- The "g" before a/o/u (ga/go/gu): is pronounced softly. Example: gasolina
- The "g" before e/i (ge/gi): it is pronounced strongly, like a "j". Example: gimnasio
- The "gu" with i/e (gui/gue): The "u" is not pronounced unless it carries a diaeresis. Example: guitarra
- The "c" before a, o, u (ca/co/cu): it is pronounced like a "k". Example: cama
- The "c" before e/i (ce/ci): is pronounced like a "z". Example: cima
- The "qu" with i/e (qui/que): the "u" is not pronounced, and it sounds like a "k". Example: queso
- 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!
- The "ñ" is a unique letter in Spanish. Example: "cuna" or "cuña"
- The "h" is silent except when it has the letter "c" before it ("ch"). Example: chocolate or huevo
- The "rr" is strong and "r" is soft in most cases. Example: perro or pero.
- 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.)