1. 1 GUIDE TO SPANISH PRONUNCIATION

2. 2 How do you say that in English? He could lead if he would get the lead out. She thought it was time to present the present. Does the boy shoot does out of season? When I saw the tear in the painting I shed a tear. Did I read that you have read my book?

3. 3 To pronounce Spanish correctly 85% of what you need to know is found in three things: TACOTACO BURRITOBURRITO PEPEPEPE A = “ah” O= “oh” U = “ooh” I = “ee” E = “ay”

4. 4 from Singing the Basics: Beginning Spanish by Mental Note Music All songs written and performed by Todd Hawkins © 2001 www.mentalnotemusic.com

5. 5 Why is it that in English We’ve got words like GOOD and FOOD GOOD and FOOD READ and READ That look more or less the same but sound different? In English you can’t necessarily sound words out, but in SPANISH…

6. 6 If you know “taco” And “burrito” And “Pepe” You know the vowels. There’s no exceptions, like with English vowels. This is always how they sound!

7. 7 In Spanish, All you’ve gotta do is Pronounce these vowels EXACTLY THE SAME Everytime you see ‘em. A, E, I, O and U.

8. 8 If you know “taco” And “burrito” And “Pepe” You know the vowels. There’s no exceptions, like with English vowels. This is always how they sound!

9. 9 It really is that simple! 85% of what you need to know to pronounce every word in Spanish is found in THESE THREE WORDS!

10. 10 If you know “taco” And “burrito” And “Pepe” You know the vowels. There’s no exceptions, like with English vowels. This is always how they sound!

11. 11

12. 12 The Other 15% (And you already know a lot of them!) LL = “y” like in tortillaLL = “y” like in tortilla J = “h” like in jalapeñoJ = “h” like in jalapeño Ñ = “ni” like in jalapeñoÑ = “ni” like in jalapeño QU = “k” like in tequilaQU = “k” like in tequila Z = “s” (like a hissing snake)Z = “s” (like a hissing snake) H = always silent (*but CH still sounds like “Ch-uh”)H = always silent (*but CH still sounds like “Ch-uh”) V = a soft “B”V = a soft “B” I’s and E’s soften “G’s” and “C’s”I’s and E’s soften “G’s” and “C’s” -- Hard G (“guh”) like in gato becomes an “h” like in Geraldo -- Hard G (“guh”) like in gato becomes an “h” like in Geraldo -- Hard C (“k”) like in Carmen becomes “s” like in ciencias. -- Hard C (“k”) like in Carmen becomes “s” like in ciencias.

13. 13 Vowel Blends When there is a strong and weak vowel together they make something called a diphthong or vowel blend.When there is a strong and weak vowel together they make something called a diphthong or vowel blend. AOE I U

14. 14 Vowel Blends The two vowels are pronounced as ONE SYLLABLE. You still HEAR each vowel, but one is “drowned out” a bit.The two vowels are pronounced as ONE SYLLABLE. You still HEAR each vowel, but one is “drowned out” a bit. ua like in cuandoua like in cuando ue like in puertaue like in puerta ia like in demasiadoia like in demasiado ie like in viernesie like in viernes iu like in ciudadiu like in ciudad

15. 15 NOT Vowel Blends If a weak and a strong vowel appear together but one has an ACCENT MARK, they are NOT pronounced as ONE SYLLABLE. You hear each vowel alone.If a weak and a strong vowel appear together but one has an ACCENT MARK, they are NOT pronounced as ONE SYLLABLE. You hear each vowel alone. uó like in continuóuó like in continuó ía like in díaía like in día ío like in fríoío like in frío

16. 16 Pronunciation Promises If you determine to pronounce every word you see correctly, in four weeks you won’t have to think about pronunciation anymore − it will become natural. If you do this, you won’t have to memorize spelling (with the exception of H, B/V, C/S). If you can say the word correctly, you can get it in your head and spell it like it sounds.

17. 17 PRACTICE Working with a partner, you should find a vocabulary page in the textbook together. Practice saying the words listed. We will come back and practice as a whole group later.

18. 18 PRACTICE civil

19. 19 bicicleta PRACTICE

20. 20 mate PRACTICE

21. 21 funeral PRACTICE

22. 22 doctor PRACTICE

23. 23 taller PRACTICE

24. 24 chocolate PRACTICE

25. 25 natural PRACTICE

26. 26 gasolina PRACTICE

27. 27 tornado PRACTICE

28. 28 radical PRACTICE

29. 29 violencia PRACTICE

30. 30 pagan PRACTICE

31. 31 capital PRACTICE

32. 32 dice PRACTICE

33. 33 fatal PRACTICE

34. 34 real PRACTICE

35. 35 federal PRACTICE

36. 36 automóvil PRACTICE

37. 37 práctica PRACTICE

38. 38 melón PRACTICE

39. 39 posible PRACTICE

40. 40 JUST TRY IT! impermeabilización