Spanish Language Pronunciation and Foundations Syllabus

Pronunciation and Foundations syllabus — full chapter and topic list

Expand any chapter to see its topics and sub-topics. This is the whole examinable outline for Pronunciation and Foundations in Spanish Language, not a summary of it.

1. 1

   The Spanish Alphabet and Sounds

   4 topics

   • Vowels and Their Pure Sounds
   • Consonants
   • Letters Ñ, LL, and CH
   • Silent H
2. 2

   Stress, Accents, and Spelling

   5 topics

   • Syllable Division
   • Rules of Word Stress
   • Written Accent Marks (tildes)
   • Diacritical Accents
   • Punctuation and Inverted Marks
3. 3

   Intonation and Rhythm

   3 topics

   • Statement vs Question Intonation
   • Linking Words in Speech (sinalefa)
   • Regional Accent Variation
4. 4

   Numbers, Dates, and Time

   5 topics

   • Cardinal Numbers
   • Ordinal Numbers
   • Days, Months, and Seasons
   • Telling the Time
   • Dates and the Calendar

Pronunciation and Foundations flashcards for Spanish Language

23 of 51 cards from the Pronunciation and Foundations deck — real questions with worked answers.

1. How many pure vowel sounds does Spanish have, and what are they?

   Five pure vowel sounds: a, e, i, o, u. Each has one consistent sound and is pronounced clearly without gliding, unlike English vowels.

2. Give the standard pronunciation of each of the five Spanish vowels.

   a = 'ah' (as in father), e = 'eh' (as in bet), i = 'ee' (as in see), o = 'oh' (as in for), u = 'oo' (as in food).

3. How does the Spanish letter 'v' typically differ from the English 'v'?

   In Spanish, 'v' is pronounced essentially the same as 'b' (a soft bilabial sound). There is no distinct English-style labiodental 'v' sound; 'b' and 'v' are pronounced identically.

4. When is the Spanish letter 'c' pronounced as a soft sound, and what sound is it?

   'C' is soft before e or i, pronounced like 's' (in Latin America) or like 'th' (in most of Spain). Before a, o, u, or a consonant it is hard, like 'k'.

5. How is the Spanish letter 'g' pronounced before e or i, versus before a, o, u?

   Before e or i, 'g' is a soft guttural sound like the Spanish 'j' (a harsh 'h'). Before a, o, u it is a hard 'g' as in 'go'.

6. What is the purpose of the letter 'u' in the combinations 'gue' and 'gui'?

   The 'u' is silent and serves to keep the 'g' hard (as in 'go') before e or i. Example: 'guitarra' is pronounced with a hard g.

7. What does the diéresis (¨) over the u in 'güe'/'güi' indicate?

   It signals that the 'u' must be pronounced (not silent). Example: 'pingüino' and 'vergüenza' pronounce the u sound.

8. What sound does the Spanish letter 'j' represent?

   A harsh guttural sound made in the throat, similar to a strongly aspirated 'h' or the 'ch' in Scottish 'loch'. Example: 'jamón'.

9. How is the letter 'ñ' (eñe) pronounced, and give an example.

   It is pronounced like the 'ny' in 'canyon'. Example: 'niño' (child), 'año' (year).

10. How is the digraph 'll' traditionally pronounced in Spanish?

    Traditionally like the 'y' in 'yes' (yeísmo pronunciation). Example: 'llave' (key), 'calle' (street). In some regions it is a distinct palatal lateral sound.

11. How is the digraph 'ch' pronounced in Spanish?

    Like the 'ch' in English 'church'. Example: 'chico' (boy), 'coche' (car).

12. What is unique about the pronunciation of the letter 'h' in Spanish?

    The 'h' is always silent (mute). Example: 'hola' is pronounced 'ola', 'hora' as 'ora'. It is never aspirated.

13. What sound does the letter 'z' make in Latin American Spanish versus Peninsular Spanish?

    In Latin America 'z' is pronounced like 's' (seseo). In most of Spain it is pronounced like the English 'th' (as in 'think').

14. What is the difference between a single 'r' and a double 'rr' in Spanish?

    A single 'r' between vowels is a single tap/flap; 'rr' (and 'r' at the start of a word) is a strongly rolled/trilled sound. Example: 'pero' (but) vs 'perro' (dog).

15. What is a diphthong (diptongo) in Spanish?

    A diphthong is the combination of a strong vowel (a, e, o) with a weak vowel (i, u), or two weak vowels, pronounced within a single syllable. Example: 'aire', 'ciudad'.

16. Which vowels are 'strong' (open) and which are 'weak' (closed) in Spanish syllable division?

    Strong (open) vowels: a, e, o. Weak (closed) vowels: i, u. This distinction determines diphthongs, triphthongs, and hiatus.

17. What is a hiatus (hiato) in Spanish?

    A hiatus occurs when two adjacent vowels belong to separate syllables. It happens between two strong vowels (a-e-ro-puer-to) or when a weak vowel carrying a written accent breaks the diphthong (e.g., 'día' = dí-a).

18. State the basic rule for dividing a single consonant between two vowels into syllables.

    A single consonant between vowels joins the following vowel. Example: 'ca-sa', 'me-sa', 'to-ma-te'.

19. How are the digraphs 'ch', 'll', and 'rr' treated in Spanish syllable division?

    They are treated as a single indivisible unit and are never split. Example: 'co-che', 'ca-lle', 'pe-rro'.

20. What are the three categories of words by stress position, and where does each carry its stress?

    Agudas (stress on last syllable), Llanas/graves (stress on second-to-last syllable), Esdrújulas (stress on third-to-last syllable). (Sobreesdrújulas stress before the antepenult.)

21. State the stress rule for words ending in a vowel, -n, or -s.

    Words ending in a vowel, -n, or -s are naturally stressed on the second-to-last syllable (llanas/graves) and take no written accent when they follow this rule. Example: 'casa', 'hablan', 'lunes'.

22. State the stress rule for words ending in a consonant other than -n or -s.

    Words ending in any consonant except -n or -s are naturally stressed on the last syllable (agudas) and take no written accent when they follow this rule. Example: 'hablar', 'reloj', 'ciudad'.

23. When does an aguda (word stressed on the last syllable) require a written accent?

    When it ends in a vowel, -n, or -s. Example: 'café', 'canción', 'inglés'.

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