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- SPAIN -
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HOW TO PRONOUNCE SPANISH VOWELS
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a
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as in cat |
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e
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as in get |
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i
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as in feet |
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o
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as in clock |
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u
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as in drew |
HOW TO PRONOUNCE SPANISH CONSONANTS
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b
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like 'b' in
"bed": boca |
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c
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when followed by
'e' or 'i', like 'c' in "cell" (Latin America) or 'th' in
"thin" (Spain): cine; otherwise like 'k' in
"kid": calle, doctor |
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ch
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like 'ch' in
"touch": muchacho |
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d
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like 'd' in
"dog": dedo |
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f
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like 'f' in
"fine": faro |
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g
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when followed by
'e' or 'i', like 'ch' in "loch" (general =
hai-nai-RAHL), otherwise like "g" in "go" (gato).
In the clusters "gue" and "gui", the "u" is
silent (guitarra), unless it bears a diaeresis, as in "güe"
and "güi" (pedigüeño) |
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gu, gü
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like 'Gu' in
McGuire or 'w' in "wire" (agua, agüita) |
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h
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silent: hora |
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j
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like 'ch' in
"loch": jabón |
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k
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like 'c' in
"cat": kilo |
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l
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like 'l' in
"love": lápiz |
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ll
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like 'y' in
"yield" (Latin America) or the 'ly' sound in "million"
(Spain): lluvia |
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m
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like 'm' in
"mother": mano |
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n
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like 'n' in
"nice", and like 'n' in "anchor": noche, ancla |
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ñ
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like 'ny' in
"canyon": cañón, piñata |
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p
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like 'p' in
"pig": perro |
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q
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like 'q' in
"quiche" (always with a silent "u"): queso,
pronounced KAY-so |
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r, rr
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Spanish has two
"r" sounds which are very different form their counterparts in
most languages, and certainly very different from the English. As a result
most English speakers lisp their r's when they come to Spanish. However,
if you use your native pronunciation it's unlikely that people understand cerro
(hill) when youn meant cero (zero), and they may not understand
you at all
Single flap r (ere): Always written
"r", and never occurs at the beginning of the word, this sound
is created by putting the tip of the tongue up against where the front of
the roof of the mouth meets the upper teeth, very similar to the action
English speakers make to pronounce l or t. This is not widely taught but
can be practised by anyone. Particular care should be taken when r appears
after a consonant, eg in the word otro (other). tr is a particular sound
in English, which if you use in Spanish will be an incomprehensible list.
One must separate the two sounds out, as in wha(t) (r) rubbish, clicking
the r properly
Rolled r (erre)
Written "r" at the beginning of the word, or after
"l", "n", or "s" (ropa, enredo).
Written "rr" between vowels (cerro). It's a multiply
vibrating sound. Whereas all English can learn to tap out a single r it
seems that many adult non-Spanish speakers simply do not have the ability
to vibrate the tongue in the way needed to pronounce rr |
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s
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like 'ss' in
"hiss": sopa |
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t
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like 't' in
"top": tapa |
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v
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like 'b' in
"bed": vaca, pronounced BAH-kah |
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w
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like 'w' in
"weight" in English words, whisky (pronounced WEESS-kee).
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x
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like 'x' in
"sex" (sexo). Like 'ss' in "hiss" at
beginning of a word (xilófono). Like 'ch' in "loch" in
the words México, mexicano, Oaxaca, and oaxaqueño |
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y
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like 'y' in
"yes": payaso. Like 'y' in "boy": hoy |
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z
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like 's' in
"supper" (Latin America), like 'th' in "thin" (Spain):
zorro. See c above |
HOW TO PRONOUNCE SPANISH DIPHTHONGS (gliding vowels)
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ai, ay
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like 'eye': baile |
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au
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like 'ow' in
'cow': causa |
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ei, ey
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like 'ay' in
"say": reina, rey |
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eu
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like 'yu' in
"euro" |
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ia
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like 'ya' in
'Kenya': piano |
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ie
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like 'ye' in
"yes": pie |
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io
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like 'yo': dio |
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iu
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like 'ew' in few:
ciudad |
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oi, oy
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like 'oy' in
"boy": soy |
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ou
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like 'ou' in
"though" - Present only in foreign words: show |
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ua
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like 'wa' in
"wallet": cuatro |
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ue
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like 'we' in
"well": puedo |
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ui, uy
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like 'wi' in
"winter": ruido |
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ui
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like 'ooy': cuido |
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uo
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like
"wa" in "water": averiguo |
 Free Spanish Language Lesson Home
Pronunciation |
Basics |
Numbers |
Telling the Time |
Days of the Week / Months |
Colors
Weather |
Food / at the Restaurant |
Asking for Directions |
At the Hotel / Accommodation |
Shopping
copyright / credits
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