Tips for tackling tricky sounds in Spanish

2. H
No sound in Spanish.
Example: Hombre /ombre/
Let´s practice!
hablar, hacer, horno, hilo, historia,
hospital, hotel, hueso, humano, hermano
Exception: H produces the sound /h/ when the word is
borrowed such as: hobby or hámster.

3. C
c+ a, o, u produces the sound /k/
Examples: casa /kasa/, cosa /kosa/, cuando /kuando/
c+ e, i produces the sound /s/ or /th/ if you’re in Spain
Examples: cena /sena/, cielo /sielo/
Let´s practice!
cara, cola, cerca, cien, coro, curso, ciencia,
cuadro, cebra, ciclismo

4. Q
Q(u)+ e, i produces the sound /k/
Example: queso /keso/ *Not /kweso/
quien /kien/ *Not /kwien/
Let´s practice!
querer, quince, queja, pequeña, quinto,
quemar, raqueta, poquito, tranquilo,
química

5. B and V
Both letters produce the same sound /b/. The
difference between them has to do with the
spelling not with phonetics
Examples: beber /beber/ , vaso /baso/
Let´s practice!
vida, vaca, bebé, bailar, volar, verde,
balcón, veinte, saber, salvar, vencer

6. R
At the beginning/end of the word or as a double rr:
STRONGER sound
raqueta, perro, reloj, carro…
In the middle of a word: SOFTER sound
toros, sirena, ahora, paraguas…
Let´s practice!
oro, pero, roca, quiero, robar, arena,
rayo, rodilla
*If you can’t get the double rr just yet, don’t stress… It can
sometimes take a while for native Spanish speakers too!

7. LL and Y
Both letters produce the same sound
Examples: llama /yama/ yate /yate/
Pay attention to the difference between l and ll
Examples: loro /loro/ , lloro /yoro/
Let´s practice!
yo, ya, pollo, yoyó, llenar, lluvia, yogur,
llamada, ayudar, llorar

8. Z
It produces the sound /th/ in Spain or /s/ in L.A.
Examples: zumo /thumo/ or /sumo/
zapato /thapato/ or /sapato/
Let´s practice!
zona, zigzag, zorro, zombi, zapatilla, zoo
zanahoria, Zaragoza

9. Ñ
Pay attention to the difference between n /n/
and ñ /ny/
Examples: montaña vs. Montana
Let´s practice!
niño, moño, uña, piña, puño, mañana,
muñeca, dueña, soñar

10. Ñ
Pay attention to the difference between n /n/
and ñ /ny/
Examples: montaña vs. Montana
Let´s practice!
niño, moño, uña, piña, puño, mañana,
muñeca, dueña, soñar