Advanced Spanish Pronunciation - e Learn Spanish Language

e Learn Spanish Language Free Spanish Lessons Online language learning with Laura K. Lawless

e Learn Spanish Language > Spanish Lessons > Pronunciation > Advanced Spanish Pronunciation

Menu

Subscribe to
the free
e Learn Spanish Language
weekly
newsletter

Tricky Spanish Pronunciation

Spanish pronunciation is what I like to call phonetic, 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	Similar Eng. sound	Examples
B, V	[b]	beginning of word or after consonant	boy	bien árbol vosotros invierno
	bilabial fricative	everywhere else	n/a	hablar problema nueve noventa

C	[th]	preceding E or I		once diciembre
	[k]	preceding A, O, U, or consonant		como cuatro octubre

D	[d]	beginning of word or after L or N	dog had	dos cuándo falda
	[TH]	everywhere else	this bathe	adiós perdón salud

G	[g]	preceding A, O, U, or consonant	gave go gum glow	agosto agua galleta grande
	[kh]	preceding E or I	ch in loch	gente gigante

S	[z]	preceding B, D, G, L, M, N	rose cause	mismo desde
	[s]	everywhere else	house some	escuela gris sombrero

X	[ks]	n/a	axe mix	éxito excepto
	[gz]	n/a	exact example	exacto exigir

Also see lesson on hard/soft vowels.

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.

More Spanish Pronunciation

Advertise on
e Learn Spanish Language
Options & Rates

LKL's sites
	Learn English
	Learn French
	Veggie Table
	LKL homepage