El chorizo de Chelo.
el cho-RI-so de CHE-lo
Chelo's sausage.
🔊 Listen & Practice
Start with slow speed to master pronunciation, then gradually increase to challenge yourself.
🎨 Visualization
Chelo's chorizo! A perfect, short phrase to master the Spanish 'ch' sound.
🎯 Pronunciation Focus
The Spanish 'ch' Sound
/tʃ/This is the star of the show. The Spanish 'ch' is a sharp, quick sound, exactly like the 'ch' in the English words 'church' or 'cheese'. To make it, press the flat front of your tongue against the roof of your mouth, build up a tiny bit of air, and release it in a short burst.
The 'z' Sound (seseo)
/s/In the vast majority of the Spanish-speaking world (all of Latin America and parts of Spain), the 'z' in 'chorizo' sounds exactly like an 's'. This is the most common and widely understood pronunciation.
📝 Practice Breakdown
Start here. Focus on that first 'ch' sound. Make it sharp and clear: 'CHO'. Then, for 'rizo', the 'z' sounds just like an 's'. Stress the middle syllable: cho-RI-so.
Now for the second 'ch'. It should sound exactly like the first one. Keep it consistent! Stress the first syllable: 'CHE-lo'. Now, try putting it all together smoothly.
Key Words in This Tongue Twister:
📚 Background
This is a fantastic first 'trabalenguas' for anyone starting with Spanish pronunciation. It's short, memorable, and laser-focused on one of the most common and consistent sounds in the language: the 'ch'. 'Chelo' is a common nickname, making this little phrase feel friendly and authentic.
❌ Common Pitfalls
Using a soft 'sh' sound
Mistake: "Pronouncing 'chorizo' or 'Chelo' with a soft 'sh' sound, like in the English word 'shoe'. It sounds like 'shorizo' instead of 'chorizo'."
Correction: The Spanish 'ch' is harder and quicker. Think of it as a 't' sound and a 'sh' sound mashed together. Start to say 't', but immediately release it as 'sh'. It's the exact same sound as in 'chips' or 'chocolate'. Practice saying 'cheese' in English – that's the sound you want!
Worrying about the 'z' vs. 's'
Mistake: "Getting stuck on how to pronounce the 'z' in 'chorizo', especially after hearing about the Spanish 'th' sound."
Correction: Don't worry! While people in most of Spain would pronounce it with a 'th' sound ('cho-RI-tho'), pronouncing it with an 's' sound ('cho-RI-so') is correct in all of Latin America and is universally understood. For learners, using the 's' sound is the simplest and most practical approach.
🌎 Where It's Used
General Spanish
This tongue twister is known everywhere. The key difference is regional pronunciation of the 'z' in 'chorizo'. In Latin America, the Canary Islands, and Andalusia, it's an /s/ sound (seseo). In most of Spain, it's a /θ/ sound, like 'th' in 'thing' (distinción).
🔗 Related Tongue Twisters
The Chorizo Chain
How many times can you say 'El chorizo de Chelo' in 10 seconds? Try to say it at least five times. The goal is to keep the 'ch' sound sharp and clear, even when you speed up!
🏷️ Tags
Frequently Asked Questions
Is 'ch' its own letter in Spanish?
Historically, yes! For a long time, 'ch' was considered a separate letter in the Spanish alphabet, right after 'c'. While it's now officially treated as a combination of 'c' and 'h', it still represents a single, distinct sound, which is why it's so important to practice.
Are there other words with this sound?
Absolutely! It's very common. You'll find it in words like 'mucho' (a lot), 'ocho' (eight), 'noche' (night), 'leche' (milk), and 'Chile'. Mastering this tongue twister will help you with all of them.