Spanish · Difficult words
How to pronounce terrible in Spanish
terrible
Terrible
Latin American Spanish · Choose 1.00× to hear the original pace.
terrible is pronounced /teˈrible/ in Spanish. In terrible: 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 terrible
Read terrible in these IPA segments: te · ˈrible. 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 trilled r /r/
In terrible: 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.A steady /e/ vowel
In terrible: 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.Front-vowel position
In terrible: 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.
Hear it in context
Hoy fue un día terrible.
Today was a terrible day.
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 terrible. 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 terrible
How do you pronounce terrible?
terrible is pronounced /teˈrible/ in Spanish. In terrible: 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 terrible: 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.
