Vowels and Alphabet - Vocales y Alfabeto
This lesson includes information on:
- Spanish Alphabet
- Diphthongs
- Syllable Stress
- Accents
- Related Vocabulary
The Spanish alphabet is very similar to the English alphabet, but there are some differences. There are vowels and consonants, but in Spanish there are 3 consonants that don’t exist in English: ch, ll, rr. Unlike English letters, Spanish letters are almost always pronounced the same.
| Letters |
Name
|
Conditions
for Pronunciation |
Pronunciation in English |
Example (and transalation) |
| A |
ah |
father |
amigo
(friend) |
|
| B |
b |
boy |
bella
(beautiful) |
|
| C |
se |
|
|
|
| Ch |
che |
chain |
chico
(boy) |
|
| D |
de |
dog |
domingo
(Sunday) |
|
| E |
eh |
soft
e |
met |
elefante
(elephant) |
| F |
efe |
fox |
fin
(end) |
|
| G |
ge |
|
|
|
| H |
hache |
not
pronounced |
hour |
hora
(hour) |
| I |
e |
hard
e |
meet |
idea
(idea) |
| J |
jota |
h |
hose (from back of the throat) |
jamón
(ham) |
| K |
ka |
bark |
kilo (kilogram) | |
| L |
ele |
look |
libro
(book) |
|
| LL |
elle |
y |
yarn |
lluvia
(rain) |
| M |
eme |
maple |
mano
(hand) |
|
| N |
ene |
north |
uno
(one) |
|
| Ñ | eñe | ny |
canyon |
señor
(mister) |
| O |
o |
open |
ojos (eyes) | |
| P |
pe |
paper |
pelo
(hair) |
|
| Q |
ku |
quit |
queso
(cheese) |
|
| R |
ere |
radio |
pero
(but) |
|
| RR |
erre |
trilled
r |
rolling
r not pronounced in English |
perro
(dog) |
| S |
ese |
sit |
sol
(sun) |
|
| T |
te |
tomato |
tres
(three) |
|
| U |
u |
super |
uno
(one) |
|
| V |
ve |
very |
vida
(life) |
|
| W |
doble
u or doble ve |
welcome |
Web
(web) |
|
| X |
equis |
ks |
extra | examen
(exam) |
| Y |
ye
or
igriega |
|
|
|
| Z |
zeta |
sit |
zapato
(shoe) |
2. Diphthongs
Diphthongs occur when two vowels are side-by-side and pronounced together.
| Diphthong |
Pronounce both but... | Example (and translation) |
| au |
emphasize the first vowel | pausa
(pause) |
| ei |
emphasize the first vowel | veinte
(twenty) |
| ia |
emphasize the second vowel | viaje
(trip) |
| ie |
emphasize the second vowel | viejo
(old) |
| iu |
emphasize the second vowel |
ciudad
(city) |
| ua | emphasize the second vowel | suave
(smooth) |
| ue |
emphasize the second vowel | fuego
(fire) |
| ui |
emphasize the second vowel | huida
(escape) |
3. Syllable Stress
There are three rules to syllable stress
| Rules |
Pronunciation |
| 1.
Accent mark |
Stress the syllable with an accent mark |
| 2.
Words ending in a vowel, s, or n |
Stress the next to last syllable for words ending in a vowel, s, or n. |
| 3.
Rules 1 & 2 do not apply |
If
rules 1 & 2 do not apply then stress the last syllable |
4. Accents
Accents are primarily used to indicate syllable stress. When accents are not indicating syllable stress, they are used to differentiate words that have the same spelling. For example,
| Spanish |
English |
| sí | yes |
| si |
if |
| él |
he |
| el |
the |
5. Related Vocabulary
| Spanish | English |
| VOCALES |
VOWELS |
| A | |
| América | America |
| Amigo | Friend |
| Amable | Nice |
| Aire | Air |
| Mamá | Mom |
| Pan | Bread |
| Caro | Expensive |
| Arroz | Rice |
| Avión | Airplane |
| Ardilla | Chipmonk |
| E | |
| España | Spain |
| Pedro | Peter |
| Especial | Special |
| Té | Tea |
| Elefante | Elephant |
| Escalera | Stair |
| Equipo | Team |
| I | |
| Inglés |
English |
| Idea |
Idea |
| Ir |
To go |
| Día |
Day |
| Cita |
Date/meeting |
| Iglesia
|
Church |
| Inteligente |
Smart |
| O | |
| Ojos | Eyes |
| Oreja | Ear |
| Opinión | Opinion |
| Ocho | Eight |
| Cinco | Five |
| Caro | Expensive |
| Oso | Bear |
| Oveja | Sheep |
| U | |
| Unión | Union |
| Uno | One |
| Cuba | Cuba |
| Unir | To unite |
| Último | Last |
| Uña | Finger nail |
| Uva | Grape |
| Universidad | University |
| Y | |
| Treinta y dos | Thirty two |
| CONSONANTES | CONSONANTS |
| B | |
| Bella | Beautiful |
| Biblioteca | Library |
| Blanco | White/blank |
| Bicicleta | Bicycle |
| Barco | Boat |
| Bailar | To dance |
| Banano | Banana |
| Boca | Mouth |
| C | |
| Cabeza | Head |
| Casa | House |
| Color | Color |
| Clase | Class |
| Cruz | Cross |
| Cristal | Crystal |
| Claro | Clear |
| Carro | Car |
| Caballo | Horse |
| Cuchara | Spoon |
| Cuchillo | Knife |
| CH | |
| Chico |
Boy/small |
| Muchacha |
Girl |
| Dichoso |
Happy/Fortunate |
| Chistoso |
Funny |
| Hacha |
Axe |
| Champiñones |
Mushrooms |
| D | |
| Domingo | Sunday |
| Dios | God |
| Dólar | Dollar |
| Día | Day |
| Droga | Drug |
| Falda | Skirt |
| Donde | Where |
| Delfín | Dolphin |
| Dinero | Money |
| F | |
| Fotografía | Photograph |
| Fin | End |
| Flor | Flower |
| Falso | FALSE |
| Famoso | Famous |
| Café | Café/Coffee |
| Foca | Seal |
| G | |
| General | General |
| Gente | People |
| Género | Kind/type |
| Generoso | Generous |
| Gigante | Gigantic/giant |
| Imaginar | Imagine |
| Gitano | Gypsy |
| Gigantesco | Gigantic |
| Gato | Cat |
| Gas | Gas |
| Abrigo | Coat |
| Algo | Something |
| Gusano | Caterpillar/Worm |
| Gustar | To like |
| Guerra | War |
| Guerrilla | Guerrilla (Warfare) |
| Guitarra | Guitar |
| Guión | Hyphen |
| Águila | Eagle |
| Vergüenza | Shame |
| Antigüedad | Antiquity |
| Cigüeña | Stork/Winch/Ostrich |
| Lingüista | Linguist |
| Pingüino | Penguin |
| Guatemala | Guatemala |
| Agua | Water |
| Guapo | Handsome |
| Aguacate | Avocado |
| Antiguo | Old/Antique |
| H | |
| (Es muda, no se pronuncia) | (It's silent, it is not pronounced) |
| Hombre | Man |
| Hablar | To speak |
| Hormiga | Ant |
| Helado | Ice Cream |
| Hombro | Shoulder |
| Hambre | Hunger |
| J | |
| Jamón | Ham |
| Viaje | Trip |
| Mujer | Woman |
| Joven | Young |
| Juventud | Youth |
| Rojo | Red |
| Jabón | Soap |
| Jirafa | Girafe |
| Jueves | Thursday |
| K | |
| Kilómetro | Kilometer |
| Kilo | Kilogram |
| Koala | Koala bear |
| L | |
| Libro | Book |
| Labios | Lips |
| Lavar | To Wash |
| Lunes | Monday |
| Luna | Moon |
| Lápiz | Pencil |
| Lechuga | Lettuce |
| LL | |
| Llamar | To call |
| Taller | Workshop |
| Lluvia | Rain |
| Caballo | Horse |
| Llegar | To arrive |
| Llave | Key |
| Calle | Street |
| M | |
| Mano | Hand |
| Mamá | Mom |
| Camino | Path |
| Mono | Monkey |
| Manzana | Apple |
| Miel | Honey |
| N | |
| No | No |
| Uno | One |
| Norte | North |
| Noche | Night |
| Nada | Nothing |
| Nieve | Snow |
| Nido | Nest |
| Navaja | Pocket knife |
| Ñ | |
| Sólo se utiliza en medio de las palabras | Only used in the middle of words |
| Año | Year |
| Señor | Mister |
| Mañana | Tomorrow |
| Señorita | Miss |
| Cigüeña | Ostrich |
| P | |
| Pan | Bread |
| Papá | Dad |
| Puente | Bridge |
| Palacio | Palace |
| Perro | Dog |
| Pies | Feet |
| Pelo | Hair |
| Papaya | Papaya |
| Piña | Pineapple |
| Piel | Skin |
| Pepino | Cucumber |
| Q | |
| Parque | Park |
| Qué | What |
| Queso | Cheese |
| Quetzal | Quetzal (native bird to Guatemala) |
| Porque | Because |
| Aquí | Here |
| Quiero | I want |
| Quien | Who |
| Química | Chemical/Chemistry |
| R | |
| Rosa | Rose |
| Región | Region |
| Alrededor | Around |
| Honrado | Honest |
| Enrique | Richard |
| Pero | But |
| Profesora | Professor/Teacher |
| Estudiar | To study |
| Comprender | To understand |
| Rana | Frog |
| Ratón | Mouse |
| RR | |
| Perro | Dog |
| Correr | Run |
| Cerrar | To close |
| Guitarra | Guitar |
| S | |
| Suéter | Sweater |
| Isla | Island |
| Historia | History |
| Estudiante | Student |
| Escuela | School |
| Sombrero | Hat |
| Sol | Sun |
| Sacerdote | Priest |
| Silencio | Silence |
| T | |
| Tener | To have |
| Tres | Three |
| Tren | Train |
| Tiempo | Time |
| Tomar | To take |
| Tortuga | Tortoise |
| Tiburón | Shark |
| Tenedor | Fork |
| V | |
| Víbora | Viper |
| Vida | Life |
| Victoria | Victory |
| Venado | Deer |
| Vaca | Cow |
| Vaso | Glass |
| X | |
| Examen | Exam |
| Existir | Exist |
| Exótico | Exotic |
| Éxito | Success |
| Extranjero | Foreigner |
| Explorar | To explore |
| Explicar | To explain |
| Extraño | Strange |
| Xilófono | Xylophone |
| Y | |
| Yo | I |
| Ya | Already |
| Mayo | may |
| Desayuno | Breakfast |
| Vaya | Go (subjunctive) |
| Playa | Beach |
| Hoy | Today |
| Hay | There are/is |
| Soy | I am |
| Voy | I go |
| Estoy | I am |
| Ley | Law |
| Rey | King |
| Sal y pimienta | Salt and pepper |
| ¿Y te vas? | And you're going? |
| Y | And |
| Yoyo | Yo yo |
| Z | |
| Zorro | Fox |
| Lápiz | Pencil |
| Zapato | Shoe |
| Paz | Peace |
| Zanahoria | Carrot |
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Español de Principiante I: Vocales y Alfabeto (en Español)
Esta lección incluye información sobre:
- El Alfabeto Español
- Los Diptongos
- El Acento Silábico
- Los Acentos
- Vocabulário Relacionado
El alfabeto Español es muy similar de lo Inglés. Hay vocales y consonantes, pero en Español hay 3 consonantes que no existen en Inglés: ch, ll, rr. En contraste con Inglés, en Español las letras casi siempre son pronunciadas igual.
| Letras |
Nombre
|
Condiciones
para Pronunciación (Inglés) |
Pronunciación en Inglés | Ejemplo (y traducción) |
| A |
ah |
father |
Amigo (friend) |
|
| B |
b |
boy |
Bella
(beautiful) |
|
| C |
se |
|
|
|
| Ch |
che |
chain |
Chico
(boy) |
|
| D |
de |
dog |
Domingo
(Sunday) |
|
| E |
eh |
e
suave |
met |
Elefente
(elephant) |
| F |
efe |
fox |
Fin
(end) |
|
| G |
ge |
|
|
|
| H |
hache |
no
se pronuncia |
hour |
Hora
(hour) |
| I |
e |
e
fuerte |
meet |
Idea
(idea) |
| J |
jota |
h |
Jose (from back of the throat) |
Jamón
(ham) |
| K |
ka |
bark |
Kilo (kilogram) | |
| L |
ele |
look |
Libro (book) |
|
| LL |
elle |
y |
yarn |
Lluvia (rain) |
| M |
eme |
maple |
Mano (hand) |
|
| N |
ene |
north |
Uno (one) |
|
| Ñ | eñe | ny |
canyon |
Señor
(mister) |
| O |
o |
open |
Ojos (eyes) | |
| P |
pe |
paper |
Pelo (hair) |
|
| Q |
ku |
quit |
Queso (cheese) |
|
| R |
ere |
radio |
Pero (but) |
|
| RR |
erre |
r
trinado |
rolling
r not pronounced in English |
Perro (dog) |
| S |
ese |
sit |
Sol (sun) |
|
| T |
te |
tomato |
Tres (three) |
|
| U |
u |
super |
Uno (one) |
|
| V |
ve |
very |
Vida (life) |
|
| W |
doble
u or doble ve |
welcome |
Web
(web) |
|
| X |
equis |
ks |
extra | Examen (exam) |
| Y |
ye
or
igriega |
|
|
|
| Z |
zeta |
sit |
Zapato (shoe) |
2. Los Diptongos
Los diptongos ocurren cuando dos vocales están lado-a-lado y son pronunciadas juntas.
| Diptongo |
Pronuncie las dos pero... | Ejemplo (y traducción) |
| au |
acentúe la primera vocal | pausa
(pause) |
| ei |
acentúe la primera vocal | veinte
(twenty) |
| ia |
acentúe la segunda vocal | viaje
(trip) |
| ie |
acentúe la segunda vocal | viejo
(old) |
| iu |
acentúe la segunda vocal | ciudad
(city) |
| ua | acentúe la segunda vocal | suave
(smooth) |
| ue |
acentúe la segunda vocal | fuego
(fire) |
| ui |
acentúe la segunda vocal | huida
(escape) |
3. El Acento Silábico
Hay tres reglas para el acento silábico.
| Reglas |
Pronunciación |
| 1.
Acento |
acentúe la sílaba con el acento |
| 2.
Palabras que terminan en una vocal, s, o n |
acentúe la penúltima sílaba para palabras que terminan en una vocal, s, o n. |
| 3.
Reglas 1 & 2 no se aplican |
acentúe la última sílaba |
4. Los Acentos
Acentos son usados principalmente para indicar énfasis silábico. Cuando acentos no indican énfasis silábico, son usados para diferenciar palabras que tienen la misma ortografía. Por ejemplo,
| Español | Inglés |
| sí | yes |
| si |
if |
| él |
he |
| el |
the |
5. Vocabulário Relacionado
| Español | Inglés |
| VOCALES |
VOWELS |
| A | |
| América | America |
| Amigo | Friend |
| Amable | Nice |
| Aire | Air |
| Mamá | Mom |
| Pan | Bread |
| Caro | Expensive |
| Arroz | Rice |
| Avión | Airplane |
| Ardilla | Chipmonk |
| E | |
| España | Spain |
| Pedro | Peter |
| Especial | Special |
| Té | Tea |
| Elefante | Elephant |
| Escalera | Stair |
| Equipo | Team |
| I | |
| Inglés |
English |
| Idea |
Idea |
| Ir |
To go |
| Día |
Day |
| Cita |
Date/meeting |
| Iglesia
|
Church |
| Inteligente |
Smart |
| O | |
| Ojos | Eyes |
| Oreja | Ear |
| Opinión | Opinion |
| Ocho | Eight |
| Cinco | Five |
| Caro | Expensive |
| Oso | Bear |
| Oveja | Sheep |
| U | |
| Unión | Union |
| Uno | One |
| Cuba | Cuba |
| Unir | To unite |
| Último | Last |
| Uña | Finger nail |
| Uva | Grape |
| Universidad | University |
| Y | |
| Treinta y dos | Thirty two |
| CONSONANTES | CONSONANTS |
| B | |
| Bella | Beautiful |
| Biblioteca | Library |
| Blanco | White/blank |
| Bicicleta | Bicycle |
| Barco | Boat |
| Bailar | To dance |
| Banano | Banana |
| Boca | Mouth |
| C | |
| Cabeza | Head |
| Casa | House |
| Color | Color |
| Clase | Class |
| Cruz | Cross |
| Cristal | Crystal |
| Claro | Clear |
| Carro | Car |
| Caballo | Horse |
| Cuchara | Spoon |
| Cuchillo | Knife |
| CH | |
| Chico |
Boy/small |
| Muchacha |
Girl |
| Dichoso |
Happy/Fortunate |
| Chistoso |
Funny |
| Hacha |
Axe |
| Champiñones |
Mushrooms |
| D | |
| Domingo | Sunday |
| Dios | God |
| Dólar | Dollar |
| Día | Day |
| Droga | Drug |
| Falda | Skirt |
| Donde | Where |
| Delfín | Dolphin |
| Dinero | Money |
| F | |
| Fotografía | Photograph |
| Fin | End |
| Flor | Flower |
| Falso | FALSE |
| Famoso | Famous |
| Café | Café/Coffee |
| Foca | Seal |
| G | |
| General | General |
| Gente | People |
| Género | Kind/type |
| Generoso | Generous |
| Gigante | Gigantic/giant |
| Imaginar | Imagine |
| Gitano | Gypsy |
| Gigantesco | Gigantic |
| Gato | Cat |
| Gas | Gas |
| Abrigo | Coat |
| Algo | Something |
| Gusano | Caterpillar/Worm |
| Gustar | To like |
| Guerra | War |
| Guerrilla | Guerrilla (Warfare) |
| Guitarra | Guitar |
| Guión | Hyphen |
| Águila | Eagle |
| Vergüenza | Shame |
| Antigüedad | Antiquity |
| Cigüeña | Stork/Winch/Ostrich |
| Lingüista | Linguist |
| Pingüino | Penguin |
| Guatemala | Guatemala |
| Agua | Water |
| Guapo | Handsome |
| Aguacate | Avocado |
| Antiguo | Old/Antique |
