Spanish · Difficult words
How to pronounce hospital in Spanish
hospital
Hospital
Latin American Spanish · Choose 1.00× to hear the original pace.
hospital is pronounced /ospiˈtal/ in Spanish. In hospital: The h in this reference does not add a separate consonant. Connect the sounds shown in the IPA smoothly. Listen to the word on its own, then compare it with the example sentence.
Speak with an AI partner · 7 days free
Find the sounds in hospital
Read hospital in these IPA segments: ospi · ˈtal. 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.A written h without a separate sound
In hospital: The h in this reference does not add a separate consonant. Connect the sounds shown in the IPA smoothly.
Watch out: Do not add an English h breath merely because h appears in the spelling.
2.A steady /o/ vowel
In hospital: Round the lips and keep the tongue toward the back for a steady /o/. Follow the length indicated in the transcription.
Watch out: Avoid automatically turning a single /o/ into the moving vowel of English “go”.
3.Front-vowel position
In hospital: Listen for the distinction between the closer /i/ and the more relaxed /ɪ/ when shown. Keep your tongue toward the front.
Watch out: Do not decide vowel quality from English spelling alone.
4.An open vowel
In hospital: Open the jaw for the a-like vowel shown in the IPA. Keep it continuous and follow the recording’s tongue position.
Watch out: Do not substitute the English diphthong in “day”.
Hear it in context
¿Dónde queda el hospital más cercano?
Where is the nearest hospital?
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 hospital. 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.
Meaning and everyday use
Questions about hospital
How do you pronounce hospital?
hospital is pronounced /ospiˈtal/ in Spanish. In hospital: The h in this reference does not add a separate consonant. Connect the sounds shown in the IPA smoothly. Listen to the word on its own, then compare it with the example sentence.
What should I listen for first?
In hospital: The h in this reference does not add a separate consonant. Connect the sounds shown in the IPA smoothly. Start at 0.75×, then return to 1.00× to hear the natural rhythm.
