Pepe pela patatas para una tortilla.
PE-pe PE-la pa-TA-tas PA-ra U-na tor-TI-lla
Pepe peels potatoes for an omelette.
🔊 Listen & Practice
Start with slow speed to master pronunciation, then gradually increase to challenge yourself.
🎨 Visualization
Pepe is busy peeling potatoes for a tasty tortilla!
🎯 Pronunciation Focus
The Crisp Spanish 'p' Sound
/p/This tongue twister is a workout for the 'p' sound. The Spanish 'p' is 'unaspirated,' meaning it's a clean, crisp sound made without the puff of air we use in English words like 'pen' or 'party'.
The Soft 'r' (Tap 'r')
/ɾ/The 'r' in 'para' is a single, quick tap of the tongue against the roof of your mouth, just behind your teeth. It's the same sound found in the American English pronunciation of 'water' or 'butter'.
📝 Practice Breakdown
Start here. Focus on making each 'p' sound crisp and clean. Don't add a puff of air like in English. Keep the 'a' vowels short and open: pa-ta-tas.
Now for the second half. The 'r' in 'para' is a quick tap. Link the words 'para' and 'una' smoothly. For the 'll' in 'tortilla', pronounce it like the 'y' in the English word 'yes'.
Key Words in This Tongue Twister:
📚 Background
This is a classic beginner's tongue twister in Spanish, perfect for getting used to the rhythm of the language. It's often one of the first 'trabalenguas' that children and new learners practice because of its simple vocabulary and focus on the repetitive 'p' sound.
❌ Common Pitfalls
Puffing the 'p' Sound
Mistake: "Pronouncing 'Pepe' or 'patatas' with a strong puff of air, like the English words 'Peter' or 'potatoes'."
Correction: The Spanish 'p' is 'unaspirated'. To feel the difference, hold your hand in front of your mouth. When you say 'party' in English, you'll feel a puff of air. For 'patatas', there should be almost no air. Just press your lips together and release the sound cleanly.
Using the English 'r'
Mistake: "Pronouncing the 'r' in 'para' like the American English 'r' in 'car'."
Correction: The Spanish 'r' here is a single, quick tap of your tongue on the roof of your mouth. It's very fast. Think of how the 'tt' is pronounced in the American English word 'butter' – it's that same quick flap motion.
🌎 Where It's Used
General Spanish
This tongue twister is universally known and used throughout the Spanish-speaking world as a simple pronunciation exercise.
Spain vs. Latin America
The word 'patata' is more common in Spain, while 'papa' is used in most of Latin America. Also, 'tortilla' means a potato omelette in Spain, but a thin flatbread in Mexico and Central America. The tongue twister works perfectly with either regional vocabulary!
🔗 Related Tongue Twisters
The Potato Peeler Challenge
Try to say it five times in a row without your lips getting tired! Can you do it in under 7 seconds? Record yourself and see how smooth you can get.
🏷️ Tags
Frequently Asked Questions
Is 'tortilla' an omelette or a flatbread?
It depends on where you are! In Spain, a 'tortilla española' is a famous thick omelette made with eggs and potatoes. In Mexico and much of Latin America, a 'tortilla' is a thin corn or wheat flatbread. The tongue twister is fun no matter which one you picture!
Why is the Spanish 'p' sound so important to practice?
It's a small detail that makes a big difference in your accent! Mastering the 'unaspirated' p, t, and k sounds (without the puff of air) is a key step to sounding more natural and less like a foreign speaker. This tongue twister is the perfect workout for it.