Basic Spanish Pronunciation Flashcards
This deck provides a glimpse into the basic rules that govern pronunciation in Spanish. (86 cards)
1
Q
Pronounce:
gato
A
Note that “a” is pronounced like the “A” in “father” [ɑ].
2
Q
Pronounce:
pelo
A
Note that “e” is pronounced like the “AY” in “pay”.
3
Q
Pronounce:
amigo
A
Note that “i” is pronounced like the “EE” in “seen,” but shorter [i].
4
Q
Pronounce:
ojo
A
Note that “o” is pronounced like the “O” in “go” [ō].
5
Q
Pronounce:
luna
A
Note that “u” is pronounced like the “OO” in “roof” [u].
6
Q
Pronounce:
boca
A
Note that “b” is pronounced like the “B” in “balcony” [b].
7
Q
Pronounce:
casa
A
Note that “c” is pronounced like the “C” in “call” [k].
8
Q
Pronounce:
cencerro
A
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].
9
Q
Pronounce:
cita
A
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].
10
Q
Pronounce:
chaleco
A
Note that “ch” is pronounced like the “CH” in “cheer” [tʃ].
11
Q
Pronounce:
dedo
A
Note that “d” is pronounced like the “D” in “duck” [d].
12
Q
Pronounce:
forma
A
Note that “f” is pronounced like the “F” in “father” [f].
13
Q
Pronounce:
gas
A
Note that “g” is pronounced like the “G” in “game” [g].
14
Q
Pronounce:
general
A
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].
15
Q
Pronounce:
gis
A
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].
16
Q
Pronounce:
guerra
A
Note that “gue” is pronounced like the “G” in “game” + the “E” in “pet” [ge̞].
17
Q
Pronounce:
guitarra
A
Note that “gui” is pronounced like the “G” in “game” + the “EE” in “seen,” but shorter [gi].
18
Q
Pronounce:
cigüeña
A
Note that “güe” is pronounced like the “G” in “game” + the “we” in “weather”
19
Q
Pronounce:
pingüino
A
Note that “güi” is pronounced like the “G” in “game” + the “w” in “we” + the “EE” in “seen”.
20
Q
Pronounce:
hueso
A
Note that the “h” is silent.
In Spanish, the “h” is sometimes pronounced in foreign words, most of which come from English.
21
Q
Pronounce:
jabón
A
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].
22
Q
Pronounce:
koala
A
Note that “k” is pronounced like the “C” in “call” [k].
23
Q
Pronounce:
labios
A
Note that “l” is pronounced like the “L” in “lift” [l].
24
Q
Pronounce:
llamar
A
Note that “ll” is pronounced like the “Y” in “yes,” but slightly harsher.
25
# Pronounce:
**m**arzo
Note that "m" is pronounced like the "M" in "mother" [m].
26
# Pronounce:
**n**ada
Note that "n" is pronounced like the "N" in "no" [n].
27
# Pronounce:
Espa**ñ**a
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.
28
# Pronounce:
**p**eso
Note that "p" is pronounced like the "P" in "pin" [p].
29
# Pronounce:
**q**uásar
Note that "q" is pronounced like the "C" in "call" [k].
## Footnote
In Spanish, the "q" is only found without "ue" or "ui" in foreign words.
30
# Pronounce:
**que**so
Note that "que" is pronounced like the "C" in "call" + the "E" in "pet" [ke].
31
# Pronounce:
**qui**nto
Note that "qui" is pronounced like the "C" in "call" + the "EE" in "seen," but shorter [ki].
32
# Pronounce:
pe**r**a
Note that "r" is pronounced like the "R" in "ladder," but much shorter (as if it were cut before the sound was finished) [ɾ].
33
# Pronounce:
**r**ama
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].
34
# Pronounce:
pe**rr**o
Note that "rr" is pronounced like the "R" in "rat," but stronger (similar to the "R" pronounced in a Scottish accent) [r].
## Footnote
The double "r" is only found between two vowels.
35
# Pronounce:
**s**apo
Note that "s" is pronounced like the "S" in "song" [s].
36
# Pronounce:
**t**aza
Note that "t" is pronounced like the "T" in "train" [t].
37
# Pronounce:
**v**aca
Note that "v" is pronounced like the "B" in "boy" [b] with the lips held tightly.
38
# Pronounce:
**w**afle
Note that "w" is pronounced like the "W" in "water" [w].
## Footnote
The "w" is only found in Spanish in foreign words, most of which come from English. It is pronounced as in English.
39
# Pronounce:
e**x**amen
Note that "x" is sometimes pronounced like the "X" in "tax" [ks]\*.
## Footnote
\*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.
40
# Pronounce:
Mé**x**ico
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].
41
# Pronounce:
**X**ochimilco
Note that "x" is sometimes pronounced like the "S" in "song" [s].
42
# Pronounce:
**X**ela
Note that "x" is sometimes pronounced like the "SH" in "should" [ʃ].
43
# Pronounce:
**y**egua
Note that "y" is pronounced like the "Y" in "yes," but slightly harsher. (Or like the "J" in "jelly", but slightly softer.)
44
# Pronounce:
**z**apato
Note that "z" is pronounced like the "S" in "song" [s].
## Footnote
In some regions of Spain, the "z" is pronounced like the "TH" in "thorn" [Θ].
45
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.
46
# Pronounce:
b**ai**le
Note that "ai" and "ay" are pronounced like the "I" in "admire" [äi].
47
# Pronounce:
p**au**sa
Note that "au" is pronounced like the "A" in "cat" + a very short, clipped "OO" in "foot" [äu].
48
# Pronounce:
med**ia**
Note that "ia" and "ya" are pronounced like the "YA" in "yarn," but shorter [jä].
49
# Pronounce:
c**ua**tro
Note that "ua" is pronounced like the "WA" in "water," but shorter [wä].
50
# Pronounce:
r**ei**na
Note that "ei" and "ey" are pronounced like the "AY" in "say," but shorter [e̞i].
51
# Pronounce:
d**eu**da
Note that "eu" is pronounced like the "E" in "pet" + the "OO" in "foot," but both sounds are very short [e̞u].
52
# Pronounce:
h**ie**lo
Note that "ie" and "ye" are pronounced like the "YE" in "yes" [je̞].
53
# Pronounce:
h**ue**vo
Note that "ue" is pronounced like the "WE" in "wet" [we̞].
54
# Pronounce:
h**oy**
Note that "oi" and "oy" are pronounced like the "OY" in "toy" [o̞i].
55
# Pronounce:
estad**ou**nidense
Note that "ou" is pronounced like the "O" in "shot" + the "OO" in "foot," but much shorter [o̞u].
## Footnote
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.
56
# Pronounce:
id**io**ma
Note that "io" and "yo" are pronounced like the "YO" in "yolk" [jo̞].
57
# Pronounce:
monstr**uo**
Note that "uo" is pronounced like the "WO" in "wonder," but shorter [wo̞].
58
# Pronounce:
r**ui**do
Note that "ui" and "uy" are pronounced like the "WEE" in "week," but shorter [wi].
59
# Pronounce:
c**iu**dad
Note that "iu" and "yu" are pronounced like "you," but shorter [ju].
60
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.
61
# Pronounce:
Parag**uay**
Note that "uay" is pronounced like the "W" in "water" + the "I" in "admire" [wäi].
62
# Pronounce:
sem**iau**tomático
Note that "iau" is pronounced like the "YA" in "yarn" + the "OO" in "foot," but shorter [jäu].
63
# Pronounce:
b**uey**
Note that "uey" is pronounced like the "W" in "water" + the "AY" in "say" [we̞i].
64
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."
65
# Pronounce:
l**ee**r
Note that "ee" is pronounced like the "E" in "pet," pronounced twice, with the sounds clearly separated [e̞e̞].
66
# Pronounce:
az**aha**r
Note that "aha" is pronounced like the "A" in "cart," pronounced twice, with the sounds clearly separated [ää].
## Footnote
Note how the vowels in a hiatus can be separated by a silent "h."
67
# Pronounce:
alc**oho**l
Note that "oho" is pronounced like the "O" in "shot," pronounced twice, with the sounds clearly separated [o̞o̞].
68
# Pronounce:
c**ae**r
Note how "ae" is pronounced like the "A" in "cat" + the "E" in "pet" [äe̞].
69
# Pronounce:
b**aú**l
Note that "aú" is pronounced like the "A" in "cat" + the "OO" in "foot," but shorter [äu].
70
# Pronounce:
p**aí**s
Note that "aí" is pronounced like the "A" in "cat" + the "EE" in "seen," but shorter [äi].
71
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.
## Footnote
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.
72
# Pronounce:
barril
Note how the accent is on the last syllable: ba**rril**.
73
# Pronounce:
joven
Note how the accent is on the next-to-last syllable: **jo**ven.
74
# 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.
75
# Pronounce:
amistad
Note how the accent, or stress, is placed on the last syllable: amist**ad**. When the accents falls on the last syllable and the word ends in a consonant other than "n" or "s," no tilde is needed.
76
# 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.
77
# Pronounce:
camino
Most words in Spanish have the stress on the second-to-last syllable. They usually don't need a tilde.
78
# 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."
79
# Pronounce:
propósito
Words with stress on any syllable that is not the last or second-to-last syllable always have a tilde.
## Footnote
Adverbs ending in "-mente" are an exception; they follow the accentuation rules of the adjective they are derived from.
80
# 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").
## Footnote
When the diphthong is made up of only "weak" vowels ("i" or "u"), the tilde is placed on the second vowel.
81
# 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.
82
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.
83
What is the difference between *qué* and *que*?
*qué* - what
*que* - that
## Footnote
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.
84
What is the difference between *tú* and *tu*?
*tú* - you
*tu* - your
## Footnote
*Tú* as a personal pronoun always has a tilde, while *tu* as a possessive adjective does not.
85
What is the difference between *él* and *el*?
*él* - he
*el* - the
## Footnote
*Él* as a personal pronoun always has a tilde. If it is an article, *el* does not.
86
What is the difference between *más* and *mas*?
*más* - more
*mas* - but
## Footnote
Of course, *pero* is a much more common translation for "but."
