Spanish · Pronunciation Guide

How do you pronounce "la primavera" in Spanish?

Q: How do you pronounce la primavera in Spanish?

la primavera is pronounced with the stress described below. In IPA it is written /la pɾi.maˈβe.ɾa/. It means “spring.” lah pree-mah-BEH-rah, four beats — two tapped r's and a soft b.

lah pree-mah-BEH-rah, four beats — two tapped r's and a soft b.

la primavera /la pɾi.maˈβe.ɾa/

Four syllables, pri-ma-VE-ra, with the weight on the second-to-last, following the default rule for a vowel-final word. The plural "primaveras" keeps it. This is the only feminine season in Spanish, which is worth remembering when an adjective follows: "una primavera fría".

Listen: la primavera

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Sound it out

pri An unaspirated p joined to a single tap of the r, then a tight "ee". Keep the p and r distinct.

ma A normal m and a wide-open "ah", unstressed but at full value.

ve A soft b between vowels — lips approaching without meeting — plus a short "eh" carrying the stress.

ra A second single tap and a final wide "ah". Two taps in the word, neither of them trilled.

Hear it in a sentence

En primavera hay muchas flores.

In spring there are lots of flowers.

Listen: En primavera hay muchas flores.

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"En primavera hay muchas flores" drops the article after "en", as with all seasons. "Hay" has a silent h and glides like English "eye". "Muchas" is feminine plural to agree with "flores", which is feminine despite ending in a consonant.

Where English speakers slip

Four syllables is where English reduction bites: speakers crush it into "pri-muh-VAIR-uh". Every vowel here is full — ee, ah, eh, ah. The two r's then get the English curl instead of forward flicks, and the b gets popped when it should be soft. Say each syllable at equal clarity and vary only the volume.