Module 2: Tun-tu-ru-run – Louisiana Spanish Vowel Practice
Louisiana Décima Project  ·  Learn Isleño Spanish
Module 2

Tun-tu-ru-run, tu-ru-run, tuntero

Pronouncing the Vowels: a, e, i, o, u — A Trabalenguas

In this module, you'll listen to a traditional Louisiana décima about Titico, sing along with both songs to practice Spanish vowel sounds, drill the Isleño vocabulary before the second song, and record yourself singing to submit to your instructor.

Your progress — Module 2

0 of 5 activities complete

✓ Listen to the "Décima de Titico" and read the story in English
✓ Sing along with the chorus using each vowel (a, e, i, o, u)
✓ Listen to and practice pronouncing the vocabulary words
✓ Listen to and sing along with "Allegar a la Louisiana"
✓ Record yourself singing and submit your best take
Activity 1
Listen to the "Décima de Titico"

Read the story summary below, then listen to Irvan Pérez perform the décima.

Story Summary

Irvan Pérez describes how Titico didn't like to work too much and was known around town for having sticky fingers.

Even though Titico would bring extra biscuits home with him after having breakfast at his friends' houses — or take duck decoys that hunters left out overnight — people knew that's just how Titico was, and they tolerated him.

In the song, some stanzas are sung from Titico's point of view, while other stanzas are sung by friends giving advice about how Titico could make a living, as well as describing his habits of taking things he liked.

Song recording "Décima de Titico" — Irvan Pérez Louisiana Décima Project · Samuel G. Armistead, interviewer¹
Activity 2
Sing Along — Chorus with Each Vowel

The chorus is sung five times — once for each vowel. Listen to the recording, then select a vowel tab to see its lyrics with the vowel sounds highlighted and press Sing along to follow line by line. Note: bujero is a Louisiana Spanish variation of agujero (hole).

Song recording "Décima de Titico" — chorus Listen first, then sing along using the tabs below
A Tan-ta-ra-ran, ta-ra-ran, tantero
A Tan-ta-ra-ran, ta-ra-ran, tantero
A Tan-ta-ra-ran, ta-ra-ran, tantero
· La casa Titico 'stá llena de bujero'
Each line highlights as you sing
E Ten-te-re-ren, te-re-ren, tentero
E Ten-te-re-ren, te-re-ren, tentero
E Ten-te-re-ren, te-re-ren, tentero
· La casa Titico 'stá llena de bujero'
Each line highlights as you sing
I Tin-ti-ri-rin, ti-ri-rin, tintero
I Tin-ti-ri-rin, ti-ri-rin, tintero
I Tin-ti-ri-rin, ti-ri-rin, tintero
· La casa Titico 'stá llena de bujer o'
Each line highlights as you sing
O Ton-to-ro-ron, to-ro-ron, tontero
O Ton-to-ro-ron, to-ro-ron, tontero
O Ton-to-ro-ron, to-ro-ron, tontero
· La casa Titico 'stá llena de bujero'
Each line highlights as you sing
U Tun-tu-ru-run, tu-ru-run, tuntero
U Tun-tu-ru-run, tu-ru-run, tuntero
U Tun-tu-ru-run, tu-ru-run, tuntero
· La casa Titico 'stá llena de bujero'
Each line highlights as you sing
Activity 3
Practice the Vocabulary Words

These Louisiana Spanish words appear in "Allegar a la Louisiana." Listen to each word pronounced before you sing the song. Click the play button next to each word to hear it.

📖  Full pronunciation glossary Coming soon — link will open here when ready

▸ Audio pronunciation files coming soon — upload files to activate each play button.

aeroplano = avión airplane
alegresía = alegría happiness
allegar = llegar to arrive
cipre = ciprés cypress tree
chipiá = llovizna drizzle
colté = lugar place
engoruñada = desarreglado disheveled
entuavía = todavía yet, still
ruruquiento = ruido, ruidoso noise / noisy
vamo palantre = vamos para adelante let's continue on
Activity 4
Sing "Allegar a la Louisiana"

Listen to the song, then sing along using the lyrics below. Each stanza features one vowel — listen for the Isleño words you just practiced. The last line of each stanza signals the transition to the next vowel.

Song recording Allegar a la Louisiana Sung to the tune of "Décima de Titico"
Lyrics — Allegar a la Louisiana
A E I O U
Vowel A Alegresía en el aeroplano Alegresía en el aeroplano Alegresía en el aeroplano Vamo palantre, a la vocal e e e
Vowel E Entuavía estaba engoruñada Entuavía estaba engoruñada Entuavía estaba engoruñada Vamo palantre, a la vocal i i i
Vowel I Inició chipiá en el cipre Inició chipiá en el cipre Inició chipiá en el cipre Vamo palantre, a la vocal o o o
Vowel O Oasis curioso que nombro mi colté Oasis curioso que nombro mi colté Oasis curioso que nombro mi colté Vamo palantre, a la vocal u u u
Vowel U Allegar hubo mucho ruruquiento Allegar hubo mucho ruruquiento Allegar hubo mucho ruruquiento Ya practicamos a, e, i, o, u
Stanza 1 of 5
Activity 5
Record Your Singing

Choose one of the songs to record yourself singing. You can make multiple takes, replay each one, star your favorite, and submit your best recording to your instructor.

Recording studio Décima de Titico — chorus

Press Record to start. Sing the full song or just the chorus — whichever you prefer. When you're done, press Stop. Replay your take, then record again if you'd like. Star ★ your best take before submitting.

Microphone access was denied. Please allow microphone access in your browser settings and reload the page.
Décima de Titico — chorus (all five vowels)
A Tan-ta-ra-ran, ta-ra-ran, tantero × 3 La casa Titico 'stá llena de bujero'
E Ten-te-re-ren, te-re-ren, tentero × 3 La casa Titico 'stá llena de bujero'
I Tin-ti-ri-rin, ti-ri-rin, tintero × 3 La casa Titico 'stá llena de bujero'
O Ton-to-ro-ron, to-ro-ron, tontero × 3 La casa Titico 'stá llena de bujero'
U Tun-tu-ru-run, tu-ru-run, tuntero × 3 La casa Titico 'stá llena de bujero'
Allegar a la Louisiana
A Alegresía en el aeroplano × 3 → Vamo palantre, a la vocal e e e
E Entuavía estaba engoruñada × 3 → Vamo palantre, a la vocal i i i
I Inició chipiá en el cipre × 3 → Vamo palantre, a la vocal o o o
O Oasis curioso que nombro mi colté × 3 → Vamo palantre, a la vocal u u u
U Allegar hubo mucho ruruquiento × 3 ✓ Ya practicamos a, e, i, o, u

Your recordings stay in your browser — nothing is sent until you submit.

No recordings yet — press Record to start.

Submit your best take

Star ★ your favorite take above, then fill in your name and submit.

Your starred take will download for you to attach to your email
Your submission is on its way — thank you!
Module 2 of 4
Louisiana Décima Project

¹ Armistead, Samuel G., 1927–2013 (Interviewer) and Pérez, Irvan (Interviewee), "La 13.2: Irvan Pérez," The Louisiana Décima Project, accessed September 18, 2025, https://ldp.reclaim.hosting/items/show/6.
² John M Lipski, The Language of the Isleños. Vestigial Spanish in Louisiana. Baton Rouge, LA: Louisiana State University Press, 1990.
³ Raymond R. MacCurdy, Los <<Isleños>> de la Luisiana. Madrid – Las Palmas: Patronato de la <<Casa de Colón>>. Anuario de Estudios Atlánticos, 1975.