MEXICO GROUP – ESPAÑOL #1
We are going to start with greetings and numbers.
GENERAL NOTES
Please, notice that the words between the signs “/” are phonetic symbols (or close to,
since I don´t have a perfect phonetic alphabet in my key board). I will try to make the
symbols as close as possible to the English pronunciation. Please, notice that Spanish has
a regular pronunciation in general, the way you write, the way you read.
Some general rules. The letter “h” is silent, and the letters “ch” is pronounced similarly
to /tsh/. The letter “j” is similar to the English “h” the way it is pronounced. So, Juan
should be pronounced more like /huan/ than like /guan/ (sorry …. Juan…. But your
name is the perfect example …..  )
Also, there is not much of a difference between they way the letter “b” is pronounced in
comparison with the letter “v”. They are, generally, pronounced like a “b”, both of them.
Like T.V., Could be pronounced /tee be/ or /teeleebicion´/.
The letters “d” and “t” are also a loooooot softer in Spanish than in English (the tip of the
tongue should not be touching the dental palatal area of the month but rather softly touch
the back of the front teeth (almost between the upper front teeth and the lower front
teeth).
Also, keep in mind that, depending on the phonetic alphabet people use, English has 5
vowels in writing, “a-e-i-o-u”, but 12 vowel sounds; whereas Spanish has 5 in writing
and 5 vowels sounds as well (much easier in Spanish).
We could talk more about pronunciation later, including the alphabet, if we have time.
SOME GRAMMAR NOTES…….
Keep in mind that Spanish is “gender oriented”, so nouns usually have a feminine form
(generally ending in the letter “a”) and a masculine form (generally ending in the letter
“o”). Also, all adjectives and articles should agree with the gender of the noun (of
course…. there are exceptions to the rules, always). Adjectives are usually after the noun
(contrary to English)
Example
La casa blanca (the white house or the White House as well)
El carro blanco (the white car)
Also, Spanish has two ways of addressing a person, the formal (usted) and the informal
way (tú) , we can talk about that over the phone.
Also, Spanish has verb conjugations, one for each pronoun (or person) whereas English
has very few conjugations, such as “do” and “does”, Spanish has 6 form, for all persons
YO - ITÚ - You(singular)ÉL/ELLA - He/she
NOSOTROS- NOSOTRAS - We –
USTEDES - You (plural) –
ELLOS-ELLAS - they
Some useful phrases or sentences (it would be good if you keep a list of the
expressions on a separte sheet so you can add more later)
REPITA, POR FAVOR (repeat, please)
MÁS DESPACIO, POR FAVOR (slowlier, please)
GRACIAS (thank you)
MUCHAS GRACIAS
MÁS, POR FAVOR (more, please)
MENOS, POR FAVOR (less, please)
NO SÉ (I don´t know)
Greetings
¡HOLA! /ola/ (informal-casual)
BUENOS DÍAS /buenos dias/ (in the morning) (more formal)
¿Cómo está usted? or ¿Cómo está? (formal) /ko´mo esta´ usted
¿Cómo estás tú? or ¿Cómo estás? (informal) ko´mo estas´ tu´
¿Cómo se llama usted? what is your name? (formal)
¿Cómo te llamas tú? (informal) /ko´mo te iamas/ not /ko´mo te lamas/
ME LLAMO ……….. ¿Y USTED? (my name is……. And yours?)
MUCHO GUSTO (nice to meet you) EL GUSTO ES MÍO (nice to meet you, too)
Answers
Bien, gracias. ¿y usted? - or ¿y tú? (well, thanks! And you?)
Muy bien, gracias. ¿y usted? or ¿y tú? (very well)
¡¡¡Muy, muy bien!!! (very, very well)
Más o menos (so so)
Regular /regular/ not /regiular/ as it is pronounced in English
Cansada (tired- femenin form) masculine? ………………………………….
Numbers
1- uno
2- dos
3- tres
4- cuatro
5- cinco
6- séis
7- siete
8- ocho
9- nueve
10- diez
11- once
12- doce
13- trece
14- catorce /katorce/
15- quince /kince/
16- dieciséis -dieci + séis – one word
17- diecisiete - dieci + siete
18- dieciocho
19- diecinueve
20- veinte