Practicing pronunciation with audio | Learn Spanish in English

Spanish lesson set in a contemporary Madrid everyday setting: In a language classroom, two adults use audio to slow down a sentence and practice clearer pronunciation..

EN → ES / Level: A1

About This Lesson

Use Practicing pronunciation with audio to practice Spanish conversation, pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and quizzes.

Dialogue

A

¿Puedo escuchar el audio?

PWEH-doh ehs-koo-CHAR ehl OW-dyoh Can I listen to the audio?
B

Escuchemos juntos.

ehs-koo-CHEH-mohs HOON-tohs Let's listen together.
A

Es demasiado rápido para mí.

ehs deh-mah-SYAH-doh RRAH-pee-doh PAH-rah MEE It's too fast for me.
B

Voy a ponerlo más despacio.

boy ah poh-NEHR-loh mahs deh-SPAH-syoh I'll slow it down.
A

¿Cómo pronuncio esta frase?

KOH-moh proh-NOON-syoh EH-stah FRAH-seh How do I pronounce this sentence?
B

Escucha una vez y luego repite después de mí.

ehs-KOO-chah OO-nah behs ee LWEH-goh reh-PEE-teh dehs-PWEHS deh MEE Listen once, then repeat after me.
A

Déjame intentarlo otra vez.

DEH-hah-meh een-tehn-TAR-loh OH-trah behs Let me try again.
B

Ahora suena más claro.

ah-OH-rah SWEH-nah mahs KLAH-roh That sounds clearer now.

Word by Word

Puedo “Puedo” means “can” here, as the speaker asks whether they are able or allowed to listen. It is used before the infinitive in “Puedo escuchar”. The pattern “Puedo + infinitive” is useful for asking about an action you can do.
escuchar “Escuchar” means “to listen” in “Puedo escuchar el audio”. It stays in this form after “Puedo”. The pattern “Puedo escuchar + something” identifies what the speaker wants to listen to.
el “El” means “the” in the noun phrase “el audio”. It introduces the specific audio being discussed. The reusable pattern here is “el + noun”, as in “el audio”.
audio “Audio” refers to the audio recording the speakers are using in “el audio”. It is the thing that the speaker wants to listen to. In this dialogue, it appears after “el” as “el audio”.
Escuchemos “Escuchemos” means “let’s listen” and invites the two speakers to listen together. In “Escuchemos juntos”, it introduces the shared action. The pattern “Escuchemos + activity” can be used to suggest doing something together.
juntos “Juntos” means “together” in “Escuchemos juntos”. It shows that the listening is done by both speakers as a shared activity. It is useful after an action when you want to emphasize doing it together.
Es “Es” means “is” in “Es demasiado rápido para mí”. It states how the audio is experienced by the speaker. The pattern “Es + description” gives a description of something.
demasiado “Demasiado” means “too” or “excessively” in “demasiado rápido”. It shows that the speed is greater than the speaker can comfortably follow. The pattern “demasiado + description” expresses an excessive degree.
rápido “Rápido” means “fast” in “Es demasiado rápido para mí”. It describes the speed of the audio. In this line, “demasiado rápido” describes something as too fast for the speaker.
para “Para” means “for” in “para mí” and identifies the person whose experience is being described. Here, the audio is too fast for the speaker. The pattern “para + person” shows who something is for or how it affects that person.
mí “Mí” means “me” in “para mí”. Together, “para mí” means “for me” and gives the speaker’s personal point of view. It appears after “para” in this expression.
Voy “Voy” means “I am going” in “Voy a ponerlo más despacio”. Here, with “a ponerlo”, it helps express what the speaker plans to do next. The reusable pattern is “Voy a + infinitive” for a planned action.
a “A” is the “to” in the construction “Voy a ponerlo”. It connects “Voy” with the action that is going to happen. The pattern “Voy a + infinitive” expresses a plan.
ponerlo “Ponerlo” means “to set it” or “to put it” here, with “it” referring to the audio. In “ponerlo más despacio”, the speaker means setting the audio to play more slowly. It follows “Voy a” in “Voy a ponerlo más despacio”.
más “Más” means “more” in “más despacio”. It increases the degree of slowness intended for the audio. The pattern “más + description” expresses a higher degree.
despacio “Despacio” means “slowly” in “ponerlo más despacio”. It describes the speed at which the audio should play. Together, “más despacio” means “more slowly” in this line.
Cómo “Cómo” means “how” in “¿Cómo pronuncio esta frase?”. It asks about the manner of pronouncing the sentence. The pattern “¿Cómo + verb...?” asks how an action is done.
pronuncio “Pronuncio” means “I pronounce” in “¿Cómo pronuncio esta frase?”. The speaker uses it to ask how to say the sentence aloud. It is followed by the thing being pronounced, “esta frase”.
esta “Esta” means “this” in “esta frase”. It identifies the particular sentence the speaker is asking about. Together, “esta frase” means “this sentence” or “this phrase”.
frase “Frase” means “sentence” or “phrase” in “esta frase”. It refers to the words the learner wants to pronounce. In this dialogue, it appears after “esta” in “esta frase”.
Escucha “Escucha” means “listen” as a direct instruction in “Escucha una vez”. The speaker tells the learner to listen before repeating. It can introduce the listening action in the pattern “Escucha + instruction or object”.
una “Una” means “one” in “una vez”, so “una vez” means “once”. It marks a single occurrence of listening. In this dialogue, it appears directly before “vez”.
vez “Vez” means “time” or “occasion” in “una vez”. Together, “una vez” means “once”, telling the learner to listen one time. This expression is used to count an occurrence of an action.
y “Y” means “and” in “Escucha una vez y luego repite”. It connects the instruction to listen with the next instruction to repeat. The pattern “action y action” links two actions.
luego “Luego” means “then” or “afterwards” in “y luego repite”. It places the repetition after the first listening. It is useful for ordering actions in a sequence.
repite “Repite” means “repeat” as an instruction in “repite después de mí”. The speaker asks the learner to say the material again after the speaker. The pattern “repite después de mí” tells someone to repeat a model.
después “Después” means “after” in “después de mí”. It places the learner’s repetition after the speaker’s model. The complete pattern “repite después de mí” means to repeat after me.
de “De” is part of the expression “después de mí”, which means “after me”. It links “después” with the person who provides the model, “mí”. In this dialogue, it should be understood together with “después”.
Déjame “Déjame” means “let me” in “Déjame intentarlo otra vez”. The speaker uses it to ask for the opportunity to try again. The pattern “Déjame + action” introduces something the speaker wants to do.
intentarlo “Intentarlo” means “to try it” in “Déjame intentarlo otra vez”. It names the action the speaker wants permission to do again. It follows “Déjame” in the expression “Déjame intentarlo”.
otra “Otra” means “another” in “otra vez”. Together, “otra vez” means “again”, referring to an additional attempt. It appears directly before “vez” in this expression.
Ahora “Ahora” means “now” in “Ahora suena más claro”. It points to the current result after the practice. It can be placed before an action to show that the situation is true at this moment.
suena “Suena” means “sounds” in “Ahora suena más claro”. It describes how the pronunciation or audio is perceived. In this line, it is followed by the description “más claro”.
claro “Claro” means “clear” in “más claro”. With “más”, the phrase “más claro” means “clearer”, describing an improvement in the sound. It gives the result of the pronunciation practice.

Grammar Points

poder + infinitivo

Puedo escuchar.

PWEH-doh ehs-koo-CHAR

I can listen.

The conjugated verb poder is followed by an infinitive to express ability or possibility.

Déjame + infinitivo con pronombre

Déjame intentarlo.

DEH-hah-meh een-tehn-TAR-loh

Let me try it.

In an affirmative command, the object pronoun lo attaches to the infinitive: intentarlo.

Spanish Vocabulary

audio noun
OW-dyoh audio

¿Puedo escuchar el audio?

demasiado adv
deh-mah-SYAH-doh too; excessively

Es demasiado rápido para mí.

después de mí phrase
dehs-PWEHS deh MEE after me

Escucha una vez y luego repite después de mí.

escuchar verb
ehs-koo-CHAR to listen

¿Puedo escuchar el audio?

frase noun
FRAH-seh sentence; phrase

¿Cómo pronuncio esta frase?

juntos adj
HOON-tohs together

Escuchemos juntos.

poder verb
poh-DEHR can; to be able to puedo

¿Puedo escuchar el audio?

ponerlo más despacio phrase
poh-NEHR-loh mahs deh-SPAH-syoh to slow it down

Voy a ponerlo más despacio.

pronunciar verb
proh-noon-SYAR to pronounce pronuncio

¿Cómo pronuncio esta frase?

rápido adj
RRAH-pee-doh fast

Es demasiado rápido para mí.

repetir verb
reh-peh-TEER to repeat repite

Escucha una vez y luego repite después de mí.

vez noun
behs time; occasion

Escucha una vez y luego repite después de mí.

Quiz

Word Order

Arrange the words in the correct order.

Can I listen to the audio?

Show Answer¿Puedo escuchar el audio?

Let's listen together.

Show AnswerEscuchemos juntos.

It's too fast for me.

Show AnswerEs demasiado rápido para mí.

Spelling

Tap the letters to spell the word.

can; to be able to

Show Answerpuedo

together

Show Answerjuntos

fast

Show Answerrápido

too; excessively

Show Answerdemasiado