How to Pronounce Spanish Vowel Sounds

If English is your first language, you should pick up on Spanish vowel sounds quickly. The pronunciations of the vowels of the two languages are very similar. In fact, if you were learning both Spanish and English at the same time, you would have an easier time with Spanish because the vowel sounds do not vary like they do in English! The Spanish vowels are A, E, I, O and U. Read further to learn a basic Spanish lesson that will kick start your study of this beautiful language!

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

1. Learn the "a" sound. In Spanish, the "a" is pronounced the same way as in the English words "father," "saw," "tall" or "waffle."

2. Learn the Spanish vowel sound for "e." The "e" in Spanish takes a more flat version of the English long "a" sound most of the time. "Eh" may be a better way of writing out what the letter actually sounds like. This pronunciation is in approximation to the vowel sound in the English words "say" or "weigh." Of course, Spanish teaching isn't without its exceptions. Sometimes, the "e" sounds closer to the vowel sound in the English "set." You will have to learn and speak Spanish on a regular basis to get down all the minor pronunciation differences in Spanish words.

3. Next up in this Spanish lesson is the letter "i." The "i" in Spanish sounds the same as the long "e" in English, which is kind of confusing after adding in the Spanish "e" sound. Think of the letters "e" and "i" moving up a spot in vowel ordering in the Spanish language, taking the normals spots of "a" and "e" respectively.
   
   The Spanish "i" is pronounced the same way as the vowel sounds in the English words "beat" and "meet."

4. Try your hand at "o." Should be easy; the "o" in Spanish speaking is the same as the long "o" sound in the English language. This is the vowel sound of the words "boat," "soak" and "hoax."

5. Finally, practice your last Spanish vowel, the letter "u." The Spanish "u" has a "oo" sound like in "food."

6. Know that "y" does not function as a vowel in Spanish speaking. It is considered a consonant.

Tips & Warnings

• An important Spanish tip: Vowel sounds are normally distinct in this language, meaning Spanish doesn't have words like "bear," where two vowels work together to create one new sound. When two vowels appear next to each other in a Spanish word, you pronounce both separately. So, for instance, the word "veo" would be pronounce VAY-O, if that makes any sense. When diphthongs form, you will pronounce the vowels separately in rapid succession.
• Spanish vowel sounds are typically shorter, not drawn out like in English words like "coo," which have a breathiness after them that makes the sound last longer.
• Practice this Spanish lesson at the website that allows you to hear what the vowels sound like (linked below).

Resources

• Hear the Spanish Vowels!