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.
2.
Spanish speakers normally stress the last
syllable of a word when it ends in any
consonant other than n or s. (alrededor,
papel, actriz)
When the last syllable ends in n, s, or a
vowel, the natural stress is on the next-tolast 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!