Spanish Language · Español

DIPHTHONG: "UI" Diphthongs occur when an unstressed “i”, “u”, or “y-ending” appears next to another vowel in the same syllable. Their vowel sounds do not change, but they blend together to form a single syllable. One such vowel combination, “ui” (or “uy” word ending), is pronounced like the English word “we,” except that it is a somewhat shorter sound.

CONSONANT: "Y" The Spanish “y” acts as both a consonant and as a vowel. Earlier lessons on diphthongs discuss how the “y” sounds as a vowel. This lesson will focus on “y” as a consonant. As a consonant, the Spanish “y” has two common sounds. Depending upon the region, the “y” might sound like the English “y” in the word “yes” or the “j” in the English word “joy.”

DIPHTHONG: "UO" Diphthongs occur when an unstressed “i”, “u”, or “y-ending” appears next to another vowel in the same syllable. Their vowel sounds do not change, but they blend together to form a single syllable. One such vowel combination, “uo”, has no real English equivalent, but can be reproduced by combining the “oo” of the word “boot” with the “o” of the word “note.” Be sure to combine these two sounds into a single sound. Note that when there is an accent over the letter “u”, as in “dúo,” the diphthong is “broken” and the two vowels are pronounced separately.

DIPHTHONG: "UE" Diphthongs occur when an unstressed “i”, “u”, or “y-ending” appears next to another vowel in the same syllable. Their vowel sounds do not change, but they blend together to form a single syllable. One such vowel combination, “ue”, has no real English equivalent, but can be reproduced by combining the “oo” of the word “boot” with the “a” of the word “paper.” Be sure to combine these two sounds into a single sound.

CONSONANT: "T" When making the “t” sound in English, the tongue touches the gum ridge behind the upper front teeth. The Spanish “t” is produced quite differently, with the tongue actually touching the back of the front teeth, and without the puff of air that characterizes the English “t”.