Spanish 101

Welcome to the first lesson of Spanish 101: Master Spanish Basics: From Alphabets to Essential Verbs and Everyday Vocabulary. In this lesson, we delve into the Spanish alphabet, which consists of 27 letters, including the unique letter ‘ñ’. You'll learn the pronunciation of the vowels A, E, I, O, U, illustrated with examples for each sound. We also cover the consonants, providing an overview of letters like B, C, D, F, G, H, J, K, L, M, N, P, Q, R, S, T, V, W, X, Y, Z. Special attention is given to the letter ‘ñ’, highlighting its distinct pronunciation and importance in Spanish.

We explore the difference between hard and soft 'C' sounds with examples such as 'casa' versus 'cero', and hard and soft 'G' sounds like 'gato' versus 'gente'. The silent 'H' is discussed with examples like 'hola', and techniques are shared to help you roll the 'R' in words such as 'perro'. You'll also learn about the double 'LL' pronunciation, which can sound like 'y' in 'llama', and the 'J' pronunciation, akin to the English 'h', as in 'jugar'. The lesson also covers the 'Z' sound, which varies between a 'th' sound in Spain and an 's' sound in Latin America.

Understand the similarities in pronunciation of B and V, often resembling the 'b' sound in 'bueno'. The dual role of Y as a consonant and vowel is explained with examples like 'yo' and 'rey'. You will also encounter the soft 'D' sound in words like 'nada'. The importance of accent marks is emphasized, showing how they affect pronunciation, with examples such as 'tú' versus 'tu'. We discuss common pitfalls for English speakers and examine transitional sounds with 'que' pronounced as 'keh' and 'qui' as 'kee'. Finally, the lesson underscores the significance of intonation in altering meaning and encourages listening to native speakers for mastering pronunciation nuances.