Difference between revisions of "Learn to Speak Spanish"
m (Update ref tag) |
|||
| Line 7: | Line 7: | ||
#*A = '''ah''', B = '''beh''', C = '''seh''', D = '''deh''', E = '''eh''', F = '''eh-feh''', G = '''heh''', H = '''ah-cheh''', I = '''ee''' | #*A = '''ah''', B = '''beh''', C = '''seh''', D = '''deh''', E = '''eh''', F = '''eh-feh''', G = '''heh''', H = '''ah-cheh''', I = '''ee''' | ||
#*P = '''peh''', Q = '''koo''', R = '''eh-reh''', S = '''eh-seh''', T = '''teh''', U = '''oo''', V = '''-beh''' | #*P = '''peh''', Q = '''koo''', R = '''eh-reh''', S = '''eh-seh''', T = '''teh''', U = '''oo''', V = '''-beh''' | ||
| − | #*W = '''oo-bleh-doubleh''', X = '''eh-kees''', Y = '''ee gryeh-gah''' and Z = '''theh-tah'''.<ref>http://www.dummies.com/how-to/content/practising-your-spanish-abcs.html</ref> | + | #*W = '''oo-bleh-doubleh''', X = '''eh-kees''', Y = '''ee gryeh-gah''' and Z = '''theh-tah'''.<ref name="rf15966">http://www.dummies.com/how-to/content/practising-your-spanish-abcs.html</ref> |
#*Note that the only letter in the Spanish alphabet that does not exist in English is the letter Ñ, pronounced '''eh-nyeh'''. It is a completely separate letter from the letter N. It's closest approximation in English would be the "ny" sound in the word "canyon."<ref name="N">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/%C3%91</ref> | #*Note that the only letter in the Spanish alphabet that does not exist in English is the letter Ñ, pronounced '''eh-nyeh'''. It is a completely separate letter from the letter N. It's closest approximation in English would be the "ny" sound in the word "canyon."<ref name="N">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/%C3%91</ref> | ||
#Learn to pronounce letters of the alphabet in Spanish. Once you learn the phygronunciation rules of Spanish, you will be able to pronounce any word in that language jn oi pok hg cv ; huuh hb[[Ima | #Learn to pronounce letters of the alphabet in Spanish. Once you learn the phygronunciation rules of Spanish, you will be able to pronounce any word in that language jn oi pok hg cv ; huuh hb[[Ima | ||
| Line 26: | Line 26: | ||
#*Be aware that the number one -- '''''"uno"''''' -- changes when it's used in front of either a masculine or feminine noun. For example, the term "one man" is '''''"un hombre"''''', while the term "one girl" is '''''"una chica"'''''.<ref name="studyspanish"/> | #*Be aware that the number one -- '''''"uno"''''' -- changes when it's used in front of either a masculine or feminine noun. For example, the term "one man" is '''''"un hombre"''''', while the term "one girl" is '''''"una chica"'''''.<ref name="studyspanish"/> | ||
# Memorize simple words. The wider the vocabulary you have at your disposal, the easier it is to speak a language fluently. Familiarize yourself with as many simple, everyday Spanish words as possible - you'll be surprised at how quickly they build up! | # Memorize simple words. The wider the vocabulary you have at your disposal, the easier it is to speak a language fluently. Familiarize yourself with as many simple, everyday Spanish words as possible - you'll be surprised at how quickly they build up! | ||
| − | #*One of the easiest ways to do this is to use cognates - words that share a similar meaning, spelling and pronunciation in both languages. Learning Spanish cognates of English words is a great way to rapidly increase your vocabulary, as 30%-40% of English words have a Spanish cognate.<ref>http://www.colorincolorado.org/educators/background/cognates/</ref> | + | #*One of the easiest ways to do this is to use cognates - words that share a similar meaning, spelling and pronunciation in both languages. Learning Spanish cognates of English words is a great way to rapidly increase your vocabulary, as 30%-40% of English words have a Spanish cognate.<ref name="rf15967">http://www.colorincolorado.org/educators/background/cognates/</ref> |
#*For words without cognates, try using one of the following memorization methods: When you hear a word in English, think of how you would say it in Spanish. If you don't know what it is, jot it down and look it up later. It's handy to keep a little notebook on you at all times for this purpose. Alternatively, try attaching little Spanish labels to items around your house, such as the mirror, the coffee table and the sugar bowl. You'll see the words so often that you'll learn them without realizing it! | #*For words without cognates, try using one of the following memorization methods: When you hear a word in English, think of how you would say it in Spanish. If you don't know what it is, jot it down and look it up later. It's handy to keep a little notebook on you at all times for this purpose. Alternatively, try attaching little Spanish labels to items around your house, such as the mirror, the coffee table and the sugar bowl. You'll see the words so often that you'll learn them without realizing it! | ||
#*It is important to learn a word or phrase from ‘Spanish to English’ as well as ‘English to Spanish.’ That way you will remember how to say it, not just recognize it when you hear it. | #*It is important to learn a word or phrase from ‘Spanish to English’ as well as ‘English to Spanish.’ That way you will remember how to say it, not just recognize it when you hear it. | ||
| Line 41: | Line 41: | ||
#*Goodbye = '''''¡Adiós!''''' -- pronounced "ah-dyohs"<ref name="dummies"/> | #*Goodbye = '''''¡Adiós!''''' -- pronounced "ah-dyohs"<ref name="dummies"/> | ||
=== Study Basic Grammar === | === Study Basic Grammar === | ||
| − | # Learn how to conjugate regular verbs. Learning how to conjugate verbs is a major part of learning how to speak Spanish correctly. Conjugation means taking the infinitive form of a verb (to talk, to eat) and changing its form to indicate '''who''' is performing an action and '''when''' that action is being performed. When learning how to conjugate verbs in Spanish, the best place to start is with regular verbs in the present tense. Regular verbs in Spanish all end in either "'''-ar'''", "'''-er'''" or "'''-ir'''", and how each verb is conjugated will depend on its ending.<ref>http://www.studyspanish.com/lessons/regverb1.htm</ref> An explanation of how each type of regular verb is conjugated in the present tense follow below: | + | # Learn how to conjugate regular verbs. Learning how to conjugate verbs is a major part of learning how to speak Spanish correctly. Conjugation means taking the infinitive form of a verb (to talk, to eat) and changing its form to indicate '''who''' is performing an action and '''when''' that action is being performed. When learning how to conjugate verbs in Spanish, the best place to start is with regular verbs in the present tense. Regular verbs in Spanish all end in either "'''-ar'''", "'''-er'''" or "'''-ir'''", and how each verb is conjugated will depend on its ending.<ref name="rf15968">http://www.studyspanish.com/lessons/regverb1.htm</ref> An explanation of how each type of regular verb is conjugated in the present tense follow below: |
#*'''Verbs ending in "-ar".''' Hablar is the infinitive form of the Spanish verb "to speak." To change the verb into the present tense, all you need to do is drop the "'''-ar'''" and add a different ending, which varies depending on the subject pronoun.<ref name="regverb">http://www.studyspanish.com/lessons/regverb3.htm</ref> For example: | #*'''Verbs ending in "-ar".''' Hablar is the infinitive form of the Spanish verb "to speak." To change the verb into the present tense, all you need to do is drop the "'''-ar'''" and add a different ending, which varies depending on the subject pronoun.<ref name="regverb">http://www.studyspanish.com/lessons/regverb3.htm</ref> For example: | ||
#**"I speak" becomes '''yo hablo''' | #**"I speak" becomes '''yo hablo''' | ||
| Line 113: | Line 113: | ||
#*For people it is possible to make an educated guess as to whether a noun is masculine or feminine. For instance, the word for "girl" is feminine, '''''la chica''''', while the word for "boy" is masculine, '''''el chico'''''. This is called ''natural gender. | #*For people it is possible to make an educated guess as to whether a noun is masculine or feminine. For instance, the word for "girl" is feminine, '''''la chica''''', while the word for "boy" is masculine, '''''el chico'''''. This is called ''natural gender. | ||
#*Very few words for people have a ''grammatical gender''. For example, '''''el bebé''''' (the baby) is masculine and '''''la visita''''' (the visitor) is feminine. This is also valid for female babies and male visitors. | #*Very few words for people have a ''grammatical gender''. For example, '''''el bebé''''' (the baby) is masculine and '''''la visita''''' (the visitor) is feminine. This is also valid for female babies and male visitors. | ||
| − | #* In addition, nouns that end in the letter "o", like '''''el libro''''' (book), are usually masculine and words that end in the letter "a", like ''''' la revista''''' (magazine) are usually feminine. However, there are many nouns that do not end in either "a" or "o", so this is not always helpful.<ref>http://www.studyspanish.com/lessons/genoun1.htm</ref> | + | #* In addition, nouns that end in the letter "o", like '''''el libro''''' (book), are usually masculine and words that end in the letter "a", like ''''' la revista''''' (magazine) are usually feminine. However, there are many nouns that do not end in either "a" or "o", so this is not always helpful.<ref name="rf15969">http://www.studyspanish.com/lessons/genoun1.htm</ref> |
#*Any adjectives used to describe nouns must also agree with the gender of the noun, so adjectives will change their form depending on whether a noun is masculine or feminine. | #*Any adjectives used to describe nouns must also agree with the gender of the noun, so adjectives will change their form depending on whether a noun is masculine or feminine. | ||
# Learn how to use the definite and indefinite articles. In English, there is only one definite article "the", and three indefinite articles "a", "an" or "some". In Spanish, however, there are four of each. Which one a speaker uses depends on whether the noun they are referring to is masculine or feminine, plural or singular. | # Learn how to use the definite and indefinite articles. In English, there is only one definite article "the", and three indefinite articles "a", "an" or "some". In Spanish, however, there are four of each. Which one a speaker uses depends on whether the noun they are referring to is masculine or feminine, plural or singular. | ||
