Blas habla con blusa blanca.
BLAS A-bla con BLU-sa BLAN-ca
Blas speaks with a white blouse.
🔊 Listen & Practice
Start with slow speed to master pronunciation, then gradually increase to challenge yourself.
🎨 Visualization
Blas is talking about his white blouse. Can you say it without getting your 'b's and 'l's tangled?
🎯 Pronunciation Focus
The 'bl' Consonant Cluster
/bl/The main challenge is the quick, smooth transition from the 'b' sound to the 'l' sound, repeated multiple times. Your lips make the 'b' and your tongue immediately flicks up for the 'l'.
The Soft Spanish 'b' Sound
/b/ & /β/Unlike the punchy English 'b', the Spanish 'b' is softer. In 'habla' (between vowels), it's very gentle—your lips almost don't close completely. In 'Blas' and 'blanca', it's a bit firmer.
📝 Practice Breakdown
Start here. Notice the contrast: the 'b' in 'Blas' is firmer (lips press together), while the 'b' in 'habla' is very soft (lips barely touch, letting air flow).
This is the core workout. For 'blusa' and 'blanca', make a clear 'b' with your lips, then immediately flick your tongue up behind your teeth for the 'l'. Aim for one smooth motion.
Key Words in This Tongue Twister:
📚 Background
This is a classic beginner's tongue twister ('trabalenguas') used to isolate and practice the 'bl' sound combination. It's short, simple, and very effective for warming up your mouth muscles for Spanish pronunciation.
❌ Common Pitfalls
Using a Hard English 'b'
Mistake: "Pronouncing the 'b' in 'habla' with a strong puff of air, like in the English word 'boy'."
Correction: The Spanish 'b' between vowels is much softer. Your lips should barely touch, allowing air to flow continuously. Think of it as a 'v' sound made with your lips instead of your teeth.
Pausing Between 'b' and 'l'
Mistake: "Saying 'buh-lusa' or 'buh-lanca' with a small vowel sound in between."
Correction: The 'b' and 'l' should flow together in one smooth motion. As soon as your lips part for the 'b', your tongue should already be in position for the 'l'. Try saying the English word 'blue' to feel the transition.
🌎 Where It's Used
General Spanish
This is a universally known and basic tongue twister used across the entire Spanish-speaking world for pronunciation practice.
🔗 Related Tongue Twisters
The White Blouse Challenge
Try to say it five times in a row, getting faster and clearer each time. Can you do it in under 7 seconds without stumbling?
🏷️ Tags
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is the 'b' in 'habla' so soft?
In Spanish, when a 'b' or 'v' appears between two vowels (like a-b-la), the sound softens significantly. Your lips don't fully close, creating a smoother, more flowing sound. Mastering this is a key step to sounding more natural.
Is there a difference between the 'b' and 'v' sound in Spanish?
In most of the Spanish-speaking world, there is no difference in pronunciation between 'b' and 'v'. Both are pronounced using the lips. The sound they make—firm or soft—depends on their position in a word, not on which letter is written.