Basic Spanish Pronunciation Flashcards
This deck provides a glimpse into the basic rules that govern pronunciation in Spanish.
Pronounce:
gato
Note that “a” is pronounced like the “A” in “father” [ɑ].
Pronounce:
pelo
Note that “e” is pronounced like the “AY” in “pay”.
Pronounce:
amigo
Note that “i” is pronounced like the “EE” in “seen,” but shorter [i].
Pronounce:
ojo
Note that “o” is pronounced like the “O” in “go” [ō].
Pronounce:
luna
Note that “u” is pronounced like the “OO” in “roof” [u].
Pronounce:
boca
Note that “b” is pronounced like the “B” in “balcony” [b].
Pronounce:
casa
Note that “c” is pronounced like the “C” in “call” [k].
Pronounce:
cencerro
Note that “ce” is pronounced like the “S” in “song” + the “E” in “pet” [se̞].
In some regions of Spain, “ce” is pronounced like the “THE” in “thermal” [Θe].
Pronounce:
cita
Note that “ci” is pronounced like the “S” in “song” + the “EE” in “seen,” but shorter [si].
In some regions of Spain, “ci” is pronounced like the “THI” in “thing” [Θi].
Pronounce:
chaleco
Note that “ch” is pronounced like the “CH” in “cheer” [tʃ].
Pronounce:
dedo
Note that “d” is pronounced like the “D” in “duck” [d].
Pronounce:
forma
Note that “f” is pronounced like the “F” in “father” [f].
Pronounce:
gas
Note that “g” is pronounced like the “G” in “game” [g].
Pronounce:
general
Note that “ge” is pronounced like the “H” in “house,” but with a harsher “H” (bringing the back of the tongue up to nearly close the opening in the throat) + the “E” in “pet” [xe].
Pronounce:
gis
Note that “gi” is pronounced like the “H” in “house,” but with a harsher “H” (bringing the back of the tongue up to nearly close the opening in the throat) + the “EE” in “seen,” but shorter [xi].
Pronounce:
guerra
Note that “gue” is pronounced like the “G” in “game” + the “E” in “pet” [ge̞].
Pronounce:
guitarra
Note that “gui” is pronounced like the “G” in “game” + the “EE” in “seen,” but shorter [gi].
Pronounce:
cigüeña
Note that “güe” is pronounced like the “G” in “game” + the “we” in “weather”
Pronounce:
pingüino
Note that “güi” is pronounced like the “G” in “game” + the “w” in “we” + the “EE” in “seen”.
Pronounce:
hueso
Note that the “h” is silent.
In Spanish, the “h” is sometimes pronounced in foreign words, most of which come from English.
Pronounce:
jabón
Note that “j” is pronounced like the “H” in “house,” but with a harsher “H” (bringing the back of the tongue up to nearly close the opening in the throat) [x].
Pronounce:
koala
Note that “k” is pronounced like the “C” in “call” [k].
Pronounce:
labios
Note that “l” is pronounced like the “L” in “lift” [l].
Pronounce:
llamar
Note that “ll” is pronounced like the “Y” in “yes,” but slightly harsher.
Pronounce:
marzo
Note that “m” is pronounced like the “M” in “mother” [m].
Pronounce:
nada
Note that “n” is pronounced like the “N” in “no” [n].
Pronounce:
España
Note that “ñ” is pronounced like the “GN” in “consign,” trying to pronounce both consonants in one sound; or like the “NY” in “canyon,” with a very short “Y” sound.
Pronounce:
peso
Note that “p” is pronounced like the “P” in “pin” [p].
Pronounce:
quásar
Note that “q” is pronounced like the “C” in “call” [k].
In Spanish, the “q” is only found without “ue” or “ui” in foreign words.
Pronounce:
queso
Note that “que” is pronounced like the “C” in “call” + the “E” in “pet” [ke].
Pronounce:
quinto
Note that “qui” is pronounced like the “C” in “call” + the “EE” in “seen,” but shorter [ki].
Pronounce:
pera
Note that “r” is pronounced like the “R” in “ladder,” but much shorter (as if it were cut before the sound was finished) [ɾ].
Pronounce:
rama
Note that “r” at the beginning of a word is pronounced like the “R” in “rat,” but stronger (similar to the “R” pronounced in a Scottish accent) [r].
Pronounce:
perro
Note that “rr” is pronounced like the “R” in “rat,” but stronger (similar to the “R” pronounced in a Scottish accent) [r].
The double “r” is only found between two vowels.
Pronounce:
sapo
Note that “s” is pronounced like the “S” in “song” [s].
Pronounce:
taza
Note that “t” is pronounced like the “T” in “train” [t].
Pronounce:
vaca
Note that “v” is pronounced like the “B” in “boy” [b] with the lips held tightly.
Pronounce:
wafle
Note that “w” is pronounced like the “W” in “water” [w].
The “w” is only found in Spanish in foreign words, most of which come from English. It is pronounced as in English.
Pronounce:
examen
Note that “x” is sometimes pronounced like the “X” in “tax” [ks]*.
*The “x” in Spanish is tricky, since it can produce several sounds, and there is no set rule or norm for knowing which is which.
Pronounce:
México
Note that “x” is sometimes pronounced like the “H” in “house,” but with a harsher “H” (bringing the back of the tongue up to nearly close the opening in the throat) [x].
Pronounce:
Xochimilco
Note that “x” is sometimes pronounced like the “S” in “song” [s].
Pronounce:
Xela
Note that “x” is sometimes pronounced like the “SH” in “should” [ʃ].
Pronounce:
yegua
Note that “y” is pronounced like the “Y” in “yes,” but slightly harsher. (Or like the “J” in “jelly”, but slightly softer.)
Pronounce:
zapato
Note that “z” is pronounced like the “S” in “song” [s].
In some regions of Spain, the “z” is pronounced like the “TH” in “thorn” [Θ].
What are diphthongs?
Diphthongs occur when an unstressed “i” or “u” (and in a few cases a “y”) appears next to another vowel in the same syllable.
Their vowel sounds do not change, but they blend together to form a single syllable. The “weak” vowel (“i”, “u” or “y”) becomes much shorter and almost merges into the other vowel sound.
When a diphthong consists of two “weak” vowels, the second will take the role of the strong one.
Pronounce:
baile
Note that “ai” and “ay” are pronounced like the “I” in “admire” [äi].
Pronounce:
pausa
Note that “au” is pronounced like the “A” in “cat” + a very short, clipped “OO” in “foot” [äu].
Pronounce:
media
Note that “ia” and “ya” are pronounced like the “YA” in “yarn,” but shorter [jä].
Pronounce:
cuatro
Note that “ua” is pronounced like the “WA” in “water,” but shorter [wä].
Pronounce:
reina
Note that “ei” and “ey” are pronounced like the “AY” in “say,” but shorter [e̞i].
Pronounce:
deuda
Note that “eu” is pronounced like the “E” in “pet” + the “OO” in “foot,” but both sounds are very short [e̞u].
Pronounce:
hielo
Note that “ie” and “ye” are pronounced like the “YE” in “yes” [je̞].
Pronounce:
huevo
Note that “ue” is pronounced like the “WE” in “wet” [we̞].
Pronounce:
hoy
Note that “oi” and “oy” are pronounced like the “OY” in “toy” [o̞i].
Pronounce:
estadounidense
Note that “ou” is pronounced like the “O” in “shot” + the “OO” in “foot,” but much shorter [o̞u].
These “ou” diphthongs are rare and mostly found in compound words or words of foreign origin. They are sometimes pronounced like the “OU” in “gourmet,” only shorter.
Pronounce:
idioma
Note that “io” and “yo” are pronounced like the “YO” in “yolk” [jo̞].
Pronounce:
monstruo
Note that “uo” is pronounced like the “WO” in “wonder,” but shorter [wo̞].
Pronounce:
ruido
Note that “ui” and “uy” are pronounced like the “WEE” in “week,” but shorter [wi].
Pronounce:
ciudad
Note that “iu” and “yu” are pronounced like “you,” but shorter [ju].
What are triphthongs?
Triphthongs are rare. They occur when three vowels blend together to form one syllable.
A triphthong must start and end with a “weak” vowel (“i”, “u” or “y”), usually with a “strong” vowel (“a”, “e” or “o”) in the center.
The “weak” vowels (“i”, “u” or “y”) become much shorter and almost merge into the “strong” vowel sound.
Pronounce:
Paraguay
Note that “uay” is pronounced like the “W” in “water” + the “I” in “admire” [wäi].
Pronounce:
semiautomático
Note that “iau” is pronounced like the “YA” in “yarn” + the “OO” in “foot,” but shorter [jäu].
Pronounce:
buey
Note that “uey” is pronounced like the “W” in “water” + the “AY” in “say” [we̞i].
What is a hiatus?
A hiatus is when two “strong” vowels (“a”, “e” or “o”) are side by side. The sounds don’t merge into one syllable, but remain separate in two syllables.
Sometimes, “weak” vowels (“i” and “u”) can be made strong by placing the accent of a word on them. In these cases, they are also pronounced as two separate sounds, rather than one syllable.
The vowels in a hiatus can be separated by a silent “h.”
Pronounce:
leer
Note that “ee” is pronounced like the “E” in “pet,” pronounced twice, with the sounds clearly separated [e̞e̞].
Pronounce:
azahar
Note that “aha” is pronounced like the “A” in “cart,” pronounced twice, with the sounds clearly separated [ää].
Note how the vowels in a hiatus can be separated by a silent “h.”
Pronounce:
alcohol
Note that “oho” is pronounced like the “O” in “shot,” pronounced twice, with the sounds clearly separated [o̞o̞].
Pronounce:
caer
Note how “ae” is pronounced like the “A” in “cat” + the “E” in “pet” [äe̞].
Pronounce:
baúl
Note that “aú” is pronounced like the “A” in “cat” + the “OO” in “foot,” but shorter [äu].
Pronounce:
país
Note that “aí” is pronounced like the “A” in “cat” + the “EE” in “seen,” but shorter [äi].
How does accentuation work in Spanish?
In Spanish, all syllables are equally long. However, there can be a variation of stress, or accent. Every word in Spanish has one (and only one) stressed syllable.
The stress can fall on any syllable, but it’s most common on the next-to-last syllable. Most words follow a predictable pattern and they do not need a written accent, or “tilde.” When words fall outside the pattern, a tilde is used to tell the reader where the stress falls. The tilde is placed over the vowel in that syllable.
Pronounce:
barril
Note how the accent is on the last syllable: barril.
Pronounce:
joven
Note how the accent is on the next-to-last syllable: joven.
Pronounce:
tren
“Tren” is a monosyllable – a word that has only one syllable. Monosyllables are always stressed and usually don’t need a written accent or tilde.
Pronounce:
amistad
Note how the accent, or stress, is placed on the last syllable: amistad. When the accents falls on the last syllable and the word ends in a consonant other than “n” or “s,” no tilde is needed.
Pronounce:
tiburón
A written accent, or tilde, is added to the vowel in the last syllable if the word ends in “n”, “s” or a vowel.
Pronounce:
camino
Most words in Spanish have the stress on the second-to-last syllable. They usually don’t need a tilde.
Pronounce:
difícil
Words with stress on the second-to-last syllable need a tilde when they end in a consonant that is NOT “n” or “s.”
Pronounce:
propósito
Words with stress on any syllable that is not the last or second-to-last syllable always have a tilde.
Adverbs ending in “-mente” are an exception; they follow the accentuation rules of the adjective they are derived from.
Pronounce:
camión
Diphthongs (and triphtongs) can have tildes when they are required. The tilde will always be placed on the “strong” vowel (“a”, “e” or “o”).
When the diphthong is made up of only “weak” vowels (“i” or “u”), the tilde is placed on the second vowel.
Pronounce:
día
A tilde, or written accent, is sometimes used to “break” a diphthong and create a hiatus. It will always be placed on the “weak” vowel (“i” or “u”), and this will always be the stressed syllable.
What are diacritical accents?
Sometimes, tildes, or written accents, are used to differentiate homonyms, or words that are written and sound alike, but have different meanings. These are known as diacritical accents or tildes.
What is the difference between qué and que?
qué - what
que - that
Question words like qué always have a tilde, while the same words, when used as conjunctions, do not. The context will usually let you know which is which.
What is the difference between tú and tu?
tú - you
tu - your
Tú as a personal pronoun always has a tilde, while tu as a possessive adjective does not.
What is the difference between él and el?
él - he
el - the
Él as a personal pronoun always has a tilde. If it is an article, el does not.
What is the difference between más and mas?
más - more
mas - but
Of course, pero is a much more common translation for “but.”
