There are many language schools around the Greater San Juan
Metropolitan Area as well as in most of the largest cities.
Whether or not you take a course in Spanish, you may want to learn to
pronounce words in Spanish correctly. The following "quick course"
will not teach you Spanish. It will, however, let you pronounce
words in Spanish in an intelligible manner.
1. Pronunciation of vowels. Each vowel has only one distinct sound,
whereas in English you may have many different sounds for each vowel.
letter A - is always pronounced as the A’s in “PLAZA”
letter E - is always pronounced as the E in “SET”
letter i - is always pronounced as the EE in ”FEE”
letter O - is pronounced as the letter O in “SO”
letter U - is pronounced as the letters OO in “MOOD”
In the case of dipthongs, or two vowels next to each other, pronounce
the sounds of each vowel, as above.
2. Pronunciation of certain consonants
Learn to pronounce letter ñ (n, with a tilde mark on it). Ñ has a tricky
pronunciation. Learn it by asking locals to pronounce
“PIÑA COLADA”. The sound is similar (but not exactly) as
pronouncing “banjo” for the Spanish word “Baño”.
Letter “H” is silent unless it has a “C” in front, in which case CH is
pronounced as in “chase”.
Letter “J” is pronounced like the H in “HA”.
Letter “G” is also pronounced like the H in “HA” when it precedes an E
or an I.
Letter “G” is pronounced like the G in “GET” when it precedes an A, O.
If you cannot find the information you need, and we will try to help you find it.
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