As I want to learn more Spanish words, I was reading one of my Spanish story books that I brought home from Mexico. They are really for native Spanish speaking children, but the level is fine for me, there are a few pictures inside, and the font size is much bigger! So I decided to buy 3 of them!
It was in one of these books where I saw this word. I immediately thought “That looks like it’s made up, that can’t be real!”
So I looked it up and yes, it is actually quite real!
….ronronear…
This means ‘to purr’ in Spanish. I was reading a short story about a black cat and this word crept up a few times.
I don’t know why it’s weird, it’s just how it’s written and how it is pronounced. It just doesn’t sound like a ‘normal’ Spanish word!
Incidentally, this is one word that I can’t say either! There is only a slight roll of the tongue when pronouncing the ‘r’s and I just can’t seem to get my tongue back in the right position to say the second ‘r’!
Before I used to have trouble saying ‘euro’. The ‘EUro’ sound is different to the way you say it in English and I just couldn’t get it right! However after practicing I can say it ok now!
The rolling ‘R’s are usually fine however I do trip up on them sometimes, especially when I speak too fast.
But this word I just can’t say. I tried and tried and my husband was also trying to teach me how to say it but I’m just not getting it! It’s not exactly a really important word to say so I’m not overly concerned about it!
I wonder will I find some other weird sounding words the next time I read my books!
Aisling