Spanish Pronunciation - Lesson 1

The Spanish language has a crisp and detailed sound but its quite straightforward (and consistent) with only few pure vowel sounds (Most notably the rolled R). In addition, Spanish is spelt exactly as it sounds so that should make your life a bit easier. A general rule of thumb would be to put more effort into Spanish Pronunciation than you would in English.

Basic Rules of Accentuation

1. For words ending in a consonant other than n or s stress falls on the last syllable.
2. Words ending in a vowel, or n or s, the next to last syllable is stressed.
3. If the word has an accent mark, then that syllable is stressed, ignoring the rules above.

Spanish Consonants

1. B and V - In Spanish, the b and the v are phonetically identical. At the beginning of a breath-group (or after m or n) the sound is that of a weakly pronounced English b (for example: bien, verde) In other places, particularly between vowels.
2. C has two Pronunciations: C before e and i, and z in all positions, are pronounced like the English hissed s in sent in. C before all other letters, k and qu are like English c in cat. (For example: casa)
3. ch is pronounced like English ch in church: mucho leche chocolate.
4. G before e and i, and j in all positions, have no English equivalent. They are pronounced approximately like a strongly exaggerated h in halt (For example: gente hijo Jorge región)
g in other positions and gu before e and i are pronounced like a weak English g (For example: gracias guitarra)
5. h is always silent: hablar hasta hoy.
6. ll is pronounced like y in yes in most of Spanish America and in some sections of Spain (For example: Calle sounds like Ca-ye). in Argentina it sounds like the “Sh” in English. (For example: calle is sounds like Ca-she”.
7. ñ is somewhat like the English “ny” in canyon. (For example: señor mañana español)
8. Q (always written with u) and it sounds like English K.
9. R and rr represent two different sounds. Single r, except at the beginning of a word, or after l, n, or s, is pronounced the same as in English with a single tap produced by the tip of the tongue against the gums of the upper teeth. In other cases it is rolled as for RR.
10 . Z is pronounced as an S.

Spanish Vowels
A = pronounced like the “A” in the word father
E = pronounced like the “E” in the word café
I = pronounced like the “I” in the word machine
O = pronounced as a short and very pure “O” (in the front of the mouth), as in the “word” obey.
U = pronounced similarly to the “OO” in the word cool, but is more pure and sharp.
[Y = pronounced the same as the Spanish I]

Lastly, if you want to practice speaking Spanish like a Spanish pro, try to use the front of your tongue when saying Spanish words. (English speakers use the back of their mouth all the time to pronounce words)

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