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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