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.