Accents and Pronunciation

Pronunciation

Spanish is one of the easiest languages in the world to learn. This is because it is very consistent. To see how consistent it is, try these English words first:

Bough

Cough

Dough

Enough

Though

Through

Thought

Rules

There is a set of (again, very consistent) rules that tell you how to pronounce words in Spanish. As you become more and more comfortable with Spanish, you will pick up these rules naturally.

Right now, there are a few basic things that you must be able to say correctly in order to ensure that a Spanish speaker understands you.

Vowels

Each vowel in Spanish has ONE sound. Period. It does not matter where it is in a word. It is the same sound. (Written accents don’t change the sound—they just tell you where the stressed syllable is.)

Agradable

Dramática

Trabajadora

Vowels

Each vowel in Spanish has ONE sound. Period. It does not matter where it is in a word. It is the same sound. (Written accents don’t change the sound—they just tell you where the stressed syllable is.)

Detective

Elegante

Semejante

Vowels

Each vowel in Spanish has ONE sound. Period. It does not matter where it is in a word. It is the same sound. (Written accents don’t change the sound—they just tell you where the stressed syllable is.)

Difícil

Iniciar

Similar

Vowels

Each vowel in Spanish has ONE sound. Period. It does not matter where it is in a word. It is the same sound. (Written accents don’t change the sound—they just tell you where the stressed syllable is.)

Coordinar

Microondas

Obsoleto

Vowels

Each vowel in Spanish has ONE sound. Period. It does not matter where it is in a word. It is the same sound. (Written accents don’t change the sound—they just tell you where the stressed syllable is.)

Humano

Jugo

Universidad

*If an unaccented ‘u’ follows a ‘g’ or ‘q’, don’t pronounce it. The ‘u’ is considered one unit with the ‘q’ or ‘g’.

GuisantesPorque

Consonants

Most consonants in Spanish sound like English. There are some subtle differences that are not critical, and you will pick those up the more you are exposed to native speakers. Here are the sounds that you must be able to distinguish from English in order to get your point across.

G

Before a/o/u, the ‘g’ has a harder sound:

Ganar Mago Gustar

Before e/i, the ‘g’ sounds like an ‘h’ in English:

General Girar

H

The ‘h’ in Spanish is silent. Always. Just don’t say it. Ever. Cross it out on your paper if you have to. Pretend that it’s not there.

Hermano Huir Ahogar Rehusar

J

The ‘j’ sounds like an ‘h’ in English, no matter what follows it. Any time that you are confused about the sound, just remember:

Jalapeño Fajitas Videojuegos

LL

The ‘ll’ has a variety of sounds depending on where someone is from. Just remember not to say it as the single ‘l’ in English.

Amarillo Calle Llamar Pollo

PrácticaWhen you get the talking piece, say the

word that’s on the screen.

teatro

usted

madurez

húmedo

héroe

Jalisco

Guadalajara

biología(bi-o-lo-gí-a)

geología(ge-o-lo-gí-a)

geometría(ge-o-me-trí-a)

hielo

especialización(es-pe-cia-li-za-ción)

Quijote

refrigerador

callar

hallar