Getting Along With Spanish Pronunciation
If you have ever enrolled in a Spanish language class and were just not "getting it" due to your lack of proper pronunciation, I am here to inform you that this is completely normal. In short, there are three primary tones in Spanish.
The first tone is pronounced with the syllable á and it rises out of the middle of the tongue. As an English speaker, you can imagine how difficult this must be for English speakers because we don't have a native signifier for this sound. The second tone is pronounced with the syllable à and it falls on the middle-front edge of the tongue while moving towards your nose. This tone often sounds similar to your friend saying "hey" or "cheers. The final tone is pronounced with the syllable é and it falls on the middle-back edge of your tongue as you move towards your back teeth. The English speaker may only use this tone when laughing or singing and even then, it isn't used very often.
So how does a Spanish student develop these three sounds? To start off, it is important to understand all of the sounds that the Spanish alphabet contains in order to be able to correctly pronounce them. Many students will simply memorize the alphabet in Spanish but don't have any idea what they are actually saying. Below is a chart with the most common letters and their pronunciations:
I hope that helps you sound more like a native speaker.
Learning the vowels is imperative and very easy once you know how the alphabet is pronounced. The letter a is pronounced as usual with your lips, body and nose. The letter e is just like a in apple without the lip or nose movement; it's all in your mouth: ê . The letter i is pronounced as if you have closed your teeth on the bottom teeth of an "i" and then let go, creating an "ee" sound. I think this must be one of the most difficult sounds in Spanish to master (along with c) because it can sound so angry. The letter o is pronounced simply with a long "o" sound with soft lips and the tip of your tongue on the palate. The letter u is pronounced like the "u" in "put" or "dimples," but keep it short for best results. The letter ñ is pronounced like a ch in cheese, but as if you are pulling it to the back of your throat (pictured below) while moving air out of your mouth. Again, this is a difficult sound to master.
The letter c is one of the most important sounds in Spanish because it must be pronounced correctly in order to be understood. The "C" should sound like an English "S." The letter z is a difficult consonant for other Spanish speakers because it isn't pronounced as strongly as the s or z in English. If you are having difficulty with the correct pronunciation, try saying –iz– and then say –ayz– while keeping your tongue close to the roof of your mouth. The result will sound more like a soft s than a hard s. The letter h is not used in Spanish and is instead replaced with the letter j. This sounds difficult, but just try saying ha from háblame and you will get the idea. The letter j can also be pronounced as if you are whispering or saying "hay."
The letter g is always pronounced like a "g" in gorilla or gum. The letter q will sound similar to a k that requires more air to push it out of your mouth. There are no sounds in Spanish that make a g like the gu, gui, guy or goo words so never try to use this sound as an English speaker.
Conclusion
Pronouncing every letter of the Spanish alphabet properly can be difficult, but when you begin to string together words and phrases, your pronunciation will improve. It's good practice to listen to native speaking Spanish on the internet or on television so that you can hear how it is supposed to sound.
Spanish is a beautiful language that I had a lot of fun learning (and continue to do so). If you would like to learn more, leave a comment below.
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