Spanish Language travelers / tourist.
A guide to pronunciation of Spanish for an English speaking person,

Pronunciation Guide:
     The Spanish alphabet contains 26 simple and 1 compound letter. W (doble u) can be added but usually only appears in foreign words, as does the k. The compound rr is never separated and never begins a word. The letters are all feminine.

 
Alphabet Mex Span Argen Description Spanish Word Example in english.
a       ah padre, sala Father
ai
(Diphthongs)
aye         i as in hide
au
(Diphthongs)
ow         ow as in How
b       boy burro, voy, ver, hombre, invierno Like b in boy when initial in a breath group and after m and n-basta,
b between vowels         cuba, saber, uva, lavar Between vowels the lips are more relaxed, scarcely touching each other.
c before a ka     cat cama  
c before o       cat como,  
c before u       cat cuna  
c before consonant       cat claro  
c before e       city ceña  
c before i       city ciñe  
Ch           Ch as in Cheese
d at start of word       day tongue on bottom of teeth   When initial somewhat like the the d in day, but with the tip of the tonque place on the lower edge of the upper teeth rather than on the upper part
d between vowels       th madrid, verdad, nada, pasado  
e       they me, mesa, leche When e is folloed bya consonant in the same syllabe, it sounds like the e in tell, el, tener, afecto
ei
(Diphthongs)
ay         ay as in Hay
f            
g            
h Not pro          
i ee     machine mi, tinta The "i" in police.
ia
(Diphthongs)
ya         Ya in yard
ie
(Diphthongs)
ye         Ye as in yes
j            
k           kilo, kilometer,
ku k       ques aqui quien  
késo akí kjen
l L          
ll Ya         ll is the same as million
m            
n            
ñ nnaa         N as in onion
o       gonna    
o       note, for no, nota When o is followed by a consonant in same syllable, it sound like o or por, flor
au
(Diphthongs)
oy         Oy as in boy
p p          
q ka         c as in cat
r at beginning of word rrrr       rosa, rana  
rr in center rrrr       carro, correr, guerrero  
s            
t            
u            
v       boy burro, voy, ver, hombre, invierno Like b in boy when initial in a breath group and after m and n-basta,
v between vowels         cuba, saber, uva, lavar Between vowels the lips are more relaxed, scarcely touching each other.
w            
x           examen, proxima
y            
z            

 

A mayúscula  Capital A
a minúscula  small a
á el acento accent
~ (ñ)  la tilde  tilde
¨ (ü)  la diéresis,  la crema dieresis

The apporoximate pronunciation of each letter is like that found in English word that follows it.

 

Vowels
a  ah: padre, sala
e they: me, mesa, leche, when e is followed by a consonant in the same syllable, it sounds like the e in tell: el, te-ner, a-fe-to.
i machine: mi, tinta
o note: no, nota  When o is followed by a consonant in same syllable, it sounds like o in or: por, flor
u rule: uno, luna


Consonants
b, v, boy
Like b in boy when initial in a breath group and after m and n; basta, burro, voy, hombre, inviern.
Between vowel the lips are more relaxed, scarcely touching each other: Cuba, saber, uva, lavar




Diphthong: A blend of two vowel sounds in syllable, as in oi in coil.

Definitions to understand for pronunciation:

Alveolar:
B Grande, is B, V pequena is V
Bilabial: Articulated with two lips.
Conjugation: To change the spelling and the pronunciation of a verb according to
who, whom you are talking. i.e I,  you, we, us, them.
Dental: Pertaining to the teeth.
Diphthong: A blend of two vowel sounds in syllable, as in oi in coil.
Interdental: In between the teeth.
Glottal
Labiodental: Pertaining to the lips and the teeth.
Palatal: Pertaining to the Palate, or top of the inside of mouth.
Velar: Formed with the back of the tongue touching the soft palate, or top of the inner mouth.

Chapter 2  Regular Verbs-Indicative Tenses

Subject Pronouns

The subject of a verb is of first, second, or third peson, singular or plural. the speaker is called thefirst person; the one addresseed, the second person; and the one spoken of, the third person.

1. you  I

Reflexive verbs:

Why:  The language has trouble saying myself, yourself, etc, so they use reflexive

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