; ce : like 'the' in "there" [theh] /the tongue ought to be between both teeth/
+
; ce : like 'the' in "theatre" /the tongue ought to be between both teeth/
; ci : like 'the' in "thesis" [thee]
; ci : like 'the' in "thesis" [thee]
; co : like 'co' in "cork" [koh]
; co : like 'co' in "cork" [koh]
; cu : like 'coo' in "cook" [koo]
; cu : like 'coo' in "cook" [koo]
; ch : like 'ch' in "church"
; ch : like 'ch' in "church"
−
; d : its more palatalized than the English 'd' at the beginning a word and between vowels and at the end of a word its pronounced as 'th' as in "this" and at times it becomes silent.
+
; d : its more palatalized than the English 'd' at the beginning of a word and between vowels and at the end of a word its pronounced as 'th' as in "this" and at times it becomes silent.
; f : like 'f' in "fish"
; f : like 'f' in "fish"
; ga : like 'ga' in "gargle" [gah]
; ga : like 'ga' in "gargle" [gah]
Line 64:
Line 64:
; gue : like 'ge' in "get" [geh]
; gue : like 'ge' in "get" [geh]
; gui : like 'gee' in "geek" [gee]
; gui : like 'gee' in "geek" [gee]
+
; güi : like 'gwi'
; h : this letter is silent and its not pronounced
; h : this letter is silent and its not pronounced
; j : this sound is always guttural and a throaty sound like the 'ck' in "block" [kh]
; j : this sound is always guttural and a throaty sound like the 'ck' in "block" [kh]
; k : like 'k' in "keep"
; k : like 'k' in "keep"
; l : like 'l' in "lime"
; l : like 'l' in "lime"
−
; ll : like 'y' in "yes"
+
; ll : like 'y' in "yes" (Also pronounced like 'ly' in "homely" or "amply." Though still used in a few parts of Spain, this form is dying out.)
; m : like 'm' in "monkey"
; m : like 'm' in "monkey"
; n : like 'n' in "nice"
; n : like 'n' in "nice"
Line 83:
Line 84:
; x : like 's' in "saw"
; x : like 's' in "saw"
; y : by itself is like 'y' in "possibly" and 'y' in "yes"
; y : by itself is like 'y' in "possibly" and 'y' in "yes"
−
; z : like 'th' in "those"
+
; z : like 'th' in "think"
===Common diphthongs===
===Common diphthongs===
Line 130:
Line 131:
; Mr./Sir. : Señor. (''seh-NYOHR'')
; Mr./Sir. : Señor. (''seh-NYOHR'')
; Miss. : Señorita. (''seh-nyoh-REE-thah'')
; Miss. : Señorita. (''seh-nyoh-REE-thah'')
+
;Do you have wi-fi? : ¿Tiene wi-fi? ("tee-EH-ne WEE-fee?")
===Language Barrier===
===Language Barrier===
; Do you speak English? : ¿Habla usted inglés? (''AH-blah oos-TEHTH een-GLEHS?'')
; Do you speak English? : ¿Habla usted inglés? (''AH-blah oos-TEHTH een-GLEHS?'')
−
; Does anyone here speaks English? : ¿Alguien aquí habla el inglés? (''ahl-GEE-ehn ah-KEE HAH-blah ehl een-GLEHS?'')
+
; Does anyone here speaks English? : ¿Alguien aquí habla el inglés? (''ahl-GEE-ehn ah-KEE AH-blah ehl een-GLEHS?'')
−
; I speak a little..... : Hablo un poco..... (''HAH-bloh oon POH-koh'')
+
; I speak a little..... : Hablo un poco..... (''AH-bloh oon POH-koh'')
; I understand. : Entiendo. (''ehn-TYEHN-thoh'')
; I understand. : Entiendo. (''ehn-TYEHN-thoh'')
; I don't understand. : No entiendo. (''noh ehn-TYEHN-thoh'')
; I don't understand. : No entiendo. (''noh ehn-TYEHN-thoh'')
−
; Could you speak more slowly, please? : ¿Podría Usted hablar más lento, por favor? (''poh-DRYAH oos-TEHTH HAH-blahr MAHS LEHN-toh, pohr fah-BOHR?'')
+
; Could you speak more slowly, please? : ¿Podría Usted hablar más lento, por favor? (''poh-DRYAH oos-TEHTH ah-BLAHR MAHS LEHN-toh, pohr fah-BOHR?'')
; Could you repeat that, please? : ¿Podría usted repetir eso, por favor? (''poh-DRYAH oos-TEHTH reh-peh-TEER EH-soh, pohr fah-BOHR?'')
; Could you repeat that, please? : ¿Podría usted repetir eso, por favor? (''poh-DRYAH oos-TEHTH reh-peh-TEER EH-soh, pohr fah-BOHR?'')
; Could you show me in my dictionary/phrasebook? : ¿Podría usted mostrarme en mi diccionario/libro de frases? (''poh-DRYAH oos-TEHTH mohs-TRAHR-meh ehn mee deek-thyoh-NAH-ryoh/ LEE-broh theh frah-SEHS?'')
; Could you show me in my dictionary/phrasebook? : ¿Podría usted mostrarme en mi diccionario/libro de frases? (''poh-DRYAH oos-TEHTH mohs-TRAHR-meh ehn mee deek-thyoh-NAH-ryoh/ LEE-broh theh frah-SEHS?'')
Line 554:
Line 556:
===Driving===
===Driving===
−
; How do I get to _____ ? : ¿Cómo puedo ir a______? (''KOH-moh PWEH-thoh eer ah....'')
+
Most of the signs in major cities in Spain are by pictures instead of actual lettered signs so refer to an European travel guide which will contain the rules for road or city signs.
; no parking : No aparcamiento (''noh ah-pahr-kah-MYEHN-toh'')
−
; Where are there a lot of... : Where are there a lot of... (''...'')
+
; speed limit : límite de velocidad (''LEE-mee-teh theh beh-loh-THEE-thahd'')
−
; ...hotels? : ...hotels? (''...'')
+
; gas (''petrol'') station : estación de gasolina / gasolinera (''ehs-tah-THYOHN theh gah-soh-LEE-nah/gah-soh-lee-NEH-rah'')
−
; ...restaurants? : ...restaurants? (''...'')
+
; petrol : gasolina. (''gah-soh-LEE-nah'')
−
; ...bars? : ...bars? (''...'')
+
; diesel : diesel (''THEE-thehl'')
−
; ...sites to see? : ...sites to see? (''...'')
+
−
; Can you show me on the map? : Can you show me on the map? (''...'')
+
−
; street : street (''...'')
+
−
; Turn left. : Turn left. (''...'')
+
−
; Turn right. : Turn right. (''...'')
+
−
; left : left (''...'')
+
−
; right : right (''...'')
+
−
; straight ahead : straight ahead (''...'')
+
−
; towards the _____ : towards the _____ (''...'')
+
−
; past the _____ : past the _____ (''...'')
+
−
; before the _____ : before the _____ (''...'')
+
−
; Watch for the _____. : Watch for the _____. (''...'')
+
−
; intersection : intersection (''...'')
+
−
; north : north (''...'')
+
−
; south : south (''...'')
+
−
; east : east (''...'')
+
−
; west : west (''...'')
+
−
; uphill : cuesta alta (''KWEHS-tah AHL-tah'')
+
−
; downhill : cuesta baja (''KWEHS-tah BAH-khah'')
+
===Authority===
===Authority===
+
; I haven't done anything wrong. : Yo no he hecho nada malo. (''yoh noh eh EH-choh NAH-thah MAH-loh'')
+
; It was a misunderstanding. : Fue un malentendido. (''fweh oon mah-lehn-tehn-THEE-thoh'')
+
; Where are you taking me? : ¿Adónde me llevas? (''ah-THOHN-theh meh YEH-bahs?'')
+
; Am I under arrest? : ¿Estoy bajo arresto? (''EHS-toy BAH-khoh ahr-REHS-toh?'')
+
; I am an American/Australian/British/Canadian citizen. : Yo soy un americano/australiano/inglése/ciudadano canadiense. (''yoh soy oon ah-meh-ree-KAH-noh/ows-trah-LYAH-noh/een-GLEH-seh/thyoo-thah-THAH-noh kah-nah-THYEHN-seh'')
+
; I want to talk to the American/Australian/British/Canadian embassy/consulate. : Tengo que hablar con el estadounidense / australiano / británico / embajada de canadá o el consulado. (''TEHN-goh keh AH-blahr kohn ehl ehs-tah-THOW-nee-thehn-seh/ ows-trah-LYAH-noh/ bree-TAH-nee-koh/ ehm-bah-KHAH-thah theh kah-nah-THAH oh ehl kohn-soo-LAH-thoh'')
+
; I want to talk to a lawyer. : Quiero hablar con un abogado. (''KYEH-roh AH-blahr kohn oon ah-boh-GAH-thoh'')
+
; Can I just pay a fine now? : ¿Puedo pagar una multa ahora? (''PWEH-thoh PAH-gahr OO-nah MOOL-tah ah-OH-rah?'')
The term Castilian Spanish can be used in English for the specific dialects of Spanish spoken in north and central Spain. Sometimes it is more loosely used to denote the Spanish spoken in all of Spain as compared to Spanish spoken in Latin America; however, there are several different dialects of Spanish as well as other official languages in Spain.
Now, the Castilian Spanish of Spain is as British English is for those in England. Just as Portuguese in Portugal is as for those of Portuguese from Brazil. The country of origin keeps its dialects and its own sounds intact. As for the explorers who brought their languages to the new world, the customs of the people and their own tribal languages had an affect to the languages brought by the explorers. So now, you have people from Latin America or the New World speaking different from those in Spain, England or Portugal.
So we wish to retain the original usage of this phrasebook relating to the whole regions of Spain where Castellano is spoken in its original form apart from the Spanish from Latin America. Particularly you shall notice all those 'th' sounds with the tongue sticking out between the teeth. Like for example the ci, ce, the d and the z get those 'th' sounds. The 'j' and the 'ge' and 'gi' gets guttural.
This pronunciation usage is related to Castellano or the official language spoken in Spain. You will be understood if you travel from Latin America to Spain. There will be a few differences in sounds or words but you'll shall notice it here in this phrasebook. You shall notice the differences in sounds when it comes to Castilian Spanish.
In Spanish, the vowels remain constant and it is the consonants that vary: Castilian Spanish-speakers use the "theta" sound for Ci, Ce, D and Z - it sounds like the "th" in the word "tooth". So in Madrid, the word zapatos sounds like `thah-PAH-tos'.
a
like 'a' in "father"
e
like 'e' in "pet" ( at times this sound may be long as the 'e' in "bled" )
i
like 'ee' in "speed"
o
like 'o' in "order"
u
like 'oo' in "goose
y
like 'y' in "simply" ( this letter by itself represents 'and')
like 'the' in "theatre" /the tongue ought to be between both teeth/
ci
like 'the' in "thesis" [thee]
co
like 'co' in "cork" [koh]
cu
like 'coo' in "cook" [koo]
ch
like 'ch' in "church"
d
its more palatalized than the English 'd' at the beginning of a word and between vowels and at the end of a word its pronounced as 'th' as in "this" and at times it becomes silent.
f
like 'f' in "fish"
ga
like 'ga' in "gargle" [gah]
ge, gi
have a guttural sound like the 'ch' in "loch" or the 'ck' in "block" [kheh,khee].
go
like 'go' in "going" [goh]
gu
like 'goo' in "good" [goo]
gua
like 'gua' in "Nicaragua" [gwah]
güe
like 'gwe' in "Gwen" [gweh]
gue
like 'ge' in "get" [geh]
gui
like 'gee' in "geek" [gee]
güi
like 'gwi'
h
this letter is silent and its not pronounced
j
this sound is always guttural and a throaty sound like the 'ck' in "block" [kh]
k
like 'k' in "keep"
l
like 'l' in "lime"
ll
like 'y' in "yes" (Also pronounced like 'ly' in "homely" or "amply." Though still used in a few parts of Spain, this form is dying out.)
m
like 'm' in "monkey"
n
like 'n' in "nice"
ñ
like 'ny' in "canyon"
p
like 'p' in "post"
que
like 'ke' in "kept" [keh]
qui
like 'kee' in "keep" [kee]
r
trilled
rr
strongly trilled
s
like 's' in "son"
t
like 't' in "tent"
v
like 'b' in "base"
w
only used in foreign words like Walter
x
like 's' in "saw"
y
by itself is like 'y' in "possibly" and 'y' in "yes"
Spain uses the Western European Time (WET) which includes like most of Europe the 24 hour clock. So you'll find train and other public schedules in the 24 hour clock form eg. 13:00am/pm. When telling time in Spanish, it is expressed by Es la for 1:00 only. And Son las for 2:00, 3:00, 4:00 and so on.
Most of the signs in major cities in Spain are by pictures instead of actual lettered signs so refer to an European travel guide which will contain the rules for road or city signs.
I want to rent a car.
Quiero alquilar un coche. (KYEH-roh ahl-KEE-lahr oon KOH-cheh)
Can I get insurance?
¿Puedo obtener un seguro? (PWEH-thoh ohb-TEH-nehr oon seh-GOO-roh?)
stop (on a street sign)
stop (stohp)
one way
unica manera (oo-NEE-kah mah-NEH-rah)
yield
Ceda el paso (THEH-thah ehl PAH-soh)
no parking
No aparcamiento (noh ah-pahr-kah-MYEHN-toh)
speed limit
límite de velocidad (LEE-mee-teh theh beh-loh-THEE-thahd)
gas (petrol) station
estación de gasolina / gasolinera (ehs-tah-THYOHN theh gah-soh-LEE-nah/gah-soh-lee-NEH-rah)
Yo no he hecho nada malo. (yoh noh eh EH-choh NAH-thah MAH-loh)
It was a misunderstanding.
Fue un malentendido. (fweh oon mah-lehn-tehn-THEE-thoh)
Where are you taking me?
¿Adónde me llevas? (ah-THOHN-theh meh YEH-bahs?)
Am I under arrest?
¿Estoy bajo arresto? (EHS-toy BAH-khoh ahr-REHS-toh?)
I am an American/Australian/British/Canadian citizen.
Yo soy un americano/australiano/inglése/ciudadano canadiense. (yoh soy oon ah-meh-ree-KAH-noh/ows-trah-LYAH-noh/een-GLEH-seh/thyoo-thah-THAH-noh kah-nah-THYEHN-seh)
I want to talk to the American/Australian/British/Canadian embassy/consulate.
Tengo que hablar con el estadounidense / australiano / británico / embajada de canadá o el consulado. (TEHN-goh keh AH-blahr kohn ehl ehs-tah-THOW-nee-thehn-seh/ ows-trah-LYAH-noh/ bree-TAH-nee-koh/ ehm-bah-KHAH-thah theh kah-nah-THAH oh ehl kohn-soo-LAH-thoh)
I want to talk to a lawyer.
Quiero hablar con un abogado. (KYEH-roh AH-blahr kohn oon ah-boh-GAH-thoh)
Can I just pay a fine now?
¿Puedo pagar una multa ahora? (PWEH-thoh PAH-gahr OO-nah MOOL-tah ah-OH-rah?)
This is a guide phrasebook. It covers all the major topics for traveling without resorting to English. But please Plunge forward and help us make it a star!