How to Pronounce Spanish Words Properly
When we study a new language, our instructors stress that learning the proper pronunciation is very important. We should remember that if we mispronounce any word, we are in danger of not being understood or, worse, being misinterpreted.
Let us take for example this sentence in English: I would like a cake. For natural-born English speakers, the accent for cake is easy enough. It is a piece of cake, figuratively speaking. However, there are some non-native English speakers who cannot get the accent correct right away, especially those whose native language use short syllables and do not prolong pronunciation of certain sounds. Cake could easily sometimes sound like kick, as in I would like a kick.
Now, compare the implications of these two sentences, and you’ll get what this means. That’s why it is important to learn the proper pronunciation or else face being misunderstood at your own expense.
Here are some rules in the proper pronunciation of Spanish words:
Vowel Sounds
The five vowel sounds (a, e, i, o, and u) are pronounced exactly like they are spoken in English. Y is considered a vowel in Spanish and is given the same pronunciation as i when used as a conjunction, and like the English y in the end of a word like Rey, hoy. When stress is present, these vowels are prolonged and shortened if they are unstressed.
Consonant Sounds
Just like in vowel sounds, the consonant sounds are similar in pronunciation to their English equivalents. However, there are some exceptions.
- There is no pressure on the lips when the letter B is pronounced, similar to the English v.
- Ch is always similar to the ch in church. The hard ch found in the word monarch is non-existent in Spanish.
- Spaniards pronounce the d sound softly with a slight hint of a soft th if the sound follows a vowel or is at the end of a word.
- H is soundless.
- When G is placed before E and I, the sound is guttural. In all other cases, it is pronounced hard like the g found in the English word God.
- J is always guttural.
- Ll is pronounced as a hard ly. It is pronounced a bit stronger than pavilion.
- Ñ is pronounced stronger than the ny sound in the English word pinion.
- Q is followed by two vowel sounds only, i.e., ue and ui.
- R is always pronounced by rolling the sound. The roll is stronger when it is preceded by a consonant or is at the beginning of a word.
- Rr is always rolled strongly.
- T is always pronounced as tea.
- V is pronounced more lightly than the English v.
- Z is pronounced as a soft th as in theater.
It should also be noted that every letter is pronounced. Mute letters, like in autumn, are non-existent in the Spanish language.
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