Pronunciation and Spelling of Spanish

Review

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.

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

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

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

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.

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

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

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

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

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

QU

Qu is used before an e or i when a k sound is desired.

Examples: quesadilla, quien, queso

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

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

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

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

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

Stress and Accentuation: Rules

1. Spanish speakers normally stress the last syllable of a word when it ends in any consonant other than n or s. (alrededor, papel, actriz)

2. When the last syllable ends in n, s, or a vowel, the natural stress is on the next-to-last syllable. (resumen, rosas, casa)

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)

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?

Pronunciation Practice with Cognates

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

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

Público Public Puro Pure Calidad Quality Realidad Reality Secreto Secret

Situación Situation Social Social Estado State Símbolo Symbol Uso Use

Exclamations

¡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!