You are a beginner Spanish learner sitting in a café in Madrid with a new friend, Lucía. You see a word on the menu you don't know how to say. You need to ask how it is pronounced, listen carefully, and repeat it back to check. This workshop gives you three role-plays to practise that exact skill. You will use only the phrases from the lesson: asking how a written word is pronounced, asking how to say it, checking if your attempt is right, announcing that you are repeating it, and asking for a slower repetition when you missed the sound. You will not learn new grammar here; you will practise using these phrases in realistic, slightly unpredictable situations.
Know which question fits the moment
Before you speak, decide what you actually need. If you are looking at a written word and want its sound, use the question that asks how it is pronounced. If you heard a word spoken too quickly and missed it, that is a different situation: ask the person to repeat it, or simply say the short question that means 'what?'. Do not mix them up. In this workshop, every exercise starts with a written word, so you will use the pronunciation question or the 'how do you say' question. When the other person gives you the sound, you will repeat the word back and use the phrase that asks for a yes-or-no confirmation, or the phrase that announces 'I'll repeat it: is it right?'. If the sound comes too fast, you will ask for a slower repetition. Keep these four moves separate: ask about a written word, listen, repeat back, confirm. That sequence is the core of this skill.
When the sound is hard to catch
The hardest moment is when the other person says the word quickly and you cannot separate the sounds. You might feel tempted to nod and pretend you understood. Instead, use the phrase that asks for a slower repetition. Say it calmly and then wait. When they repeat it slowly, say the word back and ask if it is right. If you still are not sure, repeat the word again with a rising intonation, like a question, to invite a simple yes or no. Do not worry about perfect accuracy; the goal is to show you are trying and to get clear feedback. If the person gives you a regional variant, accept it as one valid way and repeat it back. The key is to keep the exchange going until you feel you can say the word with reasonable confidence.
Listen once, then say the phrase yourself. Slow playback keeps the original pitch.
Checking available voices…
¿Cómo se pronuncia esta palabra?
How is this word pronounced?
KOH-moh seh pro-noon-SEE-ah ES-tah pah-LAH-brah
¿Cómo se dice esta palabra?
How do you say this word?
KOH-moh seh DEE-seh ES-tah pah-LAH-brah
¿Se pronuncia así?
Is it pronounced like this?
seh pro-noon-SEE-ah ah-SEE
Repito: ¿está bien?
I'll repeat it: is it right?
reh-PEE-toh es-TAH byehn
Read one side aloud, then answer in your own words. The goal is to make the exchange yours.
¿Cómo se pronuncia esta palabra?
How is this word pronounced?Se pronuncia 'llave'.
It's pronounced 'llave'.Repito: ¿llave? ¿Está bien?
I'll repeat: 'llave'? Is that right?Sí, muy bien.
Yes, very good.Your turn
Try each prompt out loud. Choose a guided start, the full sequence, or a challenge pass after your first attempt.
At the café with a new word
You are at a café in Madrid with your friend Lucía. On the menu you see the word 'gente' and you are not sure how to say it. Lucía is sitting across from you, and you have a pen and paper.
Your task: Say aloud the question that asks how 'gente' is pronounced. Then, after Lucía says it, repeat the word back and use the phrase that asks if it is right. You must communicate: (1) that you are asking about the written word 'gente', (2) that you are repeating it back, and (3) that you want confirmation.
At the language exchange
You are at a language exchange in Mexico City. A new acquaintance, Mateo, is helping you with pronunciation. You see the word 'llave' written on a card. You are not sure how it is said here, so you will ask and then check your attempt.
Your task: Ask Mateo how 'llave' is pronounced. When he answers, repeat the word back using the phrase that announces you are repeating it and asks if it is right. You must communicate that you are checking your pronunciation, not asking for the meaning.
At the market with a vendor
You are at a market in Oaxaca, Mexico. You see a sign with the word 'elote'. You want to buy one, but you are not sure how to say it. The vendor, Señora Ruiz, is friendly and speaks clearly.
Your task: Ask Señora Ruiz how 'elote' is pronounced. After she says it, repeat it back and use the confirmation question. Then, if she says it is correct, say the word again on its own to show you have learned it. You must communicate that you are learning the word to use it, not just asking for fun.
Common questions
What if I forget the exact phrase for asking how a word is pronounced?
You can use the 'how do you say' question instead. It is very common in Latin America and works the same way in practice. The key is to point to the written word or say it, so the other person knows which word you mean.
Should I use the polite form or the informal form with strangers?
The pronunciation question itself is impersonal, so it works with anyone. When you ask for a slower repetition, use the polite source phrase, which is safe with strangers. With friends, use the source phrase rather than inventing an informal variant.
Sources and further reading
- spanish: asking how to pronounce a wordChecked September 2026
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