PRELIMINAR – A

LA PRONUNCIACION
SPANISH has long been a major influence on the English
language. Of many words drawn from Spanish that Engalish
speakers use as their own today, the majority were absorbed
during the early period of Spanish colonization of the
Americans. English-speaking settlers were especially given
to borrowing the Spanish names for places, animals and plants
that they encounter for the first time in the New World.
eg.

Places: Rodeo, Rancho, Pueblo, Plaza, Colorado (red), Neveda

(snowstorm), Florida (flowered), las Vegas
Animals: Iguana, Mosquito, Barracuda, Burro, Bronco, Armadillo,
Jaguar
Plants/Foods: Banana, Chocolate, Tapioca, Salsa, Taco, Enchilada
Things: Sombrero, Poncho, Machete, Fiesta, Siesta, Tornado, vista
 Cognates – words that are identical or similar on both languages
and have the same root word in common

Adjectivos: importante, interesante, popular, sentimental,

terrible, cruel,Responsible, intelegente,
independiente, arrogante, rebelde, flexible,
liberal, famoso, romantico, fantastico, ridiculo,
Timido, dinamico
Animales: elefante, tigre, leon, hipopotamo, gorilla, chimpance

Lugares: hospital, hotel, restaurante, bar, cafeteria, rancho

Instumentos musicales: piano, violin, guitarra, clarinete,

faluta, saxofon

Deportes (sports): beisbol, volibol, futbol Americano, tennis

Profesiones: dentista, doctor, professor, secretaria, actor,

atrista, mecanico, politico
El Alfabeto
A (a) J (jota) R (ere)
B (be) K (ka) Rr (erre)
C (ce) L (ele) S (ese)
Ch (che) Ll (elle) T (te)
D (de) M (eme) U (u)
E (e) N (ene) V (ve) (uve)
F (efe) Ñ (eňe) W (doble ve/uve)
G (ge) O (o) X (equis)
H (hache) P (pe) Y (ye/ i griega)
I (i) Q (cu) Z (zeta)
LAS VOCALES
Spanish vowels have one basic sound even though slight
variations are sometimes created by its position within a
word or a phrase.

Spanish vowels are short and clipped, never drawn out.

VOCALES

A - bat banana

E - let bebe

I - machine si

O - more loco

U - flu Lulu
LAS
CONSONANTES

Some consonants in Spanish are pronounced

differently from their English counterparts.
Others vary within the Spanish-speaking world itself.
B/V In Spanish the letters b and
v are pronounced in the same
way. However they both have two
possible pronunciation.

At the beginning of a word

and after 'm' or 'n', the letters
b and v are pronounced like the
English 'boy'

eg. Banana Sombrero InvitacionVioleta

in most other positions, and
particularly between vowels,
b and v are pronounced with
the lips bearly touching, allowing
air to pass through them.

eg. Liberal Aventurado Rebelde

C in Spanish America c
before e or i has English
s sound as in sister.

eg. Cero Chimpance

Circulo Gracias
In most regions of Spain,
c before e or i is pronounced
with a th sound as in thanks.

eg. Cero Chimpance

Circulo Gracias
Before a, o, u or a consonant,
c has the English k sound as in
cat in both Spanish America
and Spain.

eg. Café Cucaracha

Americano Clase
D In Spanish the letterd
has two sounds. First, at
the beginning of a phrase
or sentence and after n or l,
the letter d has
the pronunciation similar
to the English d in doctor.

eg. Doctor Dentista

Independiente Benda
In most other positions,
particulary between vowels
and at the end of a word,
d has a slight th sound
as in this or brother.

eg. Adios Timido Verdad

Universidad
G Before e or i, the letter
g has the English h sound
as in help.

eg. Generoso Intelegente

Magico Logica
In other positions, except
between vowels where it is
slightly softened, g is hard
as goat.

eg. Gracias Galeria Amigo

In the combination gue and
gui, the u is silent as in guest.

eg. Guitarra Guerra Guia

With the addition of the
dieresis (ü) the u is pronounced
producing a sound resembling
a w.

eg. Pingüino bilingüe

H The letter h is never
pronouced in Spanish. It is silent
as in honest.

eg. Hotel Hospital

Alcohol Deshonesto
J This letter approximates
the h sound of English
as in help.

eg. Jamaica Ejecutivo Graje

Jose
LL Double l, most commonly
approximates the English
y sound as in yes.

eg. Million Amarillo Llama

Ñ Is similar to ny sound as
in canyon.

eg. Maňana MontaňaCaňon

Q Occurs only in the
combinations que and qui,
which have a silent u.
The combination of qu is
pronounced as a k.

eg. Queso Don Quijote

Chiquita
R If not used at the beginnig of
a word, the single r approximates
the sound of tt as in Betty likes
butter better or dd as in Eddy.

eg. Bar Cafeteretia Pirata

RR Has the thrilled or rolled
sound as in mimicking a motor;
initial r has the same sound.
RR Has the thrilled or rolled sound as in mimicking a motor; initial r has the same sound.

eg. Correcto Carrera Roberto Rifle

eg. Correcto Carrera

Roberto Rifle
Z In Spanish America, z is
pronounced in the same way
as s. The England z sound is
never used in Spanish.

eg. Zafiro Arizona