Spanish Pronunciation Basics for Beginners
| Letter / Sound | Tip for Pronunciation | Example |
|---|---|---|
| J | NOT silent! It sounds like a breathy English “h” (almost like you’re softly coughing). | Javier → hah-VYER |
| H | Silent. You don’t pronounce it at all. | Hola → OH-lah |
| LL | In most places, it sounds like “y” in English. (In Argentina, it can sound like “zh” like “measure,” but you can stick to the “y” sound.) | Lluvia → YOO-byah |
| Ñ | Special letter! It sounds like the “ny” in canyon. | Año → AH-nyoh |
| C | Before e or i, sounds like “s” in English. Otherwise, like a “k”. | Cielo → SYEH-loh Casa → KAH-sah |
| Z | In Latin America, Z is pronounced like an “s”. (In Spain, it’s “th” like “think.”) | Zapato → sah-PAH-toh |
| V | Sounds very close to B — lips barely touch the teeth. Almost no difference between v and b in sound. | Vino → BEE-noh |
| R | Light tap of the tongue (especially between vowels). | Pero → PEH-roh |
| RR | Strong rolling r sound (vibrating tongue). | Perro → PEH-rroh |
| QU | Always sounds like k (the “u” is silent). | ¿Qué? → keh |
| GU | If before e or i, sounds like g. (“U” may be silent unless it has two dots — ü). | Guitarra → gee-TAH-rrah |
Simple Pronunciation Rules to Remember
- Each vowel always has ONE sound — much simpler than English!
(No long and short vowels like in English.)VowelSoundAlike “ah” (as in father)Elike “eh” (as in bed)Ilike “ee” (as in machine)Olike “oh” (as in no)Ulike “oo” (as in moon) - Spanish is very phonetic — words are pronounced exactly how they are spelled.
- Accent marks (´) show which syllable to stress when you say the word.
Quick Example
Look at the word:
“Jugar” (to play)
- J = sounds like breathy “h” → hoo
- u = “oo” as in “moon”
- gar = gar sounds like “gar” in “garden” (but faster)
Jugar → hoo-GAR (stress on “GAR”)
- Hola
- Meaning: Hello
- Pronunciation: OH-lah
- Gracias
- Meaning: Thank you
- Pronunciation: GRAH-syahs
- Por favor
- Meaning: Please
- Pronunciation: pohr fah-VOHR
- Amigo / Amiga
- Meaning: Friend (Amigo = male, Amiga = female)
- Pronunciation: ah-MEE-go / ah-MEE-gah
- Casa
- Meaning: House
- Pronunciation: KAH-sah
- Agua
- Meaning: Water
- Pronunciation: AH-gwah
- Comida
- Meaning: Food
- Pronunciation: koh-MEE-dah
- Familia
- Meaning: Family
- Pronunciation: fah-MEE-lee-ah
- Buenos días
- Meaning: Good morning
- Pronunciation: BWEH-nos DEE-ahs
- Adiós
- Meaning: Goodbye
- Pronunciation: ah-dee-OHS
People & Relationships
- Señor – Mister / Sir — seh-NYOR
- Señora – Madam / Ma’am — seh-NYOH-rah
- Niño – Boy — NEEN-yo
- Niña – Girl — NEEN-yah
- Hombre – Man — OHM-breh
- Mujer – Woman — moo-HEHR
- Papá – Dad — pah-PAH
- Mamá – Mom — mah-MAH
- Hermano – Brother — ehr-MAH-noh
- Hermana – Sister — ehr-MAH-nah
Everyday Activities
- Trabajo – Work / Job — trah-BAH-hoh
- Escuela – School — es-KWEH-lah
- Libro – Book — LEE-broh
- Escribir – To write — es-kree-BEER
- Leer – To read — leh-EHR
- Dormir – To sleep — dohr-MEER
- Caminar – To walk — kah-mee-NAR
- Correr – To run — koh-REHR
- Hablar – To speak — ah-BLAR
- Escuchar – To listen — es-koo-CHAR
Basic Needs & Places
- Baño – Bathroom — BAH-nyoh
- Calle – Street — KAH-yeh
- Ciudad – City — see-you-DAHD
- Tienda – Store — TYEN-dah
- Hospital – Hospital — ohs-pee-TAL
- Mercado – Market — mehr-KAH-doh
- Restaurante – Restaurant — rehs-tah-oo-RAHN-teh
- Banco – Bank — BAHN-koh
- Parque – Park — PAR-keh
- Hotel – Hotel — oh-TEL
Food & Drink
- Pan – Bread — pahn
- Leche – Milk — LEH-cheh
- Café – Coffee — kah-FEH
- Té – Tea — teh
- Fruta – Fruit — FROO-tah
- Verdura – Vegetable — vehr-DOO-rah
- Pollo – Chicken — POY-yoh
- Pescado – Fish — pehs-KAH-doh
- Carne – Meat — KAR-neh
- Postre – Dessert — POHS-treh
Common Feelings
- Feliz – Happy — feh-LEES
- Triste – Sad — TREES-teh
- Cansado / Cansada – Tired — kan-SAH-doh / kan-SAH-dah
- Enfermo / Enferma – Sick — en-FEHR-moh / en-FEHR-mah
- Hambriento / Hambrienta – Hungry — am-BRYEN-toh / am-BRYEN-tah
- Sediento / Sedienta – Thirsty — seh-DYEN-toh / seh-DYEN-tah
- Calor – Heat / Hot (feeling) — kah-LOR
- Frío – Cold — FREE-oh
- Miedo – Fear — MYEH-doh
- Amor – Love — ah-MOR
Common Verbs (Actions)
- Ver – To see — behr
- Venir – To come — veh-NEER
- Ir – To go — eer
- Tener – To have — teh-NEHR
- Hacer – To do / To make — ah-SEHR
- Decir – To say / To tell — deh-SEER
- Saber – To know (facts) — sah-BEHR
- Conocer – To know (people/places) — koh-noh-SEHR
- Dar – To give — dahr
- Tomar – To take / To drink — toh-MAR
Time and Days
- Hoy – Today — oy
- Mañana – Tomorrow — mah-NYAH-nah
- Ayer – Yesterday — ah-YEHR
- Lunes – Monday — LOO-nes
- Martes – Tuesday — MAR-tes
- Miércoles – Wednesday — MYEHR-koh-les
- Jueves – Thursday — HWEH-ves
- Viernes – Friday — BYEHR-nes
- Sábado – Saturday — SAH-bah-doh
- Domingo – Sunday — doh-MEEN-goh
Colors
- Rojo – Red — ROH-hoh
- Azul – Blue — ah-SOOL
- Verde – Green — BEHR-deh
- Amarillo – Yellow — ah-mah-REE-yoh
- Negro – Black — NEH-groh
- Blanco – White — BLAHN-koh
- Gris – Gray — grees
- Naranja – Orange — nah-RAHN-hah
- Marrón – Brown — mah-ROHN
- Rosa – Pink — ROH-sah
Question Words
- Qué – What — keh
- Quién – Who — kyehn
- Dónde – Where — DOHN-deh
- Cuándo – When — KWAHN-doh
- Por qué – Why — pohr keh
- Cómo – How — KOH-moh
- Cuál – Which — kwal
Useful Words
- Sí – Yes — see
- No – No — noh
- Tal vez – Maybe — tahl BEHS
- Porque – Because — POHR-keh
- Muy – Very — mooy
- Poco – Little / Few — POH-koh
- Mucho – A lot / Much — MOO-choh
- Nada – Nothing — NAH-dah
- Todo – Everything / All — TOH-doh
- Algo – Something — AHL-goh
Short Expressions
- Lo siento – I’m sorry — loh SYEHN-toh
- Salud – Bless you (after sneeze) / Cheers! — sah-LOOD
- Buena suerte – Good luck — BWEH-nah SWER-teh
Around the House
- Puerta – Door — PWEHR-tah
- Ventana – Window — ben-TAH-nah
- Silla – Chair — SEE-yah
- Mesa – Table — MEH-sah
- Cama – Bed — KAH-mah
- Cocina – Kitchen — koh-SEE-nah
- Sala – Living room — SAH-lah
- Habitación – Bedroom / Room — ah-bee-tah-SYON
- Baño – Bathroom — BAH-nyoh (repeating from earlier because it’s essential)
- Luz – Light — loos
Family Members
- Abuelo – Grandfather — ah-BWEH-loh
- Abuela – Grandmother — ah-BWEH-lah
- Tío – Uncle — TEE-oh
- Tía – Aunt — TEE-ah
- Primo – Male cousin — PREE-moh
- Prima – Female cousin — PREE-mah
- Hijo – Son — EE-hoh
- Hija – Daughter — EE-hah
- Esposo – Husband — es-POH-soh
- Esposa – Wife — es-POH-sah
Feelings and Personality
- Contento / Contenta – Happy — kon-TEN-toh / kon-TEN-tah
- Enojado / Enojada – Angry — eh-noh-HAH-doh / eh-noh-HAH-dah
- Aburrido / Aburrida – Bored — ah-boo-REE-doh / ah-boo-REE-dah
- Simpático / Simpática – Friendly — seem-PAH-tee-koh / seem-PAH-tee-kah
- Serio / Seria – Serious — SEH-ree-oh / SEH-ree-ah
Basic Adjectives
- Grande – Big — GRAN-deh
- Pequeño / Pequeña – Small — peh-KEH-nyoh / peh-KEH-nyah
- Bonito / Bonita – Pretty — boh-NEE-toh / boh-NEE-tah
- Feo / Fea – Ugly — FEH-oh / FEH-ah
- Nuevo / Nueva – New — NWAY-voh / NWAY-vah
Nature and Environment
- Sol – Sun — sohl
- Luna – Moon — LOO-nah
- Agua – Water — AH-gwah (repeated, but key word)
- Tierra – Earth / Soil — TYEH-rrah
- Árbol – Tree — AR-bol
- Flor – Flower — flohr
- Playa – Beach — PLAH-yah
- Montaña – Mountain — mon-TAHN-yah
- Río – River — REE-oh
- Lago – Lake — LAH-goh
Travel and Transportation
- Coche – Car — KOH-cheh
- Autobús – Bus — ow-toh-BOOS
- Tren – Train — tren
- Avión – Airplane — ah-BYON
- Taxi – Taxi — TAK-see
Useful Words
- Aquí – Here — ah-KEE
- Allí – There — ah-YEE
- Adentro – Inside — ah-DEN-troh
- Afuera – Outside — ah-FWEH-rah
- Ahora – Now — ah-OR-ah
Everyday Objects
- Teléfono – Telephone / Cellphone — teh-LEH-foh-noh
- Computadora – Computer — kom-poo-tah-DOH-rah
- Reloj – Watch / Clock — reh-LOH-h
- Bolígrafo – Pen — boh-LEE-grah-foh
- Lápiz – Pencil — LAH-pees
- Papel – Paper — pah-PEL
- Libro – Book — LEE-broh (repeated earlier but very important)
- Mochila – Backpack — moh-CHEE-lah
- Zapato – Shoe — sah-PAH-toh
- Ropa – Clothes — ROH-pah
Food & Drink (more words)
- Huevo – Egg — WEH-boh
- Queso – Cheese — KEH-soh
- Aceite – Oil — ah-SAY-teh
- Azúcar – Sugar — ah-SOO-kar
- Sal – Salt — sahl
- Pimienta – Pepper (spice) — pee-MYEN-tah
- Cuchara – Spoon — koo-CHAH-rah
- Tenedor – Fork — teh-neh-DOR
- Cuchillo – Knife — koo-CHEE-yoh
- Plato – Plate — PLAH-toh
Descriptions
- Alto / Alta – Tall — AHL-toh / AHL-tah
- Bajo / Baja – Short — BAH-hoh / BAH-hah
- Viejo / Vieja – Old — BYEH-hoh / BYEH-hah
- Joven – Young — HOH-ben
- Rápido / Rápida – Fast — RAH-pee-doh / RAH-pee-dah
Basic Opposites
- Lento / Lenta – Slow — LEN-toh / LEN-tah
- Fácil – Easy — FAH-seel
- Difícil – Difficult — dee-FEE-seel
- Caro / Cara – Expensive — KAH-roh / KAH-rah
- Barato / Barata – Cheap — bah-RAH-toh / bah-RAH-tah
Places Around Town
- Farmacia – Pharmacy — far-MAH-syah
- Panadería – Bakery — pah-nah-deh-REE-ah
- Cafetería – Cafeteria — kah-feh-teh-REE-ah
- Iglesia – Church — ee-GLEH-syah
- Escuela – School — es-KWEH-lah (repeated because essential)
Weather Words
- Lluvia – Rain — YOO-byah
- Nieve – Snow — NYEH-veh
- Viento – Wind — BYEN-toh
- Frío – Cold — FREE-oh (good to reinforce)
- Calor – Hot — kah-LOR (good to reinforce)
Important Basics
- Amar – To love — ah-MAR
- Vivir – To live — vee-VEER
- Morir – To die — moh-REER
- Buscar – To search — boos-KAR
- Encontrar – To find — en-kon-TRAR
Short Phrases and Useful Words
- Bien – Good / Well — byen
- Mal – Bad — mahl
- Así así – So-so — ah-SEE ah-SEE
- Claro – Of course / Clear — CLAH-roh
- De nada – You’re welcome — deh NAH-dah
Daily Routine
- Despertar – To wake up — dehs-pehr-TAR
- Levantar – To get up — leh-vahn-TAR
- Duchar – To shower — doo-CHAR
- Bañar – To bathe — bah-NYAR
- Vestir – To dress — behs-TEER
- Cepillar – To brush — seh-pee-YAR
- Peinar – To comb — pay-NAR
- Desayuno – Breakfast — deh-sah-YOO-noh
- Almuerzo – Lunch — al-MWEHR-soh
- Cena – Dinner — SEH-nah
Shopping and Money
- Dinero – Money — dee-NEH-roh
- Precio – Price — PREH-syoh
- Moneda – Coin — moh-NEH-dah
- Billete – Bill (money) — bee-YEH-teh
- Comprar – To buy — kom-PRAR
- Vender – To sell — ben-DEHR
- Oferta – Sale / Offer — oh-FEHR-tah
- Caja – Cash register / Box — KAH-hah
- Cliente – Customer — klee-EN-teh
- Tienda – Store — TYEHN-dah (good repetition)
Directions and Location
- Izquierda – Left — ees-KYEHR-dah
- Derecha – Right — deh-REH-chah
- Recto – Straight — REHK-toh
- Cerca – Close / Near — SEHR-kah
- Lejos – Far — LEH-hohs
- Arriba – Up — ah-REE-bah
- Abajo – Down — ah-BAH-hoh
- Dentro – Inside — DEHN-troh
- Fuera – Outside — FWEH-rah
- Entre – Between — EN-treh
Emotions
- Nervioso / Nerviosa – Nervous — nehr-BYOH-soh / nehr-BYOH-sah
- Emocionado / Emocionada – Excited — eh-moh-syoh-NAH-doh / eh-moh-syoh-NAH-dah
- Asustado / Asustada – Scared — ah-soos-TAH-doh / ah-soos-TAH-dah
- Sorprendido / Sorprendida – Surprised — sohr-prehn-DEE-doh / sohr-prehn-DEE-dah
- Orgulloso / Orgullosa – Proud — or-goo-YOH-soh / or-goo-YOH-sah
Common Objects
- Llave – Key — YAH-veh
- Dinero – Money — dee-NEH-roh (important, repeated)
- Carpeta – Folder — kar-PEH-tah
- Cuadro – Picture / Frame — KWAH-droh
- Espejo – Mirror — es-PEH-hoh
More Nature Words
- Cielo – Sky — SYEH-loh
- Estrella – Star — es-TREH-yah
- Mar – Sea — mahr
- Bosque – Forest — BOHS-keh
- Arena – Sand — ah-REH-nah
Simple Adverbs
- Siempre – Always — SYEM-preh
- Nunca – Never — NOON-kah
- A veces – Sometimes — ah BEH-ses
- Pronto – Soon — PRON-toh
- Tarde – Late — TAR-deh
Health and Body
- Cabeza – Head — kah-BEH-sah
- Mano – Hand — MAH-noh
- Brazo – Arm — BRAH-soh
- Pierna – Leg — PYEHR-nah
- Pie – Foot — pee-EH
- Ojo – Eye — OH-hoh
- Boca – Mouth — BOH-kah
- Oreja – Ear — oh-REH-hah
- Nariz – Nose — nah-REES
- Corazón – Heart — koh-rah-SON
Feelings and States
- Sueño – Sleepiness / Dream — SWAY-nyoh
- Dolor – Pain — doh-LOR
- Fuerza – Strength — FWER-sah
- Calma – Calm — KAHL-mah
- Estrés – Stress — es-TRES
Clothing and Accessories
- Sombrero – Hat — sohm-BREH-roh
- Camisa – Shirt — kah-MEE-sah
- Pantalón – Pants — pahn-tah-LON
- Vestido – Dress — behs-TEE-doh
- Chaqueta – Jacket — chah-KEH-tah
House and Furniture
- Almohada – Pillow — al-moh-AH-dah
- Colchón – Mattress — kol-CHON
- Sofá – Sofa — soh-FAH
- Alfombra – Carpet — al-FOHM-brah
- Cortina – Curtain — kor-TEE-nah
Kitchen Items
- Vaso – Glass (for drinking) — VAH-soh
- Taza – Cup — TAH-sah
- Olla – Pot — OH-yah
- Sartén – Frying pan — sar-TEN
- Horno – Oven — OR-noh
Travel and Movement
- Pasaporte – Passport — pah-sah-POHR-teh
- Mapa – Map — MAH-pah
- Maleta – Suitcase — mah-LEH-tah
- Aeropuerto – Airport — ah-eh-roo-PWEHR-toh
- Billete de avión – Plane ticket — bee-YEH-teh deh ah-BYON
Time and Measurements
- Minuto – Minute — mee-NOO-toh
- Hora – Hour — OH-rah
- Segundo – Second — seh-GOON-doh
- Día – Day — DEE-ah
- Semana – Week — seh-MAH-nah
Helpful Miscellaneous Words
- Nombre – Name — NOM-breh
- Apellido – Last name — ah-peh-YEE-doh
- Dirección – Address — dee-rehk-SYON
- Correo electrónico – Email — koh-REH-oh eh-lehk-TROH-nee-koh
- Teléfono móvil – Mobile phone — teh-LEH-foh-noh MOH-beel
Quick Connectors
- Y – And — ee
- O – Or — oh
- Pero – But — PEH-roh
- También – Also / Too — tahm-BYEHN
- Entonces – So / Then — en-TON-ses
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