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1. Set a goal

You chose "Vowels."

You chose "Monophthongs (one vowel sound)."

Select a monophthong to practice as your learning objective. The list is not exhaustive, but it contains the sounds that are the hardest to pronounce for native Spanish speakers.

/i/ as in TEA, ME and BEE

The sound /i/ in English is similar to stressed "í" in Spanish. Spanish words with this sound are: iba, vino, día, allí.

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Possible pronunciation problems

Substituting /ɪ/ for /i/. For example:

  • Sheep becomes Ship.

  • Eat becomes It.

/ɪ/ as in LIP, IT and PIN

The vowel /ɪ/ does not exist in Spanish and may be difficult for you to recognize and say.

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Possible pronunciation problems

Substituting /i/ for /ɪ/. For example:

  • Hit becomes Heat.

  • Itch becomes Each.

/É›/ as in EGG, PET and HEAD

​The sound /É›/ in English is similar to the letter"e" in certain Spanish words. Spanish words with this sound are: el, entra, Usted, perro.

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Possible pronunciation problems

Substituting /É›/ for /eɪ/. For example:

  • Pen becomes Pain.

Substituting /É›/ for /æ/. For example:

  • Met becomes Mat.

/æ/ as in APPLE, AT and HAPPY

The vowel /æ/ does not exist in Spanish and may be difficult for you to recognize and say.

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Possible pronunciation problems

Substituting /æ/ for /a/. For example:

  • Hat becomes Hot.

Substituting /æ/ for /É›/. For example:

  • Bad becomes Bed.

/a/ as in ARM, HOT and FATHER

​The sound /a/ in English is the same as stressed "á" in Spanish. Spanish words with this sound are: casa, palabra, dará, acá.

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Possible pronunciation problems

Substituting /a/ for /oÊŠ/. For example:

  • Not becomes Note.

Substituting /a/ for /ÊŒ/. For example:

  • Not becomes Nut.

Substituting /a/ for /É”/. For example:

  • Cot becomes Caught.

/u/ as in POOL, YOU and TOO

The sound /u/ in English is similar to stressed "ú" in Spanish. Spanish words with this sound are: su, luna, jugo, una.

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Possible pronunciation problems

Substituting /u/ for /ÊŠ/. For example:

  • Pool becomes Pull.

  • Suit becomes Soot.

/ÊŠ/ as in WOOD, COOK and PUT

​The vowel /ÊŠ/ does not exist in Spanish and may be difficult for you to recognize and say.

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Possible pronunciation problems

Substituting /ÊŠ/ for /u/. For example:

  • Full becomes Fool.

  • Cook becomes Kook.

/ʌ/ as in HUG, UP and BUT

​The vowel /ÊŒ/ does not exist in Spanish and may be difficult for you to recognize and say.

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Possible pronunciation problems

Substituting /ÊŒ/ for /a/. For example:

  • Color becomes Collar.

Substituting /ÊŒ/ for /oÊŠ/. For example:

  • Come becomes Comb.

Substituting /ÊŒ/ for /É”/. For example:

  • Done becomes Dawm.

/É”/ as in DOG, ALL and CAUGHT

​The vowel /É”/ does not exist in Spanish and may be difficult for you to recognize and say.

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Possible pronunciation problems

Substituting /É”/ for /a/. For example:

  • Caller becomes Collar.

Substituting /É”/ for /oÊŠ/. For example:

  • Bought becomes Boat.

Substituting /É”/ for /ÊŒ/. For example:

  • Bought becomes But.

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