Sound contrast · Mexican Spanish; starter contrasts also occur widely elsewhere
Spanish /e/ vs /o//e/ versus /o/
Diagnostic coverage: compare front/back categories when learner results suggest a need. This is an editorial screening priority, not a published ranking.
Practice these sounds/e/
A close-mid, unrounded vowel
A front vowel without rounded lips. Compare it with the other complete vowel.
As inmesa
/o/
A close-mid, rounded vowel
A rounded vowel made toward the back of the mouth.
As incosa
WHAT TO LISTEN FOR
A small change.
A different word.
Diagnostic coverage: compare front/back categories when learner results suggest a need. This is an editorial screening priority, not a published ranking.
Listen for the target sound in each word.
Sound examples
Tap to hear each wordmesa
/ˈmesa/tablepena
/ˈpena/sorrow or regrettela
/ˈtela/clothtema
/ˈtema/topicpelo
/ˈpelo/hairpeso
/ˈpeso/weightdedo
/ˈdedo/fingercosa
/ˈkosa/thingsopa
/ˈsopa/soupcopa
/ˈkopa/drinking glassropa
/ˈropa/clothespolo
/ˈpolo/pole, such as a magnetic poletomo
/ˈtomo/volume of a bookmono
/ˈmono/monkey14 words. Words stay hidden during practice unless you choose to reveal them.