Spanish Alphabet, Pronunciation and Terminology

• The Spanish Alphabet
• Pronunciation Guide
• Basic Spanish Phrases and Expressions
  • Greetings and Courtesies
  • Miscellaneous Objects
  • Family
  • Information
  • Common Expressions
  • Question Words
  • Pronouns
• 100 Most Used Verbs in Spanish
• Common Imperatives (Commands)

THE SPANISH ALPHABET 

There are thirty letters in the Spanish alphabet. The ch, ll, and rr are considered separate letters even though they are two-letter groups; the letter ñ is the fourth extra letter, derived by simplification from the spelling nn.

El Alfabeto Español

The table below shows the English pronunciation of the Spanish alphabet in brackets [ ] and the Spanish pronunciation in parentheses ( ). The brackets with asterisks [*] are special cases. Their pronunciation is explained in the next section.

PRONUNCIATION GUIDE ~ LA PRONUNCIACIÓN 

Like English, Spanish has five vowels, however, in Spanish these vowels are only pronounced one way. They are short and crisp, without breath, and spoken at the front of the mouth. The mouth is somewhat more tense when speaking Spanish, and the corners of the mouth tend to "smile." They are never pronounced as a schwa or diphthong.

A = as in "a" in father     
E = as in "e" in bet
I = as in "ee" in keep
O = as in "o" in open
U = as in "oo" in boot

There are no short vowels, long vowels, etc. in Spanish. In addition, neither is there an "uh" sound as when many non-Spanish speaking persons try to say "chips and salsuh." It should be two "a"s. Salsa!

Plasma  Gas  Mapa  Rata  Banana  Salsa
Pepe  Bebé  Excelente Sed  Venga  Le  En
Ir  Crisis  Repita  Idea  Isla  Irrita  Pila
Como  Tomo  Hola  Olé  Oso  bobo
Cuba  Uva  Burro  Útil  Uso  Tuvo

Most of the consonants are pronounced just about like English, with some notable exceptions. However, remember, keep the sounds to the front of the mouth and speak with the lips fairly tense in order to imitate the Spanish accent.

C = has two sounds: like an "s" before "e" and "i"; and like a "k" before "o", "u", and "a".

D = pronounced much softer than in English, and in the middle or end of a word, like a "th".
Donde Verdad Edad Sed Derecho Codo

G = also has two sounds: like an "h" before "e" and "i"; and like a "g" as in "go" elsewhere.
Argentina Meningitis Gringo Gato

H = is always a silent letter. Never make the "h" sound.
Hola Hoy Ahora Hospital

J = is always a hard "h" sound.
Jorge Ojo Jarabe Traje Oreja

LL = two "l" combined make one sound-the sound of an English "y" more or less.
Rodilla Amarillo Calle Tobillo Costilla

ñ = the letter "ñ" makes the sound like the "ny" in the English word "canyon" or like "nio" in "onion".
Año Uñas Niño Niña Muñeca

R = the single "r" makes the sound like the English word "ring".
Cara Doctor Mira Oreja Para

RR = a strongly trilled sound. Single "r" also has this sound if it begins a word.
Rodilla Ramón Arroz Carro Hierro

Q = is always followed by either ue or ui.
Que = "k" as in the English name "Kay". Qui = "k" as in the English word "key".
Quién Quitar Quedar Saque

In written Spanish, an accent mark occurs only on a vowel. Accent marks indicate where the stress of a word should occur. For example, the proper noun Panamá has an accent on the final "á," thus indicating that the final syllable should be stressed. If a word has no written accent and it ends in n, s, or any vowel, then the stress falls invariably on the penultimate (next to last) syllable. Accent marks indicate an alteration in stress patterns and sometimes word meaning. For example, "qué" means "what" and "que" without an accent means "that."

The main thing to remember is, with few exceptions, Spanish words and names are pronounced the way that they are spelled.

BASIC SPANISH PHRASES AND EXPRESSIONS
(English = Espanol) 

Greetings and Courtesies  Yes = Sí No = No Again = Otra vez Careful = Cuidado Do you understand? = ¿Comprendes? Excuse me = Discúlpeme or Perdon Good = Bien Good afternoon = Buenas tardes Good evening = Buenas tardes Good morning = Buenos días Good night = Buenas noches Goodbye = Adiós Hello = Hola How are you? = ¿Como estás?          ¿Que pasa? Que tal? I don't understand = No entiendo In English = en inglés In Spanish = en español Nice to meet you. = Encantado de conocerte. Once again = Una vez más One at a time = Uno(a) a la vez Please = Por favor Repeat = Repita Slower = Más despacio So long = Hasta luego So so = Mas o menos Tomorrow = mañana Thank you = Gracias Thank you very much = Muchas gracias You're welcome = De nada Miscellaneous Objects  Ballpoint pen = El bolígrafo Book = El libro Cassette = El cartucho Chair = La silla Notebook = El cuaderno Paper = El papel Pen = La pluma Pencil = El lapis Sheet of paper = La hoja de papel Waste basket = La cesta This form = Esta forma/planilla This document = Este docomento A problem = Un problema

Common Expressions  What is your name? = ¿Como se llama? ¿Cual es su nombre? How do you say this in English? = ¿Como se dice esto en inglés? Where is the bathroom? = ¿Dónde está el baño Do you speak  . . .  = Habla . . .  English = inglés  . . .  Spanish = español Do you have . . . ? = ¿Tiene usted . . . ? For how long? = ¿Por cuánto tiemp? When did it begin? = ¿Cuándo empezó? What happened? = ¿Qué pasó? Do you know…? = ¿Sabe usted  . . . ? Do you understand? = ¿Entiende? A lot or a little? + ¿ Mucho o un poco? May I help you? = ¿En qué puedo ayudarse? Excuse me. = Disculpé. Do you need help? = ¿Necesita usted ayuda? Where are you going? = ¿A dónde va usted? What is this called? = ¿Cómo se llama esto? It was a pleasure talking to you. = Me di mucho gusto hablar contigo. What do you want? = ¿Qué quiere usted? Please wait a minute. = Espera un momento, por favor. Please help me. = Ayúdame, por favor. Question Words  What? = ¿Qué? Which? = ¿Cuál? When? = ¿Cuándo? How? = ¿Cómo? Who? = ¿Quién? Why? = ¿Por qué? How much? = ¿Cuánto(s)? Where? = ¿Dónde? Whose? = ¿De quién? Pronouns  I = Yo We = Nosotros You (singular, familiar) = Tú You (singular, formal) = Usted You (plural) = Ustedes They = Ellos (m), Ellas (f)

Family  (His - Her - Your)   family = Su familia (His - Her - Your)   relative = Su pariente (His - Her - Your)   siblings = Sus hermanos Parent's names = Los nombres de sus padres Wife = Esposa Brother = Hermano Sister = Hermana Cousin = Primo Cousin = Prima Uncle = Tio Aunt = Tia Husband = Esposo, Marido Grandfather = Abuelo Grandmother = Abuela Daughter= Hija Son = Hijo Mother = Madre Father= Padre Friend = Amigo (m), Amiga (f)

Information  Mr. = Señor Mrs. = Señora Miss or Ms. = Señorita (His - Her - Your)   full name = Su nombre completo (His - Her - Your)   date of birth = Su fecha de nacimiento (His - Her - Your)   place of birth = Su lugar de nacimiento (His - Her - Your)   age = Su edad (His - Her - Your)   sex = Su sexo (His - Her - Your)   marital status = Su estado civil Soltero(a) = Single Casado(a) = Married Divorciado(a) = Divorced Separado(a) = Separated Viudo(a) widow/widower) (His - Her - Your)   address = Su direccíon (His - Her - Your)   street = Su Calle (His - Her - Your)   city = Su ciudad (His - Her - Your)   zip code = Su zona postal (His - Her - Your)   phone number = Su número de teléfono

THE 100 MOST USED VERBS IN SPANISH 

COMMON IMPERATIVES (COMMANDS) IN SPANISH 

 
 Common Imperatives (Commands)                

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