Spanish Grammar Tips
September 21st, 2007 by Alex Cruz
In this lesson you will learn how to correctly pronounce the Spanish Alphabet as well as learning some of the basic rules of grammar.
THE ALPHABET
| A (_a_) | G (_ge_) | M (_eme_) | Rr (_erre_) |
| B (_be_) | H (_hache_) | N (_ene_) | S (_ese_) |
| C (_ce_) | I (_i_) | Ñ (_eñe_) | T (_te_) |
| Ch (_che_) | J (_jota_) | O (_o_) | U (_u_) |
| D (_de_) | K (_ka_) | P (_pe_) | V (_ve_) |
| E (_e_) | L (_ele_) | Q (_cu_) | X (_equis_) |
| F (_efe_) | Ll (_elle_) | R (_ere_) | Y (_y griega_ or _ye_) |
| Z (_zeta_) | |||
K (_ka_) and W (_doble ve_) are only found in foreign words used in Spanish.
PRONUNCIATION OF VOWELS.
_a_ as English a in f_a_ther
| _e_ [1] |
“ |
a “ |
f_a_te [2] |
| _i_ |
“ |
i “ |
magaz_i_ne |
| _o_ [1] |
“ |
o “ |
n_o_te [2] |
| _u_ |
“ |
u “ |
r_u_le |
These five sounds _never vary, except that they are a little longer when they are stressed and shorter when they are not, as Yo amo (I love),[3] Amigo (friend), El cielo (heaven), Celeste (heavenly), Un recibo (a receipt), Interés (interest), Yo como (I eat), Contar (to count), Un buque (a ship), Una butaca (an armchair).
_Y_ is considered a vowel in the conjunction _y_ (and), and at the end of a word, as Rey (king), Hoy (to-day).
Note 1: _E_ and _o_ are sounded a little more open when they form a diphthong with _i_ and when they precede _r_ followed by a consonant or _r_ or _l_ final, as Fernando (Ferdinand), Un tercio (a third), El tercer año (the third year), Porfiar (to insist), Amor (love), Español (Spanish).
Note 2: The _a_ and _o_ of “fate” and “note” are not pure vowel sounds. In English the a is distinctly pronounced a-ee and o is pronounced o-oo. In Spanish the first part only of the two sounds is permissible.
Note 3: The examples given with their English equivalents should be learnt.
DIPHTHONGS AND TRIPHTHONGS
There are no Diphthongs or Triphthongs in the English sense of two or three vowels meeting in one syllable and blending into a different sound, as “pause,” “plough.”
Every vowel is pronounced separately and each with its alphabetical sound, only the two or three vowels occurring in one syllable are pronounced rapidly, as Pausa (pause), Reino (kingdom), Cuenta (account), Buey (ox).
_A, E_ and _O_ never form diphthongs together. They may form diphthongs and triphthongs only in combination with _I_ and _U_.
CONSONANTS
The Consonants are pronounced as in English with the following exceptions:
B is pronounced much more lightly than in English, with no pressure of the lips, as Libro (book), Brevedad (brevity).
C before _E_ and _I_–_th _ in “theatre,” as La Cena (the supper), La Cerveza (the beer). Otherwise pronounced _K_ as in English, as Caja
Ch always_as _ch_ in “church” (never hard as in “monarch”), as Chocolate (chocolate), Charla (prattle).
D at the end of a word or after a vowel is pronounced very softly and lightly, with a tinge of _th_ in “they,” as Madrid, Amado (loved), Encarnado (red).
G before _E_ and _I_ is pronounced guttural, as El general (the general), El giro (the draft, bill). This sound is equal to _ch_ in the Scotch word “loch.” In all other cases G is pronounced hard, as in the English word “gay”; as Gato (cat), Gobierno (government), Gusto (pleasure, taste).
H is a mute letter. (Although in Andalusia it is aspirated in certain words.)
J is always guttural, as Juan (John), Jornalero (day labourer), Junio (June), Reloj (watch, clock).
Ll–_ly_, stronger than _li_ in “pavilion,” as Belleza (beauty), Folleto (leaflet).
Ñ–ny, stronger than _ni_ in “pinion,” as Niño (child), Caña (cane), El otoño (autumn).
Q is only used before _ue_ and _ui_ (and the _u_ is then _mute_), as Querido (dear, beloved), Yo quiero (I want).
R as in English, but it is always rolled, as Caro (dear, expensive), Pérdida (loss). At the beginning of a word or when preceded by a consonant it is rolled more strongly, as La rosa (the rose), Deshonra (dishonour).
Rr always rolled strongly, as Carro (cart), El ferrocarril (the railway).
S always pronounced as _s_ in “soap,” and never as in “as” or “sure.”
T as in “tea,” but never as _t_ in “nation” It must be pronounced softly, not explosive, as Fortuna (fortune), Cuatro (four).
V is pronounced much more lightly than in English, as Vino (wine), Vivir (to live). By the common people _V_ is often confounded with _B_, but educated Spaniards will always make the proper distinction.
Y–Spanish _I_.
Z–_th_ in “theatre,” as Zarazas (cotton prints), Zorra (fox).
NOTE: In modern Spanish Z is not used before _E_ or _I_, its place being supplied by _C_.
¡Buena suerte! (Good luck!)
