Tuesday, May 12, 2020

Tip of the Day: Pronouncing C, S, Z

Consider these three words

el cielo       (the sky)
la silla      (the chair)
el zapato     (the shoe)

In Latin American Spanish, all three begin with an "S" sound, like the English "subway." Remember that the Z sound (as in the English word "zebra") does not exist in Spanish. 

If you travel to Spain, Castilian Spanish pronounces the C and Z letters like the TH in Thank You. (and not like in "There"), thereby giving Castilian the familiar lisp sound. 

Castilian is totally understandable even if you learned Latin American Spanish. The differences are similar to those seen in British vs. American English.... so remember, no English "z" sound when speaking Spanish. 

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