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Teaching guidelines +/- 15 minutes

This lesson covers Spanish pronunciation differences including pairs like 'g' and 'j' (girasol vs. jirafa), 'c' and 'z' (cero vs. zorro), and the strong vs. soft 'r' sounds (ratón vs. perro). Learn to distinguish sounds with examples such as "gimnasio" and "queso".
  1. The "g" before a/o/u (ga/go/gu): is pronounced softly. Example: gasolina
  2. The "g" before e/i (ge/gi): it is pronounced strongly, like a "j". Example: gimnasio
  3. The "gu" with i/e (gui/gue): The "u" is not pronounced unless it carries a diaeresis. Example: guitarra
  4. The "c" before a, o, u (ca/co/cu): it is pronounced like a "k". Example: cama
  5. The "c" before e/i (ce/ci): is pronounced like a "z". Example: cima
  6. The "qu" with i/e (qui/que): the "u" is not pronounced, and it sounds like a "k". Example: queso
  7. The "r" can sound like a "rr" at the beginning of a word or after the consonants "l", "n", "s". Example: rata

Misma pronunciación

g: girasol (sunflower)j: jirafa (giraffe)
c: cero (zero)z: zorro (fox)
y: hoy (today)i: imagen (image)
y: yate (yacht)ll: llave (key)
k: kiwi (kiwi)qu: quimera (chimera)
k: kayac (kayak)c: camión (truck)
b: barco (boat)v: vaso (glass)
r: ratón (mouse)rr: perro (dog)

Distinta pronunciación

r: pera (pear)rr: tierra (earth)
gu: guapo (handsome)gü: pingüino (penguin)

Exceptions!

  1. The "ñ" is a unique letter in Spanish. Example: "cuna" or "cuña"
  2. The "h" is silent except when it has the letter "c" before it ("ch"). Example: chocolate or huevo
  3. The "rr" is strong and "r" is soft in most cases. Example: perro or pero.
  4. In Spain, the letters "s", "c", and "z" have different sounds. However, in Latin America, they usually sound similar.

Exercise 1: Multiple Choice

Instruction: Choose the correct solution

1. ¿Cómo te llamas? Me ______ Carlos.

(What is your name? I am ______ Carlos.)

2. La ______ Martín es mi profesora de español.

(Mrs. ______ Martín is my Spanish teacher.)

3. Mucho gusto en ______, me llamo Ana.

(Nice to meet you, I am ______, my name is Ana.)

4. Mi apellido es García y mi ______ es Luis.

(My last name is García and my ______ is Luis.)

5. El chico y la chica se ______ en la clase.

(The boy and the girl ______ themselves in the class.)

6. El señor Gómez ______ su nombre y apellido en el formulario.

(Mr. Gómez ______ his first and last name on the form.)

Pronunciation in Spanish: An Introduction

This lesson focuses on understanding the pronunciation rules that govern many Spanish letters and letter combinations which can be tricky for A1 learners. It covers when certain letters sound alike and when they sound different, helping you recognize patterns for clearer speaking and listening.

Letters with the Same Pronunciation

In Spanish, some letters or groups of letters sound the same despite being written differently. Here are some key examples:

  • g as in girasol and j as in jirafa share a similar sound.
  • c in cero and z in zorro have the same pronunciation, especially in Latin America.
  • y in hoy and i in imagen can sound alike.
  • y in yate and ll in llave are often pronounced the same in many regions.
  • k in kiwi and qu in quimera produce the same sound.
  • b as in barco and v as in vaso sound very similar.
  • r in ratón and rr in perro demonstrate differences in strength but share similar qualities.

Letters with Different Pronunciations

Sometimes, seemingly similar letter patterns represent distinct sounds. Notable distinctions include:

  • r as in pera is a soft tap, while rr as in tierra is a strong trill.
  • gu as in guapo versus gü as in pingüino; the dotted "u" signals it should be pronounced.

Pronunciation Rules and Tips

  • g before a/o/u is soft: gasolina.
  • g before e/i is a strong sound like "j": gimnasio.
  • In gu before i/e, the u is silent unless marked with a diaeresis: guitarra.
  • c before a/o/u sounds like "k": cama.
  • c before e/i sounds like "z": cima.
  • qu before i/e sounds like "k" without sounding the u: queso.
  • r at the start of words or after l, n, s is trilled: rata.
  • ñ is unique in Spanish, pronounced as in cuña.
  • h is always silent except in the combination ch: chocolate.
  • rr is a strong trill, while r within words is usually softer: perro versus pero.

Regional Pronunciation Notes

In Spain, letters like s, c, z have different sounds known as "distinción," while in Latin America, these are often pronounced the same, which affects how you'll hear and practice pronunciation.

Useful Vocabulary and Phrases

  • ¿Cómo te llamas? - What is your name?
  • Me llamo Carlos. - My name is Carlos.
  • La señora Martín es mi profesora de español. - Mrs. Martín is my Spanish teacher.
  • Mucho gusto en conocerte. - Nice to meet you.
  • Mi apellido es García y mi nombre es Luis. - My last name is García and my first name is Luis.
  • El chico y la chica se presentan en la clase. - The boy and girl introduce themselves in class.
  • El señor Gómez escribe su nombre y apellido en el formulario. - Mr. Gómez writes his first and last name on the form.

This lesson helps Spanish learners feel confident with pronunciation essentials and subtle differences, which are foundational in communication and comprehension at the beginner level.

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