Why Spanish, and how it sounds
Spanish is a language spoken in many countries, from Mexico to Spain to Argentina. The good news: Spanish words are read almost exactly the way they are written, like following a recipe step by step.
- Spanish is one of the six official languages of the United Nations (with Arabic, Chinese, English, French and Russian).
- In Canada's 2021 Census, about 317,000 people spoke Spanish most often at home, up 20% from 2016 (Statistics Canada).
| Letter or sound | Sounds like | Example (meaning) | How to say it |
|---|---|---|---|
| a, e, i, o, u | ah, eh, ee, oh, oo (always short and clear) | casa (house) | KAH-sah |
| h | silent | hola (hello) | OH-lah |
| j | a breathy "h" | jugo (juice) | HOO-goh |
| ll | "y" in yes (in most places) | llamo (I call) | YAH-moh |
| ñ | "ny" in canyon | año (year) | AH-nyoh |
| rr | rolled r | perro (dog) | PEH-rroh |
| v | very close to "b" | vamos (let's go) | BAH-mohs |
| c before e/i, z | "s" in Latin America, "th" in most of Spain | gracias (thanks) | GRAH-syahs / GRAH-thyahs |
- The accent mark shows which syllable is stressed: café (kah-FEH), adiós (ah-DYOHS).
- Write the seven words on paper: hola, jugo, llamo, año, perro, café, gracias.
- Next to each, copy the "How to say it" from the table.
- Say each word out loud slowly, one syllable at a time.
- Open a free audio dictionary, search each word, and listen.
- Say it again after the recording and compare.
- Practise the sounds that are new for you: j, ll, ñ, rr.
- Check: you can read the seven words without looking at the table.
Videos by other creators on YouTube, for reference. They are not made by or affiliated with The Future Market.
Read the video script
[Host] "Spanish is one of the six official languages of the United Nations."
[Text on screen: h = silent] "Rule one: the h is silent. Hola sounds like OH-lah."
[Text on screen: j = h, ll = y, ñ = ny] "J sounds like h, double l sounds like y, and ñ sounds like ny, as in año."
[Host] "Learn these few rules and you can read almost any Spanish word out loud."
Read these words out loud: hola, jugo, llamo, año, perro, café, gracias. Then check yourself with a free audio dictionary.
ClaudeStuck? Copy a ready-made prompt for Claude
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For a grown-up: Claude is for adults (18+). Copy this, paste it into Claude, and use the answer to explain the lesson to your child.
I'm learning "Spanish for Beginners" on The Future Market. Lesson 1: "Why Spanish, and how it sounds". What the lesson teaches: - Spanish is one of the six official languages of the United Nations (with Arabic, Chinese, English, French and Russian). - In Canada's 2021 Census, about 317,000 people spoke Spanish most often at home, up 20% from 2016 (Statistics Canada). - Letter or sound - Sounds like - Example (meaning) - How to say it - a, e, i, o, u - ah, eh, ee, oh, oo (always short and clear) - casa (house) - KAH-sah - h - silent - hola (hello) - OH-lah - j - a breathy "h" - jugo (juice) - HOO-goh - ll - "y" in yes (in most places) - llamo (I call) - YAH-moh The exercise I'm working on: Read these words out loud: hola, jugo, llamo, año, perro, café, gracias. Then check yourself with a free audio dictionary. I'm stuck. Please: 1. Explain the main idea in plain, simple words with one everyday example. 2. Walk me through the exercise one small step at a time. Ask me what I've done so far before giving the next step. 3. Don't just give me the final answer. Help me do it myself, and check my work when I share it.
I'm a parent helping my child (about 8 years old) with a lesson called "Why Spanish, and how it sounds" from the course "Spanish for Beginners". Here's what the lesson says: Spanish is a language spoken in many countries, from Mexico to Spain to Argentina. The good news: Spanish words are read almost exactly the way they are written, like following a recipe step by step. The activity: Read these words out loud: hola, jugo, llamo, año, perro, café, gracias. Then check yourself with a free audio dictionary. Please explain this so an 8-year-old understands: short sentences, a fun everyday example, and no hard words. Then give me 3 simple questions I can ask my child to check they understood, and a way to do the activity together, one tiny step at a time.
Sources
- United Nations, Official Languages: www.un.org/en/our-work/official-languages
- Statistics Canada, The Daily, 2021 Census languages (Aug 17, 2022): www150.statcan.gc.ca/n1/daily-quotidien/220817/dq220817a-eng.htm
Greetings and goodbyes
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Introducing yourself, and tú vs usted
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Numbers, prices and shopping
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At the café and restaurant
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Directions and survival phrases
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Final project
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Quiz
How is the letter h pronounced in Spanish?
It is silent.
Is Spanish an official language of the United Nations?
Yes, one of six.
Which "you" do you use with a stranger or an older person?
Usted.
How do you say "Nice to meet you"?
Mucho gusto.
What is "seven" in Spanish?
Siete.
How do you ask for the bill?
La cuenta, por favor.
What is the difference between "quisiera" and "quiero"?
Quisiera (I would like) is more polite than quiero (I want).
What does "a la izquierda" mean?
To the left.
Final exam
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Certificate
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