Pronunciation and Spelling of Spanish

1. Pronunciation and Spelling of Spanish Review

2. Spelling in Spanish vs. English • Spanish is very consistent in its spelling and pronunciation rules unlike English. • Spanish is a phonetic language, therefore the spelling is quite predictable and easier than in English.

3. Consonants • Consonants in Spanish are generally pronounced like they are in English, with some notable exceptions. • The following letters are pronounced in Spanish as they are in English: f, k (not used in words of Spanish origin), l, m, n, p, s, w (not used in words of Spanish origin), x

4. B and V • The letters b and v sound the same in Spanish. The sound is a combination of bv: start by making the b sound, and slur into the v sound at the last second. • Native speakers tend to confuse b and v when spelling words. • Examples: vamos, vemos, beso

5. C • The pronunciation of the letter c is determined by the vowel that follows it. • The letter c is pronounced like a k when it is followed by an o, a, or u. • Examples: casa, cosa, curioso • The letter c is pronounced like an s when it is followed by e or i. • Examples: ceremonia, ciencia • The letter c is pronounced like th before e and i in parts of Spain. • The letter combination ch is pronounced as it is in English. • The double c, cc, is used to produce the k or x sound. • Example: diccionario

6. D • The letter d is a bit softer in Spanish, but will not be stressed at the end of the word as it is in English. • Example: Say Madrid without the d at the end and you’ll sound like a native.

7. G • The pronunciation of the letter g is similar in English and Spanish. • A g that is followed by o, a or u is a hard g. • Examples: gas, go, gun / gala, gobierno, gusta • A g that is followed by e or i is a soft g, pronounced like an h. • Examples: geografía, gimnasio

8. G • When a hard g sound is required before an e or an i, a u is placed between the letters in order to maintain the sound. • Examples: guitarra, guerra • Avoid making a gwee or gway sound when the u is used. When gwee or gway sound is desired, an umlaut is used. • Example: bilingüe

9. H and J • The letter h is always silent. • Examples: hora, hola, hasta • The letter j is pronounced like the h in “hello” or “happy.” • Examples: jamón, Japón

10. LL • Ll is pronounced like the consonant y in “yes.” • In some countries, the letter ll is pronounced like a combination of the sound of sh and the letter j in English. • Examples: ella, llama, llave

11. Ñ • The Spanish letter ñ is pronounced like ni or ny in English. The squiggle in the n is called a tilde. • Examples: Hispaniola / Hispañola

12. QU • Qu is used before an e or i when a k sound is desired. • Examples: quesadilla, quien, queso

13. R • A single r within a word is pronounced as a lightly trilled r. • Examples: aroma, era • An r at the beginning of the word or an rr within the word is rolled. • Examples: Puerto Rico, puertorriqueño, horror, Rosa

14. T • Similar to English but softer, the t is especially soft when followed by an r. The sound of the tr in triple would be more like a tl sound in Spanish. • Example: tratar

15. Vowels • Vowels are easy to pronounce in Spanish. Each vowel has only one way to be pronounced and it will be pronounced that way in every word. • There are no silent vowels in Spanish as there are in English, but some vowels will slur together to form one sound. • a and o as in taco • u and i as in burrito • e as in café • y by itself as in penny

16. Diphthongs: Strong vowel first • The strong vowels are a, e, and o. • When 2 strong vowels are used together, the result is 2 separate syllables with both vowels strongly pronounced. • When a strong vowel is used beside a weak vowel, the resulting vowel is a slur of the two vowels, called a diphthong. • Ai, ay= English example: ice, Spanish: bailáis • Ei, ey= English example: vein, Spanish: veinte, rey • Oi, oy= English example: joy, Spanish: soy, oigo • Au= English example: cow, Spanish: auto, ausente

17. Diphthongs: Weak vowel first • The weak vowels are i and u. • When used with a strong vowel, the last one is stressed. • U creates a sound like an English w. • Examples: agua, bueno • I creates a sound like the consonant y. • Examples: bien, tienes

18. Stress and Accentuation: Rules • Spanish speakers normally stress the last syllable of a word when it ends in any consonant other than n or s. (alrededor, papel, actriz) • When the last syllable ends in n, s, or a vowel, the natural stress is on the next-to-last syllable. (resumen, rosas, casa)

19. The Accent Mark • Some words do not follow rules 1 or 2. In these cases, a mark over the vowel indicates where the stress is to be placed. • Examples: lámpara, lápiz, detrás, reunión • The accent mark also distinguishes meanings between words that otherwise have the same spelling. • Examples: el (the) v. él (he)

20. The Accent Mark • The accent mark also causes i and u to be pronounced apart from the vowel near them, breaking up the diphthong or semi consonant. • Examples: país, policía, aún • The accent mark appears on the stressed vowel of every interrogative word. • Examples: ¿Cuál? ¿Dónde?

21. Aceptar To accept Acción Action Banco Bank Básico Basic Base Basis Causa Cause Carácter Character Condición Condition Diferencía Difference Doble Double Pronunciation Practice with Cognates

22. Error Error Excepción Exception Favor Favor Humano(a) Human Línea Line Oportunidad Opportunity Popular Popular Posible Possible Probable Probable Problema Problem Pronunciation Practice with Cognates

23. Público Public Puro Pure Calidad Quality Realidad Reality Secreto Secret Situación Situation Social Social Estado State Símbolo Symbol Uso Use Pronunciation Practice with Cognates

24. ¡Aja! Aha! ¡Achís! Achoo! ¡Bú! Boo! ¡Buuah! Boo-hoo! ¡Ja ja! Ha ha! ¡Alto! Halt! ¡Aló! Hello! ¡Jo jo! Ho ho ho! ¡Yupi! Whoopee! Yippee! ¡Ñam ñam! Yum yum! Exclamations