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Spanish Language Pronunciation and Foundations Syllabus

The Pronunciation and Foundations syllabus for Spanish Language in full: 4 chapters and 17 topics, every one listed below, plus 51 Pronunciation and Foundations flashcards with answers.

4Chapters
17Topics
51Flashcards

Pronunciation and Foundations syllabus: all 4 chapters

Expand any chapter to see its topics and sub-topics.

  1. The Spanish Alphabet and Sounds

     4 topics
    • Vowels and Their Pure Sounds
    • Consonants
    • Letters Ñ, LL, and CH
    • Silent H

  2. Stress, Accents, and Spelling

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

  3. Intonation and Rhythm

     3 topics
    • Statement vs Question Intonation
    • Linking Words in Speech (sinalefa)
    • Regional Accent Variation

  4. Numbers, Dates, and Time

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

Spanish Language Pronunciation and Foundations flashcards — 51 questions with 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.)

Show the other 31 Pronunciation and Foundations flashcards

  1. 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'.

  2. 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'.

  3. 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'.

  4. When does a llana/grave (word stressed on the second-to-last syllable) require a written accent?

    When it ends in a consonant other than -n or -s. Example: 'árbol', 'lápiz', 'fácil'.

  5. What is the rule for written accents on esdrújula and sobreesdrújula words?

    They ALWAYS carry a written accent, without exception. Example: 'música', 'teléfono', 'rápidamente'.

  6. What is a diacritical accent (tilde diacrítica) and what does it do?

    A written accent that distinguishes two words with identical spelling but different meanings or grammatical functions, even though the stress placement would otherwise not require it. Example: 'si' (if) vs 'sí' (yes).

  7. Distinguish 'tu' vs 'tú' and 'mi' vs 'mí' using diacritical accents.

    'tu' = your (possessive) vs 'tú' = you (subject pronoun). 'mi' = my (possessive) vs 'mí' = me (prepositional pronoun).

  8. Distinguish 'el' vs 'él' and 'te' vs 'té' using diacritical accents.

    'el' = the (article) vs 'él' = he (pronoun). 'te' = you (object pronoun)/reflexive vs 'té' = tea (noun).

  9. Distinguish 'se' vs 'sé' and 'de' vs 'dé' using diacritical accents.

    'se' = reflexive/impersonal pronoun vs 'sé' = I know / be (imperative). 'de' = of/from (preposition) vs 'dé' = give (subjunctive/imperative of dar).

  10. How do interrogative/exclamative words like qué, cómo, dónde, cuándo differ from their non-accented forms?

    They carry a written accent when used in questions or exclamations (direct or indirect). Without the accent (que, como, donde, cuando) they act as relative pronouns or conjunctions. Example: '¿Qué quieres?' vs 'Sé que vienes'.

  11. What punctuation feature is unique to Spanish questions and exclamations?

    Spanish uses inverted opening marks: '¿' at the start of a question and '¡' at the start of an exclamation, in addition to the closing '?' and '!'. Example: '¿Cómo estás?' and '¡Qué bien!'.

  12. Do the inverted marks always appear at the very beginning of the sentence?

    No. They are placed at the start of the actual question or exclamation, which may be mid-sentence. Example: 'Si vienes, ¿me avisas?' and 'Juan, ¡ven aquí!'.

  13. How does intonation typically differ between a statement and a yes/no question in Spanish?

    A statement usually falls in pitch at the end, while a yes/no question rises in pitch at the end. Since word order can be identical, intonation often distinguishes 'Tienes hambre.' from '¿Tienes hambre?'.

  14. What is sinalefa (linking) in spoken Spanish?

    Sinalefa is the merging of a vowel at the end of one word with a vowel at the start of the next into a single syllable, producing smooth connected speech. Example: 'la escuela' pronounced 'laescuela'.

  15. Give an example of consonant-to-vowel linking in connected Spanish speech.

    A final consonant links to a following initial vowel, as in 'los amigos' pronounced 'lo-sa-mi-gos', making speech flow continuously.

  16. Name two notable features of Caribbean/coastal Spanish accents.

    Aspiration or dropping of the 's' at the end of syllables (e.g., 'estás' → 'ehtá') and weakening/dropping of final consonants. Common in Cuba, Puerto Rico, Dominican Republic, and coastal areas.

  17. What is 'seseo' and where is it the norm?

    Seseo is pronouncing 'z' and soft 'c' (before e/i) as 's'. It is the norm throughout Latin America and parts of southern Spain and the Canary Islands.

  18. What is 'yeísmo'?

    Yeísmo is pronouncing 'll' the same as 'y', so that 'll' and 'y' merge into one sound. It is the majority pronunciation across the Spanish-speaking world today.

  19. What is distinctive about the pronunciation of 'll' and 'y' in Rioplatense (Argentine/Uruguayan) Spanish?

    They are pronounced with a 'sh' or 'zh' sound (žeísmo/sheísmo), so 'calle' sounds like 'cashe' and 'yo' like 'sho'.

  20. What are the Spanish cardinal numbers from 1 to 10?

    uno (1), dos (2), tres (3), cuatro (4), cinco (5), seis (6), siete (7), ocho (8), nueve (9), diez (10).

  21. How are the cardinal numbers 16-19 formed in Spanish?

    They are contractions of 'diez y' + unit: dieciséis (16), diecisiete (17), dieciocho (18), diecinueve (19). Note diecinueve, but 16 written as one word 'dieciséis' with accent.

  22. What are the Spanish words for 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, 70, 80, 90, and 100?

    veinte (20), treinta (30), cuarenta (40), cincuenta (50), sesenta (60), setenta (70), ochenta (80), noventa (90), cien/ciento (100).

  23. When do you use 'cien' versus 'ciento' for 100?

    Use 'cien' for exactly 100 and before nouns/mil/millones (cien libros, cien mil). Use 'ciento' in compound numbers 101-199 (ciento uno, ciento cincuenta).

  24. What are the Spanish ordinal numbers from 1st to 5th?

    primero (1st), segundo (2nd), tercero (3rd), cuarto (4th), quinto (5th). 'Primero' and 'tercero' shorten to 'primer' and 'tercer' before a masculine singular noun.

  25. What are the Spanish ordinal numbers from 6th to 10th?

    sexto (6th), séptimo (7th), octavo (8th), noveno (9th), décimo (10th).

  26. What are the seven days of the week in Spanish, and are they capitalized?

    lunes, martes, miércoles, jueves, viernes, sábado, domingo. They are NOT capitalized in Spanish. The week traditionally begins on Monday (lunes).

  27. List the twelve months of the year in Spanish.

    enero, febrero, marzo, abril, mayo, junio, julio, agosto, septiembre, octubre, noviembre, diciembre. They are not capitalized.

  28. What are the four seasons in Spanish?

    la primavera (spring), el verano (summer), el otoño (autumn/fall), el invierno (winter).

  29. How do you ask and express the time in Spanish (on the hour)?

    Ask: '¿Qué hora es?'. Answer with 'Es la una' for 1:00 (singular) and 'Son las...' for other hours, e.g., 'Son las tres' (3:00), 'Son las diez' (10:00).

  30. How do you express minutes past and before the hour in Spanish, including quarter and half?

    Use 'y' for minutes past ('Son las dos y diez' = 2:10) and 'menos' for minutes before ('Son las tres menos cuarto' = 2:45). 'y cuarto' = quarter past, 'y media' = half past, 'menos cuarto' = quarter to.

  31. How are calendar dates expressed in Spanish, and how is the first of the month said?

    Format is: día + de + mes (+ de + año), e.g., 'el 15 de mayo de 2026'. Cardinal numbers are used for days, except the first, which is often 'el primero de...' (or 'el uno de...').

Spanish Language Pronunciation and Foundations FAQ

What is in the Spanish Language Pronunciation and Foundations syllabus?

Spanish Language Pronunciation and Foundations is split into 4 chapters: The Spanish Alphabet and Sounds, Stress, Accents, and Spelling, Intonation and Rhythm and Numbers, Dates, and Time. Together they contain 17 topics.

How many chapters are in Spanish Language Pronunciation and Foundations?

4 chapters, containing 17 topics. The largest chapter is Stress, Accents, and Spelling, with 5 topics.

Are there flashcards for Spanish Language Pronunciation and Foundations?

Yes — a 51-card Pronunciation and Foundations deck, printed in full in the flashcards section of this page and available in the Examius app with spaced repetition. The free plan covers one exam of your choice, including its flashcards; Examius Pro, a one-time purchase, unlocks every other exam and deck.