Say each Spanish letter out loud and practice it. The letters are A (Ah), B (Beh), C (Seh), Ch (Cheh), D (Deh), E (Eh), F (Efeh), G (Heh), H (Ah cheh) Always silent!), I (EE), J (Hota), K (Kah), L (Eleh), LL (Ehyeh), M (Emeh), N (Eneh), Ñ (Enyeh), O (Oh), P (Peh), Q (Cu), R (Ereh), RR (Erreh) Roll your tongue), S (Eseh), T (Teh), U (OO), V (Veh), W (Doble Veh), X (Ekees), Y (Y egriega), Z (Zeta).
Watch for pronunciations of the vowels. The vowels are pronounced like the following English words: A- The O in Con. E- The A in Cane. I- The E's in Geese. O- The O in Low. U- The O's in Cocoon. Y- In the beginning of a word the Y makes the sound like the Y in the word Yes. At the end of the word, it makes the sound like the Y in Money. There is a little song about memorizing the vowels. Ah-eh-ee-oh-oo El burro sabe más que tú (The donkey knows more than you do).
Watch for pronunciations of the consonants. The consonants are pronounced like the English language other than the R, RR, LL, Ñ, V, G, and Q. R is a sound made by tapping the tip of your tongue to the ridge behind your front teeth, like the soft "tt" in better (this does not apply to accents that do not pronounce soft T's). RR is the sound of your tongue rolling as you pronounce R. LL is pronounced like a Y at the beginning of a word or like a J. Ñ, when pronounced should sound like this- En yay. V is pronounced as a B. Q sounds like a K (but the following U does not sound). GE and GI are pronounced like the English H in the words Head and Hill.
Watch for pronunciations when two vowels are together. When two vowels are together you have to pronounce them both. Ai and Ay make the sound of I in English. When U and E are together after a consonant like S it should sound like Sweh. Oi and oy are like in English. Allá me voy sound very similar to I am a boy.
Practice words. Words to practice to get a hold of the pronunciations: Suerte- Sware tay... vergüenza- bare gwen sah... diccionario- deek syawn ario... belleza- bay yes ah... cuidadosamente- coo ee dahd ohs ah menteh... mejor- meh hore... cumpleaños- coohm pleh an yos... audicionar- ow dee see onar... hacer- Ah sare
Start practicing sentences. Sentences like these will help you: "Si quieres convencer a un enemigo, preséntale los mejores rasgos de su carácter; nunca sus defectos."- Mahatma Gandhi (The G's are pronounced like regular G's in the English language in this sentence.) and "La vida es lo que te pasa mientras estás ocupado haciendo otras cosas."- John Lennon
Listen to Spanish speakers. Change the channel to a Spanish channel or listen to Spanish songs once a day. You will understand more and realize how the words are supposed to sound.
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