Have you recently been thinking about learning Spanish? Easy as it may seem at first to get the ball rolling, it’s important that you get off on the right foot to ensure you’re not wasting your valuable time and income. Maybe you’re thinking to yourself, “Learning Spanish easy would be awesome!” Well let’s talk about how we can get you from saying “What does that word mean?” in English to “Yo comprendo” (I understand) in Spanish.
The first place you’ll want to start is with Spanish pronunciation. You can think of pronunciation as the foundation of your home. Without the proper structure and foundation, it’s going to be impossible to build towards your final destination of fluency. With that in mind, why don’t we look at some simple pronunciation tips to get your foundation firmly in place.
Same Difference
Here’s the first tip for learning Spanish easy and quickly. Check out the alphabet below:
- a, b, c, ch, d, e, f, g, h, i, j, k, l, ll, m, n, ñ, o, p, q, r, rr, s, t, u, v, w, x, y, z
Looks pretty familiar, doesn’t it? That’s because there are only four letters in the Spanish alphabet that differ from its English counterpart. Let’s quickly look at these additional letters and the proper way to pronounce them:
- The letters “ch” are pronounced exactly as you might expect, such as “Charleston” or “chunky.”
- The double-L of “ll” is actually a “y” sound, similar to “Yankees.”
- “ñ” is pronounced just like the English “n” with the sound “yah” directly after it, as in “nnnyah.”
- The “rr” sound is what your cat does when it’s content. Or unhappy. Or hungry. Or full. They’re cats so it’s difficult to really know but I’m sure you’d recognize a “purrr” when you hear it.
Nice Accent. Where You From?
Accent marks are also an important element of the Spanish language. They not only change the pronunciation of words, but also their meanings. Good examples of this are the words “ésta, está, esta.” The accent mark – or lack thereof – completely alters words that, upon first glance, appear incredibly similar. If you’re unsure how the accent mark changes the meaning of certain words, it’s a good idea to visit online dictionaries and resources to help you along the way. These tools will keep you from banging your head on your newly laid foundation by helping clarify any and all questions you might have.
If Your Cat Can Roll “R’s” While Purring, Then Surely You Can Too
As you can probably see, pronunciation and understanding the subtle difference of each letter in the Spanish alphabet are critical for laying down your solid foundation. Learning Spanish easy and quickly doesn’t have to be just a dream. It can be your reality. In fact, there’s really great online learning tools that will help your foundation to set firmly in the ground so you can start building upon it right away.
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