1. Spanish 1 Review Spelling and Pronunciation
Ms. Perez

2. Goals and Objectives Pronouncing different consonants and vowels
Identifying spelling rules
Stressing the correct syllable
Writing accent marks when necessary

3. Spelling
Spanish is very consistent in its spelling and pronunciation rules.
Spanish is a phonetic language
Spelling is quite predictable and easier than English
Even terrible spellers of the English language can master the spelling of Spanish words.

4. Consonants Double consonants Cognates The letter c The letter g
The letter j
The letter h
The letter d
The letter t
The letters b and v
Dictionary entries

5. Double consonants Consonants are almost never doubled
There are 4 exceptions Ll Rr Cc
Used to produce the k or x sound as in diccionario

6. Cognates
Words that are written the same or similar in two or more languages and have the same meaning
Usually easier to spell in Spanish than in English
P in Spanish will never be used to produce an f sound
Teléfono (telephone)
Elefante (elephant)
Filosofia (philosophy)
Exception: Psycología (Psychology)

7. The letter c Pronounced like a k when it is followed by an o, a, or u
Cama
Comida
Cuna
Cacahuate
Pronounced like an s when it is followed by an e or i
Cinturon
Cena
The qu combination must be used to produce the k sound in front of an e or i
Mosquito (mosquito)

8. The following words have a sound like k
qu = k in front of e or i
Que
Aquí
c = k in front of o, a, or u
Comer
Culebra
Cantar
The following words have a sound like s
c = s in front of e or i
Cinta
Cenar

9. cc = ks
Diccionario
Accidente

10. The letter g
In English and in Spanish there is a “hard” g sound and a “soft” g sound
Goat
Gem
Ganar
Girafa

11. English & Spanish Hard g = when g is followed by an o, a or u
Soft g = when g is followed by an e or I
This rule is much more consistent in Spanish.

12. Hard g Hard g = when g is followed by an o, a or u
The g in the following words is exactly like good, gallant, or gum
Goma (eraser)
Ganar (to win, earn)
Guante (glove)

13. Exceptions!!!
Sometimes a u is placed between the g and an e or i to produce the hard g sound in the following words
Guerrilla
Guitarra
When the u sound is desired, a ¨ (dieresis) is placed over the u (ü)
Bilingüe (bilingual)

14. Soft g Soft g = when g is followed by an e or I
The soft g in Spanish sounds like the English letter h
The g in the following words is exactly like hat or heat
Gente
Gitana

15. The letter j Also has an English h sound
It is difficult to predict whether to use a j or g to produce an English h sound when followed by an e or i
Jefe
Jira
Gimnasio
Gema

16. It is at least certain that words with the h sound in front of o, a or u (jo, ja, and ju) are always spelled with a j

17. The letter h Is always silent.
It exists because of the way the language has evolved
Now a days it just seems to confuse spelling issues
How do you know when a word will begin with a silent h?
Simply focus on the spelling of word that you learn beginning with the silent h.

18. The letter d Is a bit softer in Spanish
Has the basic sound as the d in English BUT will not be stressed at the end of the word like we do in English.
In Spanish the d at the end of a word will barely be pronounced.
Made
Madrid
Will never be used as a double consonant

19. The letter t Similar to English Will never be a double consonant
But much softer
Especially when it is followed by an r
Tratar
Trabajar
Tobillo
Taco
Will never be a double consonant

20. The letters b and v
Many Spanish speakers have difficulty determining which letter to use
It’s usually easier for English speakers to remember how to spell correctly when using b and v
Vivir
Beber
Gobernar
Review the pronunciation of the b and v. Remind them that b is pronounced with the lips and v with the teeth on the bottom lip.

21. Dictionary Entries
Remember that ll and rr are considered separate letter.
the Spanish side of some dictionaries will list
words beginning with ll after the words beginning with a single l
words beginning with rr after words beginning with a single r.

22. Cont. Dictionary Entries
The letter ch will be found in the ch section of most dictionaries at the end of the c section.

23. Cont. Dictionary Entries
Another place where the dictionary listings may confuse you is when a word has the Spanish letter ñ.
The little squiggle on the n is called a tilde.
it creates an entirely new letter that will follow the n’s in the dictionary

24. Cont. Dictionary Entries
For example
You will find that the word mañana is listed after manzana.
The ñ is pronounced like the ny combo in “canyon” or the ni combo in “onion”
Have them look up the words in the dictionary.

25. Vowels Vowel sounds and spellings
Every vowel has only ONE way to be pronounced
It will be pronounced that way in EVERY word.
There are NO silent vowels in Spanish!!

26. Diphthongs Means double sound
Are produced by combining a “strong” and a “weak” vowel.
“Strong” vowels
a, e, and o
“Weak” vowels
i and u

27. Cont. Dipthongs
When two “strong” vowels are used together, the result is two separate syllables with both vowels strongly pronounced.
empeorar
When a “strong” vowel is used beside a “weak” vowel, the resulting single syllable, is a slur of the two vowels.
patio
propietario

28. Stress and Accentuation
The stress of a word follows two simple rules.
Understanding them is imperative for pronouncing words and understanding why written accent marks are sometimes necessary:

29. Cont. Stress and Accentuation
If a word ends in any consonant other than n or s, the natural stress will be on the last syllable.
Ex: dificultad, devolver
If a word ends in a vowel or the letter n or s, the natural stress is on the next-to-last syllable.
Ex: diccionario, anaranjado

30. Exceptions!!! Written accent marks
English –tion to Spanish –ción cognates do not follow these rules.

31. Purpose of Writing Accent marks

32. 1
To indicate that this particular word is supposed to be stressed somewhere other than the syllable where it would be stressed naturally if it followed the “stress” rules
Ex: introducción

33. 2
To indicate that the weaker vowel is to be pronounced as well as the stronger vowel
This creates two separate syllables, and the stress will be on the accented syllable.

34. 3
It is used to differentiate between two words that would otherwise be spelled the same
Ex: the word si means if, BUT the word sí means yes

35. Rules
Accent marks may seem to be randomly placed in a word, but there are actually very easy rules to explain why they are used.
There is only one kind of accent.
There is only one accent in any word.
An accent can be placed only on a vowel, never on a consonant.