Spanish Consonants

The Spanish Consonants are pronounced as in English with the following exceptions:

B is pronounced much more lightly than in English, with no pressure ofthe lips, as Libro (book), Brevedad (brevity).

C before _E_ and _I_--_th_ in "theatre," as La Cena (the supper), LaCerveza (the beer). Otherwise pronounced _K_ as in English, as Caja(case, box), Color (colour), Cubico (cubic).
Ch _always_ as _ch_ in "church" (never hard as in "monarch"), asChocolate (chocolate), Charla (prattle).

D at the end of a word or after a vowel is pronounced very softly andlightly, with a tinge of _th_ in "they," as Madrid, Amado (loved),Encarnado (red).

G before _E_ and _I_ is pronounced guttural, as El general (thegeneral), El giro (the draft, bill). This sound is equal to _ch_ in theScotch word "loch." In all other cases G is pronounced hard, as in theEnglish word "gay"; as Gato (cat), Gobierno (government), Gusto(pleasure, taste).

H is a mute letter. (Although in Andalusia it is aspirated in certainwords.)

J is always guttural, as Juan (John), Jornalero (day labourer), Junio(June), Reloj (watch, clock).
Ll--_ly_, stronger than _li_ in "pavilion," as Belleza (beauty), Folleto(leaflet).

N--ny, stronger than _ni_ in "pinion," as Nino (child), Cana (cane), Elotono (autumn).

Q is only used before _ue_ and _ui_ (and the _u_ is then _mute_), asQuerido (dear, beloved), Yo quiero (I want).

R as in English, but it is always rolled, as Caro (dear, expensive),Perdida (loss). At the beginning of a word or when preceded by aconsonant it is rolled more strongly, as La rosa (the rose), Deshonra(dishonour).

Rr always rolled strongly, as Carro (cart), El ferrocarril (therailway).
S always pronounced as _s_ in "soap," and never as in "as" or "sure."
T as in "tea," but never as _t_ in "nation." It must be pronouncedsoftly, not explosive, as Fortuna (fortune), Cuatro (four).

V is pronounced much more lightly than in English, as Vino (wine), Vivir(to live). By the common people _V_ is often confounded with _B_, buteducated Spaniards will always make the proper distinction.

Y--Spanish _I_.
Z--_th_ in "theatre," as Zarazas (cotton prints), Zorra (fox).

NOTE.--In modern Spanish Z is not used before _E_ or _I_, its placebeing supplied by _C_.