Bebo vino bien bebido.
BE-bo BI-no bien be-BI-do
I drink very well-drunk wine.
🔊 Listen & Practice
Start with slow speed to master pronunciation, then gradually increase to challenge yourself.
🎨 Visualization
Bebo vino bien bebido. Can you make the 'b' and 'v' sound the same?
🎯 Pronunciation Focus
The Unified Spanish 'b'/'v' Sound
/b/The most important lesson here: in Spanish, the letters 'b' and 'v' make the exact same sound. Unlike in English, you never use your teeth for the letter 'v'. Both sounds are made only with your lips.
The 'Soft B' (between vowels)
/β/When the 'b'/'v' sound comes between two vowels (like the second 'b' in 'bebido'), it softens. Instead of pressing your lips together firmly, let them get very close and allow a little air to 'buzz' through. It's a subtle change that makes Spanish sound smooth.
📝 Practice Breakdown
Start here. Your goal is to make the 'b' in 'Bebo' and the 'v' in 'vino' sound identical. Press your lips together for a crisp 'b' sound for both words. Think 'bebo bino'.
The 'b' in 'bien' is also a crisp, clear sound. Now for the tricky part: in 'bebido', the second 'b' is softer because it's between two vowels. Let your lips get close but don't fully seal them. Contrast the hard 'B' in 'bien' with the soft 'b' in '-bido'.
Key Words in This Tongue Twister:
📚 Background
This short and simple tongue twister is a fundamental exercise for any Spanish learner. It's designed to drill one of the most common pronunciation hurdles for English speakers: the fact that the Spanish 'b' and 'v' are pronounced exactly the same.
❌ Common Pitfalls
Pronouncing 'v' with your teeth
Mistake: "Using the English 'v' sound (top teeth on bottom lip) for the word 'vino'."
Correction: Forget the English 'v' exists! In Spanish, 'v' is made with your two lips, just like a 'b'. So, 'vino' should sound exactly like 'bino'. Try saying 'berry' and 'very' in English – in Spanish, they would sound the same.
Making every 'b' a hard sound
Mistake: "Pronouncing the second 'b' in 'bebido' with the same hard, explosive sound as the first 'b'."
Correction: Spanish pronunciation flows smoothly. When a 'b' or 'v' is between two vowels, it softens. Think of it like this: the first 'b' in 'Bebo' stops the air completely. The second 'b' in 'bebido' just gently interrupts it, letting a little air escape.
🌎 Where It's Used
General Spanish
This is a universal pronunciation exercise used by teachers and learners across the entire Spanish-speaking world due to its focus on the core 'b'/'v' sound.
🔗 Related Tongue Twisters
The B/V Consistency Challenge
Say it five times in a row. Your goal isn't just speed, but making every 'b' and 'v' sound perfectly Spanish and consistent. Record yourself and listen back!
🏷️ Tags
Frequently Asked Questions
So are 'b' and 'v' really the exact same sound in Spanish?
Yes, for pronunciation, they are the same sound! The difference is only in the spelling. Whether you see a 'b' or a 'v', you'll use your two lips to make the sound, never your teeth like in the English 'v'.
Why does the sound sometimes change from hard to soft?
This is a natural part of Spanish rhythm. At the beginning of a phrase or after an 'm' or 'n', the sound is a hard stop (like English 'b'). Between vowels, it softens to make the language flow more smoothly. It's a key detail that will make your Spanish sound much more natural.