Spanish Pronunciation Guide: How to Pronounce Spanish Words
Spanish is one of the easiest languages to read out loud, because spelling and sound match far more closely than in English. Learn about a dozen rules and you can pronounce almost any word you see, even one you have never heard. Here they are, with audio for the sounds that need a model.
Quick answer
- Five vowels, one sound each: a, e, i, o, u are always short and clean: “ah, eh, ee, oh, oo.”
- Most consonants are close to English. Watch the silent h, the j (and g before e or i) that sounds like an English h, ll and y, ñ, and rr.
- Stress follows a rule: words ending in a vowel, n, or s are stressed on the next-to-last syllable. Any other ending is stressed on the last one. An accent mark overrides both rules.
The five Spanish vowels
English vowels glide and change: say “no” slowly and you will hear it end in a small “w” sound. Spanish vowels stay still. Keep your mouth in one position from the start of the vowel to the end, and keep every vowel short and clear, even in unstressed syllables.
| Letter | Sound | Close English sound | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| a | ah | father | casa (house) |
| e | eh | bed, without the “ay” glide | mesa (table) |
| i | ee | machine | mi (my) |
| o | oh | go, without the “ow” glide | foto (photo) |
| u | oo | food | uno (one) |
Examples
- casahouseKAH-sah
- mesatableMEH-sah
- mi amigomy friendmee ah-MEE-goh
- fotophotoFOH-toh
- unooneOO-noh
Consonants that work differently from English
Many consonants sound just like their English cousins: m, n, l, f, s, p, t and k sounds are very close. The ones below are where English speakers need a new habit. Spanish p, t, and k also have no puff of air. Hold your hand in front of your mouth: the English word “pan” blows on it, the Spanish pan should barely move it.
| Spelling | Sound | Example |
|---|---|---|
| b and v | The same soft “b.” Spanish has no English-style “v.” | vaso (glass), bueno (good) |
| c before a, o, u | k | casa, cosa (thing) |
| c before e, i | s in Latin America | cena (dinner), cine (movies) |
| z | s in Latin America | zapato (shoe) |
| g before a, o, u | hard g, as in “go” | gato (cat) |
| g before e, i | like an English h | gente (people) |
| gu before e, i | hard g; the u is silent | guitarra (guitar) |
| h | silent | hola (hello), hotel |
| j | like an English h, a little stronger | jamón (ham) |
| ll and y | like the y in “yes” in most of Mexico and Latin America | calle (street), yo (I) |
| ñ | ny, as in “canyon” | año (year) |
| qu | k; the u is silent | queso (cheese) |
| ch | like the ch in “church” | mucho (a lot) |
| d between vowels | soft, close to the th in “this” | nada (nothing) |
| x | usually ks, but h in México | taxi, México |
Examples
- Bebo un vaso de leche de vaca.I drink a glass of cow’s milk.b and v sound the same.
- La gente vive en la ciudad.The people live in the city.g before e sounds like h; c before i sounds like s.
- Hola, quiero queso y jamón.Hello, I want cheese and ham.Silent h, silent u, and the j.
- El niño llama al caballo.The boy calls the horse.ñ and ll.
- El zapato de Cecilia.Cecilia’s shoe.z and c before i sound like s.
Syllables and stress
Every Spanish word splits into syllables, and one of them is said louder and longer. You do not have to guess which one, because two simple rules decide it.
The r and rr sounds have their own page: see how to roll your r in Spanish.
| The word ends in | Stress falls on | Example |
|---|---|---|
| A vowel, n, or s | the next-to-last syllable | HA-blo, ca-SAS, HA-blan |
| Any other consonant | the last syllable | ha-BLAR, ciu-DAD, fe-LIZ |
| An accent mark | the marked syllable, always | te-LÉ-fo-no, ca-FÉ, can-CIÓN |
Examples
- teléfonotelephoneteh-LEH-foh-noh
- hablarto speakah-BLAR
- cafécoffeekah-FEH
- canciónsongkahn-SYOHN
Accent marks are not decoration. If you see one, say that syllable louder. Without the accent, canción would follow the first rule and sound like “CAN-cion.”
Sentences to practice out loud
Listen first, then say each sentence at the same speed. Record yourself on your phone and compare. A single minute a day is enough to start changing your accent.
Examples
- Mi amigo Jorge vive en Guadalajara.My friend Jorge lives in Guadalajara.g, j, and the stress on -ra.
- ¿Quieres un café con leche?Do you want a coffee with milk?qu and the accent on café.
- La cena es a las siete.Dinner is at seven.c before e sounds like s.
- Hoy hace mucho calor.It is very hot today.Silent h, and ch sounds like English ch.
Common mistakes
Incorrect: HOH-lah, said with an English h
Correct: hola
The h is always silent. Start with the vowel: OH-lah.
Incorrect: GEH-nteh, with a hard g
Correct: gente
G before e or i sounds like an English h: HEN-teh.
Incorrect: KAH-lee, reading ll as an l
Correct: calle
Ll sounds like the y in “yes”: KAH-yeh.
Incorrect: TEL-eh-fone, stressed on the first syllable
Correct: teléfono
The accent mark shows the stress: teh-LEH-foh-noh.
Three habits that fix most accents
- Keep your vowels still. No “ow” at the end of o, and no “ay” at the end of e.
- Say every syllable with a similar length. Spanish rhythm is more even than English.
- When a word has an accent mark, put your stress there. When it does not, use the ending rule.
Mini practice
5 quick questions. You get feedback right after each answer.
Frequently asked questions
Is Spanish pronunciation the same in every country?
The vowels and most consonants are the same everywhere. The biggest differences are regional habits: most of Spain says c and z with a “th” sound, parts of the Caribbean soften the s at the end of syllables, and Mexico has a few words, such as México, where x sounds like h. The audio on this site uses Latin American Spanish.
Do I need to learn the phonetic alphabet?
No. Spanish spelling is reliable enough that the rules on this page are all you need. Respellings like “OH-lah” are only a bridge until you hear the sound a few times.
Why do I still sound like an English speaker?
The usual causes are gliding vowels, English stress patterns, and the puff of air on p, t, and k. Fix those three before worrying about anything else.
How can I practice without a teacher?
Listen to a short phrase, repeat it out loud, and record yourself. Playing your recording next to the original shows you the difference faster than any rule.
Ready to practice your Spanish?
Hear a word, say it out loud, then check what it means. Short practice sessions are the fastest way to make the sounds automatic.
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