Spanish Alphabet and Pronunciation Guide: Vowels
The Spanish vowels are short, pure, and always pronounced the same. After memorizing the vowel sounds and practicing them, you will be able to consistently pronounce them correctly.
THE SPANISH VOWEL "a"
The vowel "a" is pronounced like the "a" in the English word "father".
Sample Words
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1. mamá - mom
2. encantada - pleased; enchanted 3. mañana - morning; tomorrow 4. gracias - thank you |
5. pastel - cake
6. tarde - late; afternoon 7. hora - hour 8. para - for; in order to |
9. caja - box
10. nada - nothing 11. María - Maria 12. hola - hi; hello |
THE SPANISH VOWEL "e"
The vowel "e" is pronounced like the "e" in the English word "elephant."
Sample Words
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1. estar - to be
2. enfermo - sick 3. en - in; at; on 4. el - the |
5. verde - green
6. tren - train 7. José - Jose 8. primero - first |
9. este - east
10. oeste - west 11. feliz - happy 12. de - of; from; about |
THE SPANISH VOWEL "i"
The Spanish vowel "i" is always pronounced like the "ee" in the English word "greet".
Sample Words
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1. final - final
2. triste - sad 3. irresistible - irresistible 4. delicioso - delicious 5. mi - my 6. favorito - favorite |
7. niño - child
8. prima - cousin 9. lindo - pretty; cute 10. día - day 11. China - China 12. México - Mexico |
13. interesante - interesting
14. frito - fried 15. comida - food 16. capital - capital 17. cinco - five 18. rica - delicious; rich |
Sample Sentences
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1. El final de esta película es muy triste. - The end of this film is very sad.
2. El niño de mi prima es lindo. - My cousin's son is cute. 3. La piscina es irresistible. - The pool is irresistible. 4. La comida está rica hoy. - The food is delicious today. 5. La comida china es deliciosa. - Chinese food is delicious. |
THE SPANISH VOWEL "o"
The vowel "o" is always pronounced like the "o" in the English word "hope".
Sample Words
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1. ¿Dónde?
2. tío - uncle 3. sólo - only 4. solo - alone |
5. comprar - to buy
6. ocho - eight 7. dos - two 8. ¿Cómo? - How? |
9. loro - parrot
10. loco - crazy 11. nosotros - we 12. o - or |
THE SPANISH VOWEL "u"
The vowel "u" is always pronounced like the "u" in the English word "fluke".
Sample Words
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1. gustar - to like
2. nueces - nuts 3. fruta - fruit 4. sueño - dream |
5. bueno - good
6. nueve - nine 7. huevo - egg 8. suegro - father-in-law |
9. menú - menu
10. restaurante - restaurant 11. chupar - to suck 12. jugar - to play |