GUIDE TO SPANISH PRONUNCIATION 1 How do you

GUIDE TO SPANISH PRONUNCIATION 1

How do you say that in English? • He could lead if he would get the lead out. • She thought it was time to present the present. • Does the boy shoot does out of season? • When I saw the tear in the painting I shed a tear. • Did I read that you have read my book? 2

To pronounce Spanish correctly 85% of what you need to know is found in three things: • T A C O • BURRITO • P E A = “ah” U = “ooh” O= “oh” I = “ee” E = “ay” 3

from Singing the Basics: Beginning Spanish by Mental Note Music All songs written and performed by Todd Hawkins © 2001 www. mentalnotemusic. com 4

Why is it that in English We’ve got words like GOOD and FOOD READ and READ That look more or less the same but sound different? In English you can’t necessarily sound words out, but in SPANISH… 5

If you know “taco” And “burrito” And “Pepe” You know the vowels. There’s no exceptions, like with English vowels. This is always how they sound! 6

In Spanish, All you’ve gotta do is Pronounce these vowels EXACTLY THE SAME Everytime you see ‘em. A, E, I, O and U. 7

If you know “taco” And “burrito” And “Pepe” You know the vowels. There’s no exceptions, like with English vowels. This is always how they sound! 8

It really is that simple! 85% of what you need to know to pronounce every word in Spanish is found in THESE THREE WORDS! 9

If you know “taco” And “burrito” And “Pepe” You know the vowels. There’s no exceptions, like with English vowels. This is always how they sound! 10

¡El Fin! 11

The Other 15% (And you already know a lot of them!) • • LL = “y” like in tortilla J = “h” like in jalapeño Ñ = “ni” like in jalapeño QU = “k” like in tequila Z = “s” (like a hissing snake) H = always silent (*but CH still sounds like “Ch-uh”) V = a soft “B” I’s and E’s soften “G’s” and “C’s” -- Hard G (“guh”) like in gato becomes an “h” like in Geraldo -- Hard C (“k”) like in Carmen becomes “s” like in ciencias. 12

Vowel Blends • When there is a strong and weak vowel together they make something called a diphthong or vowel blend. A I E O U 13

Vowel Blends • The two vowels are pronounced as ONE SYLLABLE. You still HEAR each vowel, but one is “drowned out” a bit. • ua like in cuando • ue like in puerta • ia like in demasiado • ie like in viernes • iu like in ciudad 14

NOT Vowel Blends • If a weak and a strong vowel appear together but one has an ACCENT MARK, they are NOT pronounced as ONE SYLLABLE. You hear each vowel alone. • uó like in continuó • ía like in día • ío like in frío 15

Pronunciation Promises • If you determine to pronounce every word you see correctly, in four weeks you won’t have to think about pronunciation anymore − it will become natural. • If you do this, you won’t have to memorize spelling (with the exception of H, B/V, C/S). If you can say the word correctly, you can get it in your head and spell it like it sounds. 16

PRACTICE Working with a partner, you should find a vocabulary page in the textbook together. Practice saying the words listed. We will come back and practice as a whole group later. 17

PRACTICE civil 18

PRACTICE bicicleta 19

PRACTICE mate 20

PRACTICE funeral 21

PRACTICE doctor 22

PRACTICE taller 23

PRACTICE chocolate 24

PRACTICE natural 25

PRACTICE gasolina 26

PRACTICE tornado 27

PRACTICE radical 28

PRACTICE violencia 29

PRACTICE pagan 30

PRACTICE capital 31

PRACTICE dice 32

PRACTICE fatal 33

PRACTICE real 34

PRACTICE federal 35

PRACTICE automóvil 36

PRACTICE práctica 37

PRACTICE melón 38

PRACTICE posible 39

JUST TRY IT! impermeabilización 40