Spanish · Difficult words
How to pronounce pequeño in Spanish
pequeño
Small
Latin American Spanish · Choose 1.00× to hear the original pace.
pequeño is pronounced /peˈkeɲo/ in Spanish. In pequeño: Raise the middle of the tongue to make one “ny”-like consonant. Connect it to the surrounding vowels. Listen to the word on its own, then compare it with the example sentence.
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Find the sounds in pequeño
Read pequeño in these IPA segments: pe · ˈkeɲo. 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 ñ sound /ɲ/
In pequeño: Raise the middle of the tongue to make one “ny”-like consonant. Connect it to the surrounding vowels.
Watch out: Do not pronounce ñ as plain n or add a separate y syllable.
2.A steady /e/ vowel
In pequeño: 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.
3.A steady /o/ vowel
In pequeño: 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”.
Hear it in context
¿Tienen un vaso pequeño?
Do you have a small glass?
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 pequeño. 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 pequeño
How do you pronounce pequeño?
pequeño is pronounced /peˈkeɲo/ in Spanish. In pequeño: Raise the middle of the tongue to make one “ny”-like consonant. Connect it to the surrounding vowels. Listen to the word on its own, then compare it with the example sentence.
What should I listen for first?
In pequeño: Raise the middle of the tongue to make one “ny”-like consonant. Connect it to the surrounding vowels. Start at 0.75×, then return to 1.00× to hear the natural rhythm.
