37 Vowel linkings or how really to sing fast
Key to sing along in Spanish is the concept of vowel linking. When you try to sing along, you may feel that the artist goes ahead of you , and it’s not necessarily that the beat to fast. You may slow it down and still feel behind. The reason will most likely be the vowel linking.
A vowel linking happens in Spanish (not in English) when a word ENDS in a vowel and the next words begins in a vowel too. Vowels then collapse together as a single fast thing.
To catch a vowel linking, check the words that end in a pronounced vowel, and see if the next word in the same line starts in a pronounced vowel too. If this is the case, those vowels are most likely going to collapse. For example, “A ella le gusta la gasolina” should sound [ae-ja-le-gus-ta-la-ga-so-li-na] and Cómo le encanta la gasolina which should sound [ko-mo-len-kan-ta-la-ga-so-li-na]. Since there’s two Es together, it sounds as a single E.
En español, hay un nombre poético para los vowel linkings y es sinalefa. In “Yasuri Yamileth”, hay sinalefa en: “mi nombre es”, “te dejo una Y”, “que no es de YEYE” “Ella es”, “La discoteca es”.
Some key points to vowel linkings:
- Two vowels of the same sound become a single vowel: “Mi nombre es” turns into /mi-nóm-bres/
- The vowel “i” turns into /y/ and “o” into /w/ when they are in a vowel linking: “da igual”, “tú eres” (in “Hola” de Wisin y Yandel)
- Sometimes the E (=eh) turns into something like the English /y/ and the O (short /oh/) turns into /w/ when starting the linking: En la canción de Wisin y Yandell hay sinalefa en “¿cómo estás?”, and people often pronunce it that way: /kó-mwes-tás/.
- The H is not pronounced, so that should count as a vowel: “me ha dolido tu partida” (mya-do-lí-do-tu-par-tí-da). Words like HE=I’ve and HA=he’s/he has/she’s/she has sound really short in the songs.
- Vowel linking not only applies to music but to any pronunciation in Spanish. At least someone is trying to pronounce really slowly, the speaker is going to link the vowels whenever possible. Native speakers of Spanish don’t notice they speak like that.
Sample activity:
Underly the vowel linkings in the following excerpts, then recite it out loud to demonstrate the vowel linkings.
Ella es Yasuri, Yasuri Yamileth
She is Yasuri, Yasuri Yamileth
Te metes con ella, te saca la Gillete
(You) mess up with her, (she) takes out (to) you the Gillete (razor brand)
Ella es un Yeye, le gusta el Frappe
She is a Yeye, (she) likes the Frappe
Y la discoteca es su Mercedes Benz
And the disco is her Mercedes Benz.
YASURI YAMILET – La Gillete – VIDEO OFICIAL uploaded by P Sater.
A ella le gusta la gasolina
To her likes the fuel (she likes the fuel)
Dame más gasolina!
Give me more fuel!
Cómo le encanta la gasolina
How (to) her really likes the fuel (she really likes the fuel)
Dame más gasolina!
Give me more fuel
Daddy Yankee – Gasolina (Video Oficial)..
Songwriters: Llandel Veguilla Malave, Juan Luna, Vladimir Felix. For non-commercial use only. Adapted from Musixmatch, powered Microsoft Bing.
Wisin y Yandel-Hola uploaded by nessa89250 in 2006
¡Laura!
Hola, ¿cómo estas? Solo necesito oír tu voz un día más
Hello, how are (you)? Just (I) need to hear your voice one day more
Ya yo sé que te da igual, que sin mí puedes estar
lready/Now I know that (it) gives you the same, that without me (you) can be
Ya no aguanto un día más, perdóname
Already/Now (I) don’t stand it one day more. Forgive me.
Tú eres la que me domina, eres la que me da vida
You are the one that dominates me, (You) are the one who gives me life
Laberinto sin salida (Regresa por favor)
Labyrinth without way out (Come back please)
Vagabundo en las esquinas, tú, mi droga preferida
Vagabond in the corners, you, my preferred drug
Me ha dolido tu partida (Regresa por favor)
(To) me (it) has hurt me your departure (Come back please)
Songwriters: Llandel Veguilla Malave, Juan Luna, Vladimir Felix. For non-commercial use only. Adapted from Musixmatch, powered Microsoft Bing.
