Spanish · Places
How to pronounce Cartagena in Spanish
Cartagena
Cartagena (place name)
Latin American Spanish · Choose 1.00× to hear the original pace.
Cartagena is pronounced /kaɾtaˈxena/ in Spanish. In Cartagena: Make one quick tongue-tip contact behind the upper teeth, then move on. Listen to the word on its own, then compare it with the example sentence.
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Find the sounds in Cartagena
Read Cartagena in these IPA segments: kaɾta · ˈxena. Dots and stress marks identify the boundaries shown in the reference; these symbols are not English spelling. The mark /ˈ/ comes immediately before the main stressed syllable. Give that syllable a little more prominence without swallowing the others.
1.The tapped r /ɾ/
In Cartagena: Make one quick tongue-tip contact behind the upper teeth, then move on.
Watch out: Do not prolong this into a trill when the IPA shows a single tap.
2.The j-like breath sound
In Cartagena: The IPA may show /x/ or a lighter /h/, depending on the accent. Keep airflow continuous instead of making an English j.
Watch out: The English “j” in “jam” is not the sound of Spanish j here.
3.A steady /e/ vowel
In Cartagena: Keep the tongue toward the front and sustain a single /e/ vowel. Listen for its exact height in the recording.
Watch out: English “ay” often ends with a glide; do not automatically carry that glide into this vowel.
Hear it in context
Nuestro destino es Cartagena.
Our destination is Cartagena.
Listen once, say it aloud, then replay at 1.00×. Keep the word connected to the surrounding sentence rather than giving every syllable equal weight.
Pronunciation and variety
This guide uses a Latin American Spanish model for Cartagena. In Spain and other regions, individual consonants may differ. The linked reference records the source transcription; the audio provides one consistent practice model.
The English-style respelling is approximate. Use the IPA and recording together for vowel quality and consonants that do not have an exact English equivalent.
Questions about Cartagena
How do you pronounce Cartagena?
Cartagena is pronounced /kaɾtaˈxena/ in Spanish. In Cartagena: Make one quick tongue-tip contact behind the upper teeth, then move on. Listen to the word on its own, then compare it with the example sentence.
What should I listen for first?
In Cartagena: Make one quick tongue-tip contact behind the upper teeth, then move on. Start at 0.75×, then return to 1.00× to hear the natural rhythm.
