Spanish Pronunciation Challenges: Long and Tricky Words
Challenge your pronunciation with long and tricky Spanish words, two playful inventions, and a bonus warning about an English word often included in these lists.
Introduction
Do you like challenges? Try these Spanish pronunciation exercises. Difficulty depends on your experience, so this is not a ranking of the hardest words. The list includes specialist vocabulary and playful inventions; the final entry explains why an English novelty word does not belong on a Spanish vocabulary list. Finish with the tongue twister below.
1. Esternocleidomastoideo (Sternocleidomastoid)
This is the sternocleidomastoid, a muscle in the neck. Its length makes it a good pronunciation challenge, but it is not the longest Spanish word.
Repeat after me: esternocleidomastoideo
2. Ferrocarril (Railway)
The two rr sounds can be challenging for learners. Both are trilled, unlike the single tap in a word such as pero.
Try to pronounce it: Ferrocarril
3. Otorrinolaringólogo (Otolaryngologist)
An otorrinolaringólogo is a doctor who specializes in the ears, nose, and throat. Otorrinolaringología is the medical specialty, otorhinolaryngology. Try that word too.
Try to pronounce it: Otorrinolaringología.
4. Desoxirribonucleico (Deoxyribonucleic)
Desoxirribonucleico means “deoxyribonucleic.” DNA is ADN in Spanish, short for ácido desoxirribonucleico (deoxyribonucleic acid). Say the letters a, de, ene.
Try to pronounce it: Desoxirribonucleico
5. Paralelepípedo (Parallelepiped, geometry vocabulary)
A paralelepípedo is a solid with six faces, each a parallelogram. A rectangular prism is one example, but the faces do not all have to be rectangles.
Try to pronounce it: Paralelepípedo
6. Ovovivíparo (Ovoviviparous)
This adjective describes an animal whose eggs remain inside the female’s reproductive tract until the embryos are well developed. It has several vs to practise.
Try it! Remember that in Spanish, the pronunciation of B and V is the same.
Try to pronounce it: Ovovivíparo
7. Electroencefalografista (Electroencephalographer)
A person who specializes in electroencephalography, the recording of electrical activity in the brain. The word does not necessarily mean a medical doctor.
Try to pronounce it: Electroencefalografista
8. Hipopotomonstrosesquipedaliofobia
A playful label for a fear of long words. Treat it as a wordplay challenge, rather than everyday Spanish vocabulary.
Try to pronounce it: Hipopotomonstrosesquipedaliofobia
9. Supercalifragilisticoespialidoso (Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious)
An invented word from the Spanish version of Mary Poppins. It is a song word, not ordinary vocabulary. The song includes these lines:
Try it out!
Supercalifragilisticoespialidoso
Aunque suene extravagante, raro y espantoso
Si lo dice con soltura sonará armonioso
Supercalifragilisticoespialidoso
10. Bonus: an English word, not a Spanish vocabulary item
Pneumonoultramicroscopicsilicovolcanoconiosis is an artificially constructed English word, often cited for its length. Do not learn this spelling as standard Spanish or assume that pronouncing it with Spanish sounds makes it a Spanish word. The established Spanish word silicosis refers to the lung disease caused by inhaling silica dust.
Conclusion
I’m sure you did great! If you are keen to learn to pronounce difficult words in Spanish, try this Spanish tongue twister:
El perro de San Roque no tiene rabo porque Ramón Ramírez se lo ha cortado (Saint Roch’s dog doesn’t have a tail because Ramón Ramírez cut it off.)
