Minimal pair · Mexican Spanish; starter contrasts also occur widely elsewhere
Spanish /p/ vs /b/Peso or beso?
Learn to hear the difference between p and b in Spanish words.
Practice these sounds/p/
An unvoiced lip closure
The lips close briefly and release. Listen to the opening consonant in the reference variety used here.
As inpeso
/b/
A voiced lip closure
A brief stop made with the lips. Its natural realization depends on the language and sound context.
As inbeso
WHAT TO LISTEN FOR
A small change.
A different word.
Peso/beso, pata/bata and pala/bala change the first consonant. These examples are designed as isolated words beginning after a pause.
Listen for the target sound in each word.
A common trap
Spanish b may become an approximant between vowels in connected speech. An English-style b description does not cover every context.
Sound examples
Tap to hear each wordpeso
/ˈpeso/weight; pesopata
/ˈpata/animal leg; pawpala
/ˈpala/shovelpelo
/ˈpelo/hairpiso
/ˈpiso/floorbeso
/ˈbeso/kissbata
/ˈbata/robebala
/ˈbala/bulletboca
/ˈboka/mouthbota
/ˈbota/boot10 words. Words stay hidden during practice unless you choose to reveal them.