How to pronounce “tío”
Hear how “tío (uncle)” sounds in Spanish, then read the breakdown below.
Accent
Breakdown
| Meaning | uncle |
|---|
| Syllables | tí · o (2) |
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| Stress | The written accent marks the stress: TÍ. |
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| IPA | /ˈti.o/ |
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Tips for English speakers
Common mistake: Two syllables, not one: TEE-oh.
- The accent on í keeps it in its own syllable, so tío has 2 syllables.
- Keep every vowel short and pure: a = "ah", e = "eh", i = "ee", o = "oh", u = "oo". No gliding.
Learn more: Stress and accent marks · Spanish vowels
Example sentences
Mi tío vive en Chicago.My uncle lives in Chicago.
Tengo tres tíos.I have three uncles.
More words
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