El abecedario español (How it should sound to you in English!) a AH ñ ENYAY (as in canyon) b BAY (also BAY GRANDE) o OH c* SAY* p PAY d DAY (sounds like /TH/ q KOOH when between 2 vowels) e AY r EHDAY (as in “Eddie/Betty”) f EHFAY s EHSAY g* HAY* t TAY h AHCHAY (silent in speech) u OO i EE v OOBAY (also BAY CHICA) j HOHTAH (English /H/ sound) w DOHBLAY BAY k KAH x AYKEES (English /H/ sound) l EHLAY y* EE GREEYAYGAH m EHMAY z SAYTAH (always /S/ sound; no buzz) n EHNAY *The c and g in Spanish have TWO possible sounds each: e e c sounds like English /S/as in sea g sounds like English /H/ i i

a a c o sounds like English /K/ g o sounds like English /G/ as in go u u

*The y in Spanish has TWO possible sounds: - at the beginning of a word or on the middle, it sounds like /Y/ as in yes - alone or at end of a word, it sounds like a Spanish i (ee) as in any *These combine two letters to make ONE sound in Spanish: ch CHAY (as in chick) ll EHYAY (sounds like /Y/) rr EHRRAY (roll the tongue)

NOTA: Each vowel in Spanish has ONE individual sound. The Spanish vowels should be pronounced with an open mouth and without dragging out the final sound. Practice words syllable by syllable in front of a mirror or with a tape recorder. If this doesn’t appeal to you, try reading your Spanish out loud whenever possible exaggerating the vowel sounds. Perfection of the vowel sounds is the best way to sound like a natural Spanish speaker.