Tengo un tío cajonero.
TEN-go un TÍ-o ca-jo-NE-ro
I have an uncle who is a box/drawer maker.
🔊 Listen & Practice
Start with slow speed to master pronunciation, then gradually increase to challenge yourself.
🎨 Visualization
My uncle the drawer-maker! Let's practice that tricky 'j' sound.
🎯 Pronunciation Focus
The Spanish 'j' Sound
/x/This sound is made in the back of your throat, like a light, airy 'h' in the English word 'hat' but with a bit more friction. It's not like the 'j' in 'judge'.
The 'ñ' Sound
/ɲ/This is the sound you hear in 'jalapeño'. It's like the 'ny' sound in the English word 'canyon'. Press the middle of your tongue against the roof of your mouth and make a nasal sound.
Linking Vowels (Sinalefa)
tengo‿un‿tíoNotice how 'Tengo un tío' flows together. The final 'o' of 'Tengo' blends smoothly into the 'u' of 'un', which then blends into the 'í' of 'tío'. It sounds like one long word: 'Teng-un-tí-o'.
📝 Practice Breakdown
Practice linking the vowels. Say 'Tengo un' as if it's one smooth word: 'Teng-un'. Then add 'tío' to make it 'Teng-un-tí-o'. This is key to sounding natural.
Focus on the two key sounds here. The 'j' is a soft, airy sound from the back of your throat. The 'ñ' is like the 'ny' in 'canyon'. Finish with a nice, clear '-ro'.
Key Words in This Tongue Twister:
📚 Background
This is a short, classic 'trabalenguas' often used to introduce learners to the Spanish 'j' and 'ñ' sounds. Its simplicity makes it a great warm-up for pronunciation practice and an excellent exercise for learning to link vowel sounds between words.
❌ Common Pitfalls
Pronouncing 'j' like in English
Mistake: "Saying 'cajonero' with a 'j' sound like in the English word 'judge' or 'jeans'."
Correction: The Spanish 'j' is a soft, breathy sound from the back of your throat. Think of the 'h' in 'hello' but with a little more scrape or friction. It should feel airy.
Not Linking Words
Mistake: "Pausing between 'Tengo', 'un', and 'tío', making it sound choppy like 'Ten-go. Un. Tí-o.'"
Correction: Spanish vowels love to link together. Blend the end of one word into the beginning of the next when they are both vowels. Try to make 'Tengo un tío' sound like one continuous, flowing phrase.
🌎 Where It's Used
General Spanish
This is a very common and basic tongue twister known throughout the Spanish-speaking world, perfect for beginners.
🔗 Related Tongue Twisters
The Uncle Challenge
Say the phrase five times in a row. Try to keep the rhythm smooth and the 'j' sound consistent. Can you do it in under 7 seconds? Record yourself and listen back!
🏷️ Tags
Frequently Asked Questions
What does 'cajonero' actually mean?
A 'cajonero' is someone who makes 'cajones,' which can mean drawers, boxes, or crates. So, it's a drawer-maker or a box-maker. It can also refer to a chest of drawers.
Why is linking vowels so important in Spanish?
Linking vowels, or 'sinalefa', is key to sounding natural and fluent in Spanish. It creates the smooth, musical rhythm of the language. Practicing it with short phrases like this helps build a very important habit for sounding less like a robot and more like a native speaker.