AGUEST SAID
Good day and peace to you all!
Before we actually get into a Spanish lesson, we should probably know the alphabet, letter pronunciations, and numbers. So, let's start with that, the letter(s) and their pronunciation (please excuse the formatting - I have tried most of this afternoon to make this appear as a proper list; unfortunately, this type forum doesn't appear to allow table listings, etc.):
Letter (Name) Pronunciation
a = (ah) ---- > "ah"
b = (be) ---- > "beh"
c = (ce) ---- > "seh" (like an “s” when ce or ci)/"keh" (like a “k” when ca, co, or cu)
d = (de) ---- > "deh"
e = (e) ------ > "eh"
f = (efe) ---- > "eh-fay"
g = (he) ---- > "heh" (like an “h” when ge or gi) or geh (like a hard “g” when ga, go, or gu)
h = (hache) ---- > "ah-chay" (the "h" is always silent)
i = (i) ------ > "ee"
j = (jota) ---- > "hoe-ta" (not "hah-ta"); always pronounced like an “h”
k = (ca) ---- > "kah"
l = (ele) ---- > "eh-lay"
ll = (elle) ---- > "eh-yay" (double ll's make the "y" sound)
m = (eme) ---- > "em-may"
n = (ene) ---- > "en-nay"
ñ = (eñe) ---- > "en-yay" (an “n” with a tilde always makes the sound of “ny”, as in “señor”)
o = (o) ------ > "oh"
p = (pe) ---- > "peh"
q = (cu) ---- > "coo"
r = (ere) ---- > "er-ray" (slight trill/roll)
rr = (erre) ---- > "errr-ray" (heavy trill! ROLL those r's!)
s = (ese) ---- > "es-ay" (as in "Ay, Esay!" LOLOLOL!)
t = (te) ---- > "tay"
u = (u) ---- > "ooh" (makes the double "o" sound)
v = (ve) ---- > "beh" or "veh" (pronounced properly with the "b" sound, but many use the “v” sound)
w = (doble ve) ---- > "dooblay beh" (or, improperly, "dooblay veh")
x = (equis) ---- > "ekees" (as in "Dos Equis" beer... ummm, I mean, cerveza!))
y = (i griega) ---- > "ee greyga" (meaning "Greek letter 'i'")
z = (zeta) ---- > "seta" ("z" is pronounced with "s" sound)
Vowels are ALWAYS pronounced as set forth above; consonants, however, may have different sounds, such as "hard" or "soft." The following key (summarized from Madrigal’s Key) sets forth those sounds:
B - Usually pronounced hard (buh); however, when it appears between vowels it is pronounced very softly, so soft your lips should barely touch. Rather, it's more like blowing softly through your lips.
CC - Pronounced as an "x". For example, "acción" is pronounced "axion."
CH - Properly pronounced as in "child"; however, some pronounce it (incorrectly) as "shee" (as in "ensheelada" versus "enchilada").
D – Almost always pronounced as a hard “d”; however, when occurring at the end of a word or between vowels, it is pronounced with a VERY soft “th” sound. For example, the word “cuidad” (“city” in Spanish) is pronounced “see-oo-dadth.”
R – Slightly trilled (rolled) except where it starts a word, in which case it is strongly trilled
RR – Always strongly trilled (again, ROLL those “r’s!)
Y – Always pronounced as a hard “y” (as in “yet”), except when standing alone, in which case it is pronounced as the double “e”... or “ee”... and means “and.”
QUE – Always pronounced as “keh”.
QUI – Always pronounced as “kee”.
GUE – Always pronounced as “geh.”
GUI – Always pronounced as “ghee” (as in “geese”) and not “gwee” (as would be in Italian)
NOTE: In some parts of Spain the “c” before an “e” or “i” is pronounced “th” and the “z” is always pronounced “th” (versus “s”). Unless you’re going to Spain, I wouldn’t worry too much about these two rules.
So, okay, that’s the Spanish pre-lesson! Understanding these pronunciation rules will go a long way toward helping you read/understand words as well as properly pronounce them. So, take a minute and get to know these and then we’ll move on, say, in a day or so (or maybe tomorrow, if the “Professor” has something to add).
Otra vez, paz a todos (again, peace to you all)!
Su sirviente y un estudiante y esclava de Cristo (you tell me - LOL!),
SA
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