This is the first lesson, Fito will help you access the Spanish language more easily. Through the alphabet and basic pronunciation rules of Spanish is the foundation to be able to help you later use the Spanish language more fluently. Let’s start the beginner lesson with Fito!

“Lesson one: Spanish Alphabet & Spanish Pronunciation”

Quick reading table of contents:

• Spanish pronunciation table
• Syllables and some note when using the sounds in the table
• Rules for placing accents
• Intonation in Spanish
• Compound vowels

Spanish Alphabet & Spanish pronunciation table

A = “a”	B = “Be”	C = “Ce”	D = “De”	Ch = “Che”	E = “e”
F = “Efe”	G = “Ge”	H = “Hache”	I = “i”	J = “Jota”	K = “Ka”
L = “Ele”	LL = “Elle”	M = “Eme”	N = “Ene”	Ñ = “Eñe”	O = “O”
P = “Pe”	Q = “Cu”	R = “Ere” or “Erre”	S = “Ese”	T = “Te”	U = “U”
V = “Uve” or “Ve”	W = “Doble”	X = “Equis”	Y = “Igriega” or “Ye”	Z = “Zeta” or “Ceda’

Note: The alphabet reads from left to right, top to bottom.

Syllables and some notes when using in the Spanish language

• B when between vowels => silent or pronounced “v”
• C before e,i => c ; The rest is pronounced “th”.
• G before e,i => j ; the rest is pronounced g
• H when speaking, do not pronounce “h”, because this is a silent sound
• The “E” sound in Spanish, pronounced like the “ê” sound in Vietnamese

The rule of accent marks in Spanish

In Spanish there are 5 vowels (same as English): a, e ,i ,o ,u

Rule 1: Stress falls on stressed syllables:

Example:

• Algodón
• Manás
• Dónde

Rule 2: If a word has no accent and ends with a Vowel or N and S => then the previous syllable will be stressed.

Example:

• Casa : Ca – sa (face)
• Mano : Ma – no (hand)
• Amarillo : A – ma – ri – llo (yellow)
• Hablan : Ha – blan (they speak)
• Martes : Mar – tes (tuesday)

Rule 3: If a word has no consonant and ends with a consonant other than N and S => then the last syllable is stressed.

Example:

• Farol : Fa – rol (Street lamp)
• Azul  : z – zul (Blue)
• Hacer : Ha – cer (Do)
• Mujer : Mu – jer (Women)

Spanish Alphabet & Spanish pronunciation “Intonation in Spanish”

• One, declarative sentences: In declarative sentences, the speaker follows the rules of stress and they lower their voice at the end of the sentence:

Example: Lamesa es grande (bold => raise voice ; normal => lower voice)

• Two, question:

Case 1: There is an interrogative word Qué, Quién ==> Lowering the voice at the end of a sentence similar to a declarative sentence.

Example: Qué estas haciendo? (bold => raise voice ; normal => lower voice)

Case 2: No question words ==> Raise your voice at the end of the sentence

Example: Quieres comer conmigo esta tardes? (bold => raise voice ; normal => lower voice)

• Three, exclamation sentences: Expressing emotions often lower the voice at the end of the sentence.

Example: Qué frio!(bold => raise voice ; normal => lower voice)

Spanish Alphabet & Spanish pronunciation “Compound vowels”

• One syllable: ia, ua, ue, ui, uo.

Except “iu” ==> there are some exceptions

• Two syllables: eo, oe, oa, ae, ao.

Example: Leo ==> Le-o

You studied very well today!

Fito Thinh