Understanding Spanish Pronunciation

If you want to speak Spanish well, it's key to know how to pronounce the vowels and consonants. Here are some simple rules to help you with the sounds in Spanish.

Spanish Vowels

Spanish has five main vowels. Each one has a clear sound. Let's take a look:

1. A - Sounds like "ah," just like in "father."
   Examples:

   • casa (house)
   • amigo (friend)

2. E - Sounds like "eh," similar to "bet."
   Examples:

   • mesa (table)
   • leche (milk)

3. I - Sounds like "ee," as in "see."
   Examples:

   • libro (book)
   • amiga (female friend)

4. O - Sounds like "oh," like in "note."
   Examples:

   • sol (sun)
   • rosa (rose)

5. U - Sounds like "oo," as in "food."
   Examples:

   • luna (moon)
   • fruta (fruit)

Spanish Consonants

Most consonants in Spanish sound a lot like in English, but some have different sounds:

• C:

  • Before e or i, it sounds like "th" (in Spain) or "s" (in Latin America).
    Examples:
    • cereza (cherry)
    • ciudad (city)
  • Otherwise, it sounds like "k."
    Example:
    • casa (house)

• G:

  • Before e or i, it sounds like "h."
    Example:
    • gente (people)
  • Otherwise, it sounds like "g" in "go."
    Example:
    • gato (cat)

• H: This letter is always silent.
  Example:

  • hola (hello)

Practice Sentences

Here are some simple sentences to practice:

1. La casa es grande. (The house is big.)
2. El gato está en la mesa. (The cat is on the table.)

Intonation Patterns

It's helpful to notice how your voice goes up and down when you speak. This shows if you’re asking a question or making a statement.

• ¿Cómo estás? (How are you?) - Your voice goes up at the end because it’s a question.
• Estoy bien. (I’m good.) - Your voice falls at the end, showing it’s just a statement.

Listening and Speaking

To get better at how you sound, listen to people who speak Spanish and try to say what they say. You can use language apps and videos to practice the sounds of vowels and consonants.

By learning these pronunciation rules, you'll be able to write correctly, read better, and have simple conversations with more confidence.