El hipopótamo Hipo está con hipo.
el i-po-PÓ-ta-mo I-po es-TÁ con I-po
The hippopotamus Hipo has the hiccups.
🔊 Listen & Practice
Start with slow speed to master pronunciation, then gradually increase to challenge yourself.
🎨 Visualization
Hipo the hippo has the hiccups! Can you say it without getting tongue-tied?
🎯 Pronunciation Focus
The Silent 'H'
/h/ -> ØThis is the core challenge. In Spanish, the letter 'h' is always silent. This tongue twister drills that rule by repeating it in three different words.
Vowel Linking (Sinalefa)
o+e -> /o.e/To sound natural, you need to link words that end and begin with a vowel. Here, 'Hipo está' flows together to sound like one word: 'Ipoestá'.
The Spanish 'p'
/p/Practice the crisp, clean Spanish 'p' sound. Unlike the English 'p' (like in 'pop'), there's no puff of air. It's a much softer sound.
📝 Practice Breakdown
Start by ignoring the 'h'. Say 'el ipopótamo Ipo'. Focus on the clean, repeated 'p' sounds. No puffs of air!
Now for the magic of flow. Link 'Hipo' and 'está' together smoothly, so it sounds like 'Ipoestá'. Remember, the 'h' in 'hipo' is silent too!
Key Words in This Tongue Twister:
📚 Background
This is a fantastic first tongue twister for any Spanish learner. It's simple, fun, and perfectly designed to teach two of the most fundamental rules of Spanish pronunciation: the silent 'h' and linking vowels for a smooth, natural flow.
❌ Common Pitfalls
Pronouncing the 'H'
Mistake: "Making a sound for the letter 'h', similar to the English word 'hippo' or 'hello'."
Correction: The Spanish 'h' is always a silent letter. Always. Just pretend it's not there! Think of the words as 'ipopótamo', 'Ipo', and 'ipo'. This is a golden rule of Spanish.
Pausing Between 'Hipo' and 'está'
Mistake: "Saying 'Hipo... está' as two completely separate words with a noticeable gap in between."
Correction: To sound fluent, connect words that end and begin with a vowel. The 'o' in 'Hipo' should flow directly into the 'e' of 'está'. Practice saying 'Ipoestá' as one continuous sound. This skill will make your Spanish sound much more natural.
🌎 Where It's Used
General Spanish
This tongue twister is universally used in teaching materials across the Spanish-speaking world because it's a perfect exercise for the silent 'h'.
🔗 Related Tongue Twisters
The Hiccuping Hippo Challenge
Can you say it five times in a row? Focus on making it sound like one continuous, smooth sentence with no breaks between the words. The goal is flow, not just speed!
🏷️ Tags
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the 'h' ever pronounced in Spanish?
Almost never! The only time it contributes to a sound is in the 'ch' combination, like in 'chocolate'. Otherwise, from 'hola' to 'hasta', it's completely silent. Think of it as a ghost letter!
Why is linking vowels so important in Spanish?
Linking vowels (a technique called 'sinalefa') is one of the biggest keys to sounding natural and fluent. Native speakers do it without thinking. It avoids a choppy, robotic sound and creates the smooth, musical rhythm that is so characteristic of the Spanish language. Practicing it here builds a fantastic habit.