Pronunciación avanzada
Spanish pronunciation is phonemic, meaning that according to the pronunciation rules, in a given use, each letter is always pronounced a certain way. Many Spanish letters have only one pronunciation, making them especially easy to learn. But certain consonants have two pronunciations depending on where/how they are used. That's what this lesson is about. Take a look at this summary of "dual-pronunciation" letters, and then click on the individual letters for more in-depth explanations.
| Letter | Sound | Usage | |
| B, V | [b] | beginning of word or after consonant | |
| Similar English sound | |||
| bien | good | boy | |
| árbol | tree | ||
| vosotros | you (plural) | ||
| invierno | winter | ||
| B, V | bilabial fricative | everywhere else | |
| Similar English sound | |||
| hablar | speak | n/a | |
| problema | problem | ||
| nueve | nine | ||
| noventa | ninety | ||
| Letter | Sound | Usage | |
| C | [th] | preceding E or I | |
| Similar English sound | |||
| once | eleven | ounce | |
| diciembre | December | ||
| C | [k] | preceding A, O, U, or consonant | |
| Similar English sound | |||
| como | eat | cat | |
| cuatro | four | ||
| octubre | October | ||
| Letter | Sound | Usage | |
| D | [d] | beginning of word or after L or N | |
| Similar English sound | |||
| dos | two | dog | |
| cuándo | when | had | |
| falda | skirt | welding | |
| D | [TH] | everywhere else | |
| Similar English sound | |||
| adiós | goodbye | this | |
| perdón | excuse | bathe | |
| salud | health | ||
| Letter | Sound | Usage | |
| G | [g] | preceding A, O, U, or consonant | |
| Similar English sound | |||
| agosto | August | ago | |
| agua | water | go | |
| galleta | cookie | guy | |
| grande | big | great | |
| G | [kh] | preceding E or I | |
| Similar English sound | |||
| gente | people | ch in loch | |
| gigante | giant | ||
| Letter | Sound | Usage | |
| S | [z] | preceding B, D, G, L, M, N | |
| Similar English sound | |||
| mismo | same | rose | |
| desde | since | cause | |
| S | [s] | everywhere else | |
| Similar English sound | |||
| escuela | school | house | |
| gris | grey | some | |
| sombrero | hat | ||
| Letter | Sound | Usage | |
| X | [ks] | n/a | |
| Similar English sound | |||
| éxito | success | axe | |
| excepto | except | mix | |
| X | [gz] | n/a | |
| Similar English sound | |||
| exacto | exact | exact | |
| exigir | demand | example |
Please note that this lesson is only a guideline for the Spanish that I know, which is Castilian Spanish. There are many regional variations in Spanish pronunciation.
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