Spanish · Pronunciation Guide

How do you pronounce "pero" in Spanish?

Q: How do you pronounce pero in Spanish?

pero is pronounced with the stress described below. In IPA it is written /ˈpe.ɾo/. It means “but.” PEH-roh — a single tapped r, which is what keeps it apart from "perro" (dog).

PEH-roh — a single tapped r, which is what keeps it apart from "perro" (dog).

pero /ˈpe.ɾo/

Two syllables: PE-ro, stressed on the first, straight from the default rule for a vowel-final word. This is the textbook minimal pair for the Spanish r contrast: "pero" with a tap means but, "perro" with a trill means dog. Nothing but the length of that one consonant separates them.

Listen: pero

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Sound it out

pe A p with no puff of air, then a short "eh" as in "bed" carrying the stress. Hold a palm to your mouth: nothing should move.

ro A single quick tap of the tongue tip against the ridge behind the upper teeth, then a pure "oh". One flick only — a trill here would turn this word into an animal.

Hear it in a sentence

Es bonito, pero pequeño.

It's nice, but small.

Listen: Es bonito, pero pequeño.

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"Es bonito, pero pequeño" uses the conjunction to link two adjectives, and both of them end in the same pure "oh" that English wants to reduce. "Pequeño" has a silent u after its q and an ñ that must be one fused sound. Say the sentence and you get three unaspirated p's in a row.

Where English speakers slip

English speakers use their own r, which bunches the tongue backward, and the result sits ambiguously between "pero" and "perro" — neither clearly one nor the other. A single forward flick fixes it. The p also wants an English puff. And in writing, dropping or doubling that r is a mistake that changes the sentence completely.