Spanish consonants c, k, p, t are pronounced without aspiration.
Pronunciation of consonants :
b | is pronounced like English b at the beginning of a word and after m and n: boca, ambos |
in other positions it is pronounced similar to b, but without touching the lips : haber, labor; it's as if it were an intermediate consonant between b and w | |
c | before a, o, u , before consonants and at the end of the word it's k like in kick : cara |
before e, i in Latin America and Andalusia as s in sin : cierto, cera, cielo | |
in the rest of Spain c before e, i is pronounced like th w think | |
ch | like English ch in chair, choose: chucho, charla |
d | mostly as d: |
at the beginning of the word and after l and n like English d: dato, dar, andar | |
in other positions, d becomes similar to th in this: hada | |
at the end of the word many persons don't pronounce it at all, some persons pronounce it very weakly: maldad | |
f | as f |
g | before e, i like ch in Loch Ness : general, giro |
in other positions like English g: | |
like English g, especially at the beginning of the word and after n: fandango, gana | |
in other positions (not at the beginning of the word, not after n ) (but also not before e, i) g is slightly weakened | |
gu | before e, i like g: guerra |
before other consonants: like gw in Gwen : guarida, guardia | |
gü | like gw in Gwen : averigüe |
h | is not pronounced at all: he, haber, haba |
j | like English ch in Loch Ness: jamás |
k | like English k: kéfir |
l | like English l in late, lock (it's never dark l like in spell, until): lama |
ll | in most parts of Spain and Latin America like English y in yes : llamar, llorar |
in some regions like ly | |
m | like English m: mamá, menor |
only at the end of the word like English n: harem | |
n | before b, v, p like English m: tranvía, enviar |
in other positions like English n: nota, nacer | |
nv | like English mb: tranvía, enviar |
ñ | it's similar to English n + y , but it's one sound : señorita, año |
p | like English p: papá |
qu | like English k (before e, i): querella, quitar |
r | at the beginning of the word and after n, l, s pronounced very strong, it's rolled or trilled: rana, alrededor |
in other positions it's a tap, similar to English d in added : caro, haber | |
rr | rr is always rolled or trilled (pronounced with a strong vibration) : carro, perro |
s | like s; pronounced like z before voiced consonants: b, d, g, v, l, r, m, n, np. mismo, desde |
before ce, ci it's not pronounced at all : ascender | |
in Spain it sounds sometimes like sh (never in Latin America) | |
v | is pronounced like English b at the beginning of a word and after m and n: vaca, tranvía |
in other positions it is pronounced similar to b, but without touching the lips : haber, labor; it's as if it were an intermediate consonant between b and w | |
w | very rare letter, pronunced like v (see above) |
x | most often pronounced like cs or x in extra, hoax, taxi : taxi, extremo |
in some geographical names like ch in Loch Ness : México, Oaxaca, także mexicano | |
y | like English y: muy, buey |
z | pronounced in Latin America and Andalusia like English s: zona, estupidez |
in Spain c before e, i is pronounced like th in think |