El abecedario Por: Amanda Kittell

A Albóndigas Meatballs

Papá, mamá, adiós Amanda, casa, Argentina. Like the “A” in rather Papá, mamá, adiós Amanda, casa, Argentina.

B Batido Milkshake

Bien, bonita, blanco,Bogotá, Bolivia. Like the “B” in boy Bien, bonita, blanco,Bogotá, Bolivia.

C Casa House

Carro, carne computadora, Colombia, cuatro, Cuba Like an English “K” Carro, carne computadora, Colombia, cuatro, Cuba

Centro, cereal, cien, ciudad. Sometimes like “S” Centro, cereal, cien, ciudad. Just like in English “k” car, coat, cut “s” center, city

Ch Chaqueta Jacket

Chorizo, chocolate, China, chileno Like “ch” in chess Chorizo, chocolate, China, chileno

D Dinero Money

Like the “D” in dull Dedo, indio, diez, doctor.

E Elefante Elephant

Senda, Ema, estudiar, escritorio. Like the “e” in set Senda, Ema, estudiar, escritorio.

F Fácil Easy

Like the “f” in fire Fama, fin, fecha, Francia

G Gato Cat

Ganar, Bogotá, Guatemala Like the “g” in Guam When followed by “a, o, u” Ganar, Bogotá, Guatemala

General, genealogía, gigante, gimnasio Like the “h” in home When followed by “e, i” General, genealogía, gigante, gimnasio

H Huevos Eggs

Hola, hora, hijo, honesto. Always silent except… When it has a “c” behind it and then it makes a “ch” like in chess Hola, hora, hijo, honesto.

I Iglesia Church

To pronounce it, you must smile Like “ee” in keep Italia, Indiana, isla, inglés

J Julio July

Juan, jueves, junio, Josefina. Like the “h” in home Juan, jueves, junio, Josefina.

K Kilómetro Kilometer

Kilo Like the “k” in kite There are not many words in Spanish that start with K Kilo

L Libro Book

Listo, Linda, Londres, leche. Like the “l” in lad Listo, Linda, Londres, leche.

LL Lleno Full

Llama, camello, pollo, bella Like the “j” in jam. Some countries pronounce it like the “y” in “yes”. Llama, camello, pollo, bella

M Museo Museum

Like the “m” in many Manuel, mucho.

N Nadar Swim

Like “n” in new Nancy, nachos

Ñ Ñoño Nerd

Similar to the sound in “onion” Cañón, señor, español, España,

O Ocupado Busy

Long “o”, like in or Oscar, ola, oso, ojo.

P Pimienta Pepper

Like the “p” in pen Pedro, pan, pronto.

Q Queso Cheese

¿Qué? ¿Quién? Quince, quiero. Q is always before u Sound like “K” and it is followed by “UE or UI” The U is silent in these cases. ¿Qué? ¿Quién? Quince, quiero.

R Refresco Soda

Between vowels like “tt” in Betty Cara, pero toro Lara

RR Perro Dog

Trilled RR Rosa, rojo, rico. You trilled the “r” when it is at the beginning of a word Rosa, rojo, rico. Also at the end of a word Color, amor, In the middle of a word when is next to L, N, D C Turco, Carlos, carne,

Ferrocarril, arroz, burro, burrito

S Sopa Soup

Like the ‘s” in son Soy, Samuel

T Trofeo Trophy

Like the “t” in tan Trompeta, todo, tengo.

U Uvas Grapes

Seguir, guerra, guitarra Queso, quesadilla, aquí. Like “u” in dude Sometimes silent after g if the “u” is followed by “e” or “i” and q. Estados Unidos, un, una. Gutiérrez, unión, Guantánamo. Seguir, guerra, guitarra Queso, quesadilla, aquí.

V Ventana Window

Victor, vamos Like the “b” in boy. It is OK if you pronounce it like “v” Victor, vamos

W Whiski Whiskey

Used only in foreign words Walter, William

X Xilófono Xylophone

Usually not at the beginning of a word Examen Éxito

Y Yeso Plaster

Yo, yegua, yo-yo. Lucy, muy, Nancy y yo. Like “j” in jam. Some countries pronounce it similar to the “y” in yes Yo, yegua, yo-yo. Like th “ee” in green at the end of a word or by itself. Lucy, muy, Nancy y yo.

Z Zanahoria Carrot

Like “s” in Latinamerica Like the “th” in “think” in Spain There is no “ZZZ” sound in Spanish Zapato, azul luz lápiz

Repaso Argentina Bolivia Costa Rica Chichén Itzá República Dominicana Ecuador Las Filipinas Guatemala

Repaso Honduras Inglaterra Jalisco Kenya Los Ángeles Valladolid Marruecos Nicaragua

Repaso Oslo Paraguay Quito Perú Santiago Toledo Cuba

Repaso Venezuela Wyoming México Yucatán Zacatecas.