Spanish Pronunciation Guide: Useful Tips and Examples

1. La pronunciación en Español EmaMateica- Sosa

2. A – it will be ALWAYS pronounced[ a ] - as in the English words:art – el artearm

3. B - Same as in English : Boat – el barco

4. C if followed byA • CA – as in the English car – el carro carpet

5. C if followed byO • CO – as in the English: corn cold

6. C if followed byU • CU – as in the English: cuckoo, cool

7. C – followed by E • CE – as in the English words: cent – el centavo cemetery – el cemeterio

8. C – followed by I • CI – as in the English words: cinnamon – la canela cinema – el cine

9. CH followed by A • CHA – as in the English words: Charles , chart Chaqueta = jacket

10. CH followed by E • CHE – as in the English word: check – el cheque chest

11. CH followed by I • CHI – as in the English word: chicken chico

12. CH followed by O • CHO – as in the English word: chocolate el chocolate chore

13. CH followed by U • CHU – as the English sound: choose*

14. D – same as in English day - día

15. E - as in the English words: Egg, enter Entrada

16. F – same as in English: Fire - el fuego

17. G – if followed by A • GA – as in Garden garbage

18. G – if followed by O • GO – as in gothic gold

19. G – if followed by U • GU – as in the words: goofy, Gucci

20. G followed by E • GE – it is pronounced as in the words : hen*, head, hello • * there is no word in English spelled with GE and pronounced “he” as in the above examples

21. G followed by I • GI – it is pronounces as in the words: hit, his, hint

22. GUE • GUE – it is pronounced as in the English guest guerra guess

23. GUI • GUI – it is pronounced as in the English geese guitarra

24. GÜE • It is pronounced similar as in the English name : Gwen • There are only a few words in Spanish eg. vergüenza - shame

25. H – is silent in Spanish • It is graphically used, but NEVER pronounced by itself when is placed at the beginning of the word as in the English: • Though¡HOLA! • bought

26. I • I – as in the English words: Easy Inglés Ingles (the grocery shop)

27. J • It is always pronounced / ha or hu, ho / as in the English words: hunt , History Jamás = never Juan = John Jose = Josef

28. K • K – same as in English Kilogram Kilometer kilómetro

29. L • It is pronounced as in the English words: lake - el lago Liter – el litro

30. LL – • Is very much similar with the sound yes / yoke / yummy Me llamo X – My name is X Llorar – to cry

31. M • Same as in English : Michael – Miguel Monkey – el mono

32. N • Same as in English • Nicholas – Nicolás Name – nombre

33. Ñ – it’s a sound that does not exist in English, so there is no graphical representation  Señora Sosa El niño

34. O As in the English – Oracle optimista Organize

35. P Same as in English – part – la parte

36. Q followed by UE • QUE – it is pronounced / KE / as in the words: ketchup Queso Kenya

37. Q followed by UI • QUI – it is pronounced / KI / as in the words: Kick Quince King

38. R • Same as in English Reality - Realidad

39. RR • You have to stress and roll your tongue . There is a small diference in pronouncing these 2 words caro≠carro expensive car

40. S - same as in English: Sun – el Sol

41. T – same as in English • Thomas - Tomás

42. U – it is pronounced as the English sound: /oo / from the words: good, choose, únicogoose

43. V • Same as in English: vanity – la vanidad

44. W • This letter only occurs in occasional loanwords E.g.: William / Washington

45. X • / ks / like in the English word • Box; Fox exámen

46. Y • Same as in English Yes, yesterday, Yegua - mare

47. Z • It is pronounced like Sister • For instance in the word: la cerveza – beer You will pronounce it as if was written la cervesa

48. PRACTIQUEMOS  azulBebida armarioBoracho amigo Bandera actrizBaño

49. Cansadochampú • Caminarchaqueta • Cantarcheque • Cenar China • CiruelaCereza

50. Deseardistancia • Divertidodormido • Economiaencantado • Elena enemigo • Equipoespejo • Falsofantástico • Familia fin de semana