How to pronounce “río”
Hear how “río (river)” sounds in Spanish, then read the breakdown below.
Accent
Breakdown
| Meaning | river |
|---|
| Syllables | rí · o (2) |
|---|
| Stress | The written accent marks the stress: RÍ. |
|---|
| IPA | /ˈri.o/ |
|---|
Tips for English speakers
Common mistake: Two syllables with a rolled r: RREE-oh.
- The r at the start of a word (or after n, l or s) is rolled: the tip of the tongue flutters against the roof of the mouth.
- The accent on í keeps it in its own syllable, so río has 2 syllables.
- Keep every vowel short and pure: a = "ah", e = "eh", i = "ee", o = "oh", u = "oo". No gliding.
Learn more: Spanish R and RR · Stress and accent marks · Spanish vowels
Example sentences
El río es muy largo.The river is very long.
Nadamos en el río.We swim in the river.
More words
Pronounce any other Spanish word →