I can’t resist.)
Madrugada (Dawn/Early morning)
It refers to the time in the very early morning, specifically between midnight and sunrise.
While “dawn” or “early morning” can be used for the English translation, they don’t convey the same specific timeframe.
- Me gusta salir a caminar en la madrugada cuando todo está tranquilo. (I like to go for a walk in the early morning when everything is quiet.)
Friolero (Sensitive to cold weather)
A person who feels very sensitive to cold weather or easily gets cold. There isn’t a direct English word for this.
- Soy muy friolero y siempre llevo abrigo en invierno. (I am very sensitive to the cold and always wear a coat in winter.)
Merienda (Snack/Light meal)
An afternoon snack or light meal, typically enjoyed between lunch and dinner. It’s like a “snack,” but the timing and sometimes the food may be different.
- La merienda de esta tarde será galletas y leche. (This afternoon’s snack will be cookies and milk.)
Estrenar (Try something out/debut)
“Trying something out” refers to using or wearing something for the first time, usually with newly bought items. It’s similar to “debut,” but not commonly used in the same way.
- Voy a estrenar mi vestido nuevo en la fiesta. (I am going to wear my new dress for the party.)
Empalagar (Disgusted by too much sweetness)
This describes the feeling of being overwhelmed or disgusted by too much sweetness, richness, or indulgence in food. There isn’t one simple word that captures this concept of one of the these hard Spanish words entirely.
- El pastel era tan dulce que me empalagué después de un trozo. (The cake was so sweet that I felt overwhelmed after one piece.)
Desvelado (Sleepless/Insomniac)
Refers to the condition of not being able to sleep or staying awake all night. While “sleepless” or “insomniac” are similar, desvelado implies a more deliberate and intentional state of being awake.
- Estuve desvelado toda la noche trabajando en un proyecto. (I was awake all night working on a project.)
Tocayo/Tocaya (Namesake)
When someone has the same first name as another person, we can use the term “namesake” in English (although it’s less commonly used in English than in Spanish).
- Mi tocayo y yo compartimos el mismo nombre y fecha de cumpleaños. (My namesake and I share the same name and birthday.)
Empacho (Stomachache)
Empacho refers to the uncomfortable feeling or upset stomach that occurs after eating too much or indulging excessively.
While “indigestion” or “stomachache” capture some of the meaning, empacho specifically conveys the idea of excessiveness.
- Comí tanto en la cena que ahora tengo empacho. (I ate so much at dinner that now I feel stuffed.)
4. Top 10 tongue twisters to practice Spanish pronunciation
Spanish tongue twisters, or trabalenguas, are an enjoyable and challenging way to practice pronunciation and improve your language fluency.
Trabalenguas often contain words of similar sounds or syllables that become more complicated as they progress, making them an excellent tool for mastering the rhythmic pattern and unique sounds of Spanish. And who knows? Maybe you can even use these tongue twisters in Spanish conversations!
Here are 10 popular Spanish tongue twisters.
(Pay attention to the pronunciation and bear in mind that translating these tongue twisters to English can be hard and they might not be equal to their English versions.)
| Spanish | English |
|---|---|
| Three sad tigers eat wheat in a wheat field. | |
| Since I eat few coconuts, I buy few coconuts. | |
| San Roque’s dog has no tail because Ramón Rodríguez stole it. | |
| Pedro Pérez buys few potatoes for his dad. | |
| Three sad tigers eat wheat in a wheat field in three sad dishes. | |
| Pepe Peña peels potatoes, chops pineapples, toots a whistle, peels pineapples, chops potatoes. | |
| R with R, cigar; R with R, barrel; the carts roll fast, loaded with sugar from the railway. | |
| If Pancha irons with four irons, how many irons does Pancha iron with? | |
| Cloth, bath. | |
| Friend, buy me a coconut, friend, I don’t buy a coconut because I eat few coconuts, I buy few coconuts. |
5. Practice section – From Spanish to English with hard Spanish words
I. Match the Spanish words with their English translations!
If you want to learn and practice more, sign up below to get Full Practice Worksheets for different Spanish articles!
6. Improve your Spanish with Conversation Based Chunking
Mastering the pronunciation of hard Spanish words can seem like a daunting task.
Words like “Ferrocarril“, “Desarrolladores“, “Aeropuerto” can indeed be challenging. However, with regular practice and the right approach, it becomes significantly more manageable.
One effective strategy to improve your Spanish is Conversation Based Chunking.
This involves learning vocabulary in chunks or groups of words that often go together instead of isolated words.
Remember, the key to mastering hard Spanish words is consistency and practice so sign up to get your Chunking Starter Pack and practice your listening and speaking skills!
