Spanish sounds and word stress

Give each vowel a clear sound

Spanish has five basic vowel sounds: a, e, i, o, u. Keep each one clear and relatively steady. Avoid turning a single vowel into a long English-style glide.

Listen to casa, mesa, sí, poco, and uno. Repeat each word slowly, then at a comfortable speaking pace. English spelling approximations are imperfect, so use listening and repetition as your main guide.

Three spelling patterns to recognize

The letter h is normally silent in Spanish words: hola begins with a vowel sound. The letter ñ has a distinct sound, roughly like the ny in canyon, though that comparison is only a starting point.

In most varieties, b and v represent the same set of sounds. Do not force an English v sound into vivir. Pronunciation of ll and y varies by region, so hearing different versions is normal.

Identify the stressed syllable

For most words ending in a vowel, n, or s, stress the next-to-last syllable: HO-la, GRA-cias. For most words ending in another consonant, stress the final syllable: ha-BLAR.

A written accent can show that the stress falls elsewhere: ca-FÉ. Some written accents also distinguish words, such as tú (you) and tu (your); they do not always signal an unusual stress pattern.

Finish by reading hola, mañana, café, and hablar aloud. Focus on the vowels and stressed syllable rather than speed.

Lesson vocabulary

Read each word aloud, then test your recall of its meaning.

Practice questions

Answer the questions and read the explanations. You can repeat the exercises.

Clear vowels and the right stressed syllable will help you be understood. Different regional accents are normal.