Minimal pair · Mexican Spanish; starter contrasts also occur widely elsewhere
Spanish /a/ vs /e//a/ versus /e/
Learn to hear the difference between a and e in Spanish words.
Practice these sounds/a/
The a category
Listen for the target sound in each word.
As inmasa
/e/
A close-mid, unrounded vowel
A front vowel without rounded lips. Compare it with the other complete vowel.
As inmesa
WHAT TO LISTEN FOR
A small change.
A different word.
Learn to hear the difference between a and e in Spanish words.
Listen for the target sound in each word.
Sound examples
Tap to hear each wordmasa
/ˈmasa/doughpala
/ˈpala/shovelcasa
/ˈkasa/housecama
/ˈkama/bedpalo
/ˈpalo/stickpato
/ˈpato/duckmano
/ˈmano/handmesa
/ˈmesa/tablepena
/ˈpena/sorrow or regrettela
/ˈtela/clothtema
/ˈtema/topicpelo
/ˈpelo/hairpeso
/ˈpeso/weightdedo
/ˈdedo/finger14 words. Words stay hidden during practice unless you choose to reveal them.