Gallo y grillo gritan, gozan.
GA-llo y GRI-llo GRI-tan, GO-zan
Rooster and cricket shout, enjoy.
🔊 Listen & Practice
Start with slow speed to master pronunciation, then gradually increase to challenge yourself.
🎨 Visualization
A happy rooster and cricket shouting together. Can you say it as joyfully as they are?
🎯 Pronunciation Focus
The 'gr' Consonant Cluster
/gɾ/The main challenge is the quick switch from the hard 'g' sound (like in 'go') to the soft, tapped 'r'. Your tongue starts at the back for the 'g' and quickly taps the front for the 'r'.
The 'll' Sound (elle)
/ʝ/In most of the Spanish-speaking world, the 'll' in 'gallo' and 'grillo' sounds like the 'y' in the English word 'yes'. Avoid making it sound like a simple 'l'.
The Hard 'g' Sound
/g/Focus on the 'g' sound in 'gallo' and 'gozan'. It's a hard sound, made at the back of your throat, just like the 'g' in the English word 'go'.
📝 Practice Breakdown
Start here. Focus on the 'll' sound in 'gallo' and 'grillo' – it should sound like the 'y' in 'yes'. Then, practice the quick 'gr' sound in 'grillo'.
Now for the verbs. Keep the 'gr' in 'gritan' sharp and quick. Notice the 'g' in 'gozan' is the same hard sound as in 'gallo'. Link the two words smoothly.
Key Words in This Tongue Twister:
📚 Background
This is a short, fun 'trabalenguas' that's great for practicing several key Spanish sounds at once. It's designed to train your mouth to handle the tricky 'gr' combination, the classic 'll' sound, and the consistent hard 'g'.
❌ Common Pitfalls
Using the English 'r'
Mistake: "Making the 'r' in 'grillo' and 'gritan' sound like the 'r' in the English word 'growl'."
Correction: The Spanish 'r' here is a quick tap of the tongue against the roof of your mouth, just behind your teeth. Practice saying 'g' and then immediately tapping your tongue for the 'r'. It feels like a 'g-da' motion, but much faster.
Pronouncing 'll' like an 'L'
Mistake: "Pronouncing 'gallo' or 'grillo' with a simple 'l' sound, like 'gal-o'."
Correction: The double 'll' in Spanish almost always sounds like the 'y' in 'yes'. Think 'GA-yo' and 'GRI-yo'. This is a very common and important sound in Spanish.
🌎 Where It's Used
General Spanish
This tongue twister is known throughout the Spanish-speaking world. The pronunciation of 'll' can vary slightly by region (sometimes sounding more like 'j' in 'jet'), but the 'y' sound is the most standard and widely understood.
🔗 Related Tongue Twisters
The Joyful Shout Challenge
Say it five times in a row, getting a little faster each time. Try to sound as happy as the rooster and the cricket!
🏷️ Tags
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is the 'gr' sound so hard for English speakers?
It's a combination that doesn't feel natural in English. The English 'g' and 'r' are made in different parts of the mouth, and our 'r' is much heavier. The Spanish version requires a very quick movement from the back of the throat ('g') to a light tap at the front of the mouth ('r'). Practice is key to building that muscle memory!
Is the 'll' sound always like 'y'?
In most of Latin America and Spain, yes, it's pronounced like the 'y' in 'yes'. This is called 'yeísmo'. In some areas, like parts of Argentina and Uruguay, it has a stronger 'sh' or 'zh' sound, but learning the 'y' sound will be understood everywhere.