Reglas de Pronunciación

Question 1

z

Answer 1

zeta: the s in sail

azul, brazo, luz

Question 2

w

Answer 2

doble ve: the letter w exists in Spanish only in words of foreign origin and is not considered part of the Spanish alphabet.

Question 3

x

Answer 3

equis: english x

experto, examen

Question 4

a

Answer 4

a: the a in father

casa, tapa, Panamá, Canadá

Question 5

e

Answer 5

e: the e in café when final, the e in set elsewhere

elefante, verde

Question 6

i

Answer 6

i: the i in machine

sí, cíne, comída

Question 7

o

Answer 7

o: the o in hope, the o in for if followed by r

doctor, profesor, oso, hospital

Question 8

u

Answer 8

u: the u in rule

uno, tu, puro

Question 9

ü

Answer 9

ü: No english equivalent

agüero (omen or a sign), güiro (gourd)

Question 10

y

Answer 10

y griega: as a vowel english i
soy, y, hay

as a consonant the same as ll - the y in beyond
papaya, ayer

Question 11

b or v

Answer 11

be larga, be cortaÑ b and v have the same sound in Spanish. The English v sound does not exist in Spanish.

the b in boat when they occur at the beginning of breath group, or following l, m or n.
baño, burro, embargo, alba (dawn)

softer elsewhere, produced through slightly opened lips.
Cuba, la boca, havana, la vaca

Question 12

c

Answer 12

ce: the c in cat before a, o, u or before a consonant.
camisa, claro, concreto

the s in sail before e or i
centavo, cita, cinco

Question 13

ch

Answer 13

che: the ch in charm

chocolate, chorizo

Question 14

d

Answer 14

de: the d in dog when it occurs at the beginning of breath group, or following l or n; the th in other elsewhere

donde, falda, conde (Count as in Conde Fernán González)

boda, poder, verdad, nada, cada, estudio

Question 15

f

Answer 15

efe: the english f

futuro, fila, oficina

Question 16

g

Answer 16

ge: the g in game before a, o, u, or before a consonant.
gato, gusto. grande

the ha in hat before e or i
genio, generoso, gitano (gypsy)

Question 17

h

Answer 17

hache: silent

hombre, hasta, hablar

Question 18

j

Answer 18

jota: English h. It can also be given a slightly guttural sound.
Juan, ojo, mujer

Question 19

k

Answer 19

ka: the english k

kayak, kilómetro, kiwi

Question 20

l

Answer 20

ele: the english l, but with the tip of the tongue touching the roof of the mouth
el, hotel, mil, palo (stick)

Question 21

ll

Answer 21

elle: the y in beyond, or in some countries, the s in pleasure.
caballo, bello, llave

Question 22

m

Answer 22

emeÑ English m

menos, cama, marrón (brown)

Question 23

n

Answer 23

ene: English n

nota, nacíon, nariz

Question 24

ñ

Answer 24

eñe: the ny in canyon or the ni in onion

mañana, España, señor

Question 25

p

Answer 25

pe: English p, but not explosive (without the puff of air in the English sound
papel (role), persona, pobre

Question 26

q

Answer 26

cu: the k in key (found only in the combinations que and qui)
Quito (capital of Ecuador), queso, equipo

Question 27

r

Answer 27

ere: the dd in ladder ( a single tongue flap)

caro, barato, para, hablar

Question 28

rr

Answer 28

erre: a trill or tongue roll. there is no equivalent sound in english.
perro, horrible, carro

Question 29

s

Answer 29

ese: English s

sopa, sala, blusa

Question 30

t

Answer 30

te: English t, but not explosive (with the tip of the tongue against the back of the upper front teeth)
torta (cake), talento, tesoro

Question 31

spelling change: z to c

Answer 31

Nouns and adjectives that end in z change to c to form the plural

el lápiz, los lápices
la nariz, las narices
feliz, felices

Question 32

spelling change: z followed by an a or o

Answer 32

z followed by an a or o changes to c before an e or i.
comienza, comience
empiezo, empiece

Question 33

spelling change: tocar, llegar

Answer 33

spelling change to maintain a required sound
tocare, toque - maintains the k sound
llegar, llegue - maintains the g sound

Question 34

Castilian spanish vs latin american spanish pronunciation:

Answer 34

c and z preceding i or e have the th sound
centavo, cita, cinco

j and g preceding i or e have a slightly guttural sound
jinete (horseback rider), jirafa, jicama, gerente