Spanish · Difficult words

How to pronounce reloj in Spanish

reloj

Clock

reh-LOHKH/reˈlox/

Latin American Spanish · Choose 1.00× to hear the original pace.

reloj is pronounced /reˈlox/ in Spanish. In reloj: Let the tongue tip vibrate briefly near the ridge behind the upper teeth. Keep the airflow moving without tightening the tongue. Listen to the word on its own, then compare it with the example sentence.

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Find the sounds in reloj

Read reloj in these IPA segments: re · ˈlox. 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. 1.The trilled r /r/

    In reloj: Let the tongue tip vibrate briefly near the ridge behind the upper teeth. Keep the airflow moving without tightening the tongue.

    Watch out: A curled English r and a single quick tap are different from the trill shown here.

  2. 2.The j-like breath sound

    In reloj: 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. 3.A steady /e/ vowel

    In reloj: 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

El reloj de pared marca las tres.

The wall clock says three o'clock.

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 reloj. 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 reloj

How do you pronounce reloj?

reloj is pronounced /reˈlox/ in Spanish. In reloj: Let the tongue tip vibrate briefly near the ridge behind the upper teeth. Keep the airflow moving without tightening the tongue. Listen to the word on its own, then compare it with the example sentence.

What should I listen for first?

In reloj: Let the tongue tip vibrate briefly near the ridge behind the upper teeth. Keep the airflow moving without tightening the tongue. Start at 0.75×, then return to 1.00× to hear the natural rhythm.

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