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Spanish

Spanish sounds

Five pure vowels, ñ, the jota, and the rolled r.

12 minutes · A free lesson from Start here · Roman and Urdu pronunciation guides and English meanings are shown under each phrase

Spanish is written almost exactly as it is spoken: once you know the letters, you can read any word aloud.

Listen and repeat

casaSay: kasaکاساMeans: house, homethe five vowels a, e, i, o, u are short and pureMi casa es tu casa.Say: mee kasa ehs too kasa.می کاسا اےس تُو کاسا.Means: My house is your house.
EspañaSay: ehspanyaاےسپانیاMeans: Spainñ sounds like the 'ny' in 'canyon'Vivo en España.Say: beeboh ehn ehspanya.بیبو اےن اےسپانیا.Means: I live in Spain.
jamónSay: khamohnخامونMeans: hamj (and g before e, i) comes from the back of the throatUn bocadillo de jamón.Say: oom bohkadeeyoh deh khamohn.اُوم بوکادییو دے خامون.Means: A ham sandwich.
perroSay: pehrrohپےرّوMeans: dogrr is a rolled rTengo un perro.Say: tehngoh oom pehrroh.تےنگو اُوم پےرّو.Means: I have a dog.
peroSay: pehrohپےروMeans: buta single r between vowels is one quick tapEs caro, pero es bueno.Say: ehs karoh, pehroh ehs bwehnoh.اےس کارو, پےرو اےس بوےنو.Means: It's expensive, but it's good.
holaSay: ohlaاولاMeans: helloh is always silent¡Hola! ¿Qué tal?Say: ohla! keh tal?اولا! کے تال?Means: Hello! How are things?
calleSay: kayehکایےMeans: streetll sounds like the y in 'yes'Vivo en esta calle.Say: beeboh ehn ehsta kayeh.بیبو اےن اےستا کایے.Means: I live on this street.
cenaSay: thehnaثےناMeans: dinnerc before e, i (and z): 'th' in most of Spain, 's' in Latin AmericaLa cena está lista.Say: la thehna ehsta leesta.لا ثےنا اےستا لیستا.Means: Dinner is ready.
vasoSay: basohباسوMeans: glassb and v sound the sameUn vaso de agua.Say: oom basoh deh agwa.اُوم باسو دے اگوا.Means: A glass of water.

Lesson quiz

Check what you have learned. Choose an answer to see whether it is right, and why.

Quick check: How is the h in “hola” said?

  1. It is silent
  2. Like English h
  3. Like Urdu خ
Show the answer

A: It is silent — Spanish h is always silent: hola sounds like “ola”. The j is the sound close to Urdu خ.

Quick check: What is the difference between “pero” and “perro”?

  1. There is no difference
  2. rr is silent
  3. rr is a rolled r; a single r is one quick tap
Show the answer

C: rr is a rolled r; a single r is one quick tap — pero means but, and perro means dog. The r makes the difference.

Quick check: How does “ll” in “calle” sound?

  1. Like English l
  2. Like the y in “yes”
  3. Like the j in “jamón”
Show the answer

B: Like the y in “yes” — ll sounds like the y in yes: calle.

Quick check: Which syllable is stressed in “casa”?

  1. The last: ca-SA
  2. Neither
  3. The first: CA-sa
Show the answer

C: The first: CA-sa — Words ending in a vowel, n or s stress the second-to-last syllable: CA-sa.

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