- A
-- always pronounced ah, as in father
(Spanish example: gracias)
- E
-- always pronounced as a short e, as in best, ten, dress
(Spanish example: inglés)
- I
--always pronounced ee, as in feet, wheel, bee
(Spanish example si)
- O
--always pronounced as a short o, as in doctor.
(Spanish example: doctor)
- U
--always pronounced oo, as in fool, pool.
(Spanish example: uno)
- B
--Similar to the English 'b' but less plosive; between vowels
it is pronounced very softly so that the lips touch only
slightly.
(Spanish example: bebida)
- C
--As in English, before a, o and u it is pronounced as a
K, as in can
Before e or i the c is pronounced as an s as in cent. In
Spain the C before e and i is pronounced 'th'. (Spanish
example: ciudad)
- CC
-- Pronounced very similar to the cc in accident
(Spanish example: accidente)
- D
-- Similar to the English 'd' in 'bed' but with the tongue
further forward; between vowels or as the last letter of
a word it is pronounced very softly similar to the th in
the
(Spanish example: ciudad)
- G
-- Before A, O or U it is pronounced as the G in get
-- Before E or I it is pronounced like the English H but
more emphatic. (Spanish example: general)
- H
-- Always silent in Spanish. Hotel is pronounced otel
(Spanish example: hotel)
- J
Always pronounced like the English H but more emphatic
(Spanish example: jalapeño)
- LL
Always pronounced as the Y in yes.
(Spanish example: ella)
- ñ
-- This Spanish character is pronounced NY as in canyon
(Spanish example: español
)
- R
-- Slightly trilled
(Spanish example: hora)
When it is the first letter of a word it is strongly trilled.
(Spanish example: Costa Rica)
- RR
-- Always strongly trilled.
(Spanish example: arroz)
- V
--In Spain and many parts of South America there is no difference
between the 'v' and the 'b'
(Spanish example: video)
- Y
-pronounced as the English Y except when it stands alone
(y is Spanish for and) then it is pronounced ee as in tree
(Spanish example: cinco y media
[five thirty])
- Z
-- In South America the 'z' is pronounced as the English
S; in Spain the 'z' is closer to the 'th' in the English
word, 'bath'
(Spanish example: diez)
- QUE
-- pronounced ke as in kept
(Spanish example: ¿Que pasa?)
-
QUI --pronounced kee as in keep
(Spanish example: quince)
- GUE
-- pronounced ge as in guest, and get
(Spanish example: gueto)
- GUI
-- pronounced gee as in geese
(Spanish example: guitarra)
The
remaining letters are pronounced as they are in English with
only very slight variations. |