/z/ as in ZEBRA, BUSY and EYES

The sound /z/ in English is similar to the letter "s" followed by a voiced consonant (m, l, d, g) in some dialects of Spanish. Spanish words with this sound are: mismo, isla, desde, rasgar.

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Possible pronunciation problems

Substituting /s/ for /z/. For example:

• Zoo becomes Sue.

• Eyes becomes Ice.

• Prize becomes Price.

/d/ as in BED, DAY and LADDER

The sound /d/ in English is similar to the sound of the letter "d" when it begins a word or follows "n" or "l" in Spanish. Spanish words with this sound are: mundo, mandar, aldea, decir.

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Possible pronunciation problems

Substituting /d/ for /ð/. For example:

• Ladder becomes Lather.

• Breeding becomes Breathing.

Substituting /d/ for /t/. For example:

• Card becomes Cart.

• Bed becomes Bet.

/ð/ as in LEATHER, THE and FATHER

​The sound /ð/ in English is similar to the sound of the letter"d" between vowels in certain Spanish words. Spanish words with this sound are: Estados Unidos, lado, nada, modo.

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Possible pronunciation problems

Substituting /ð/ for /d/. For example:

• They becomes Day.

• Lather becomes Ladder.

• Breathe becomes Breed.

/ʒ/ as in MEASURE, VISION and USUAL

The sound /ʒ/ exists in the Spanish of Argentina, Uruguay, and central Colombia. In these countries, the Spanish letters "y" and "ll" are pronounced /ʒ/ in such words as "yo" and "llamar".

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Possible pronunciation problems

Substituting /ʒ/ for /ʃ/. For example:

• Vision becomes "Vishion".

• Beige becomes "Beish".

/dʒ/ as in GYM, MAGIC and AGE

​The sound /dʒ/ exists in most dialects of Spanish when the letters "y" or "ll" begin the first word in a sentence. Spanish words with this sound are: yo no voy ,or llamo al médico.

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Possible pronunciation problems

Substituting /dʒ/ for /j/. For example:

• Jello becomes Yellow.

Substituting /dʒ/ for /h/. For example:

• Jam becomes Ham.

Substituting /dʒ/ for /ʒ/. For example:

• Large becomes "Larsh".

/j/ as in YELLOW, YOU and YES

The sound /j/ in English is similar to the sound of the letters "y", "ll", and "hie" in most dialects of  Spanish. Spanish words with this sound are: vaya, pollo, hielo, hierba.

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Possible pronunciation problems

Substituting /j/ for /dʒ/. For example:

• Yet becomes Jet.

• You becomes Jew.

/b/ as in BOY, RABBIT and TUB

The sound /b/ in English is similar to the sound of the letter "b" when it follows "n" or "m" or begins a sentence in Spanish. Spanish words with this sound are: también, tambor, Benito tiene un buen barco.

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Possible pronunciation problems

Substituting /b/ for /v/. For example:

• Boat becomes Vote.

Substituting /b/ for /p/. For example:

• Robe becomes Rope.

• Cab becomes Cap.

/v/ as in VASE, VERY and OVER

​The sound /v/ does not exist in most dialects of Spanish and may be difficult for you to recognize and say.

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Possible pronunciation problems

Substituting /v/ for /b/. For example:

• Very becomes Berry.

• Vest becomes Best.

Substituting /v/ for /f/. For example:

• Save becomes Safe.

• Leave becomes Leaf.

/g/ as in GO, BEGIN and EGG

​The sound /g/ in English is similar to the sound of the letter "g" after "n" or  before "a", "o", "u", or "r" in Spanish. Spanish words with this sound are: tengo, gato, guerra, grande.

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Possible pronunciation problems

Substituting /g/ for /k/. For example:

• Bag becomes Back.

• Dug becomes Duck.

/w/ as in WOOL, WE and AWAY

​The sound /w/ in English is similar to the sound of the letters "hu" or the letter "u" after "c", "g", or "b" in many dialects of Spanish. Spanish words with this sound are: cuando, antiguo, hueso, huele.

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Possible pronunciation problems

Saying /g/ before /w/. For example:

• Want becomes "Gwant".

• When becomes "Gwen".

/m/ as in SWIM, ME and MORE

​The sound /m/ in English is pronounced the same as the letter "m" in Spanish. Spanish words with this sound are: mamá, comer, también, mercado.

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Possible pronunciation problems

Substituting /m/ for /n/. For example:

• Some becomes Sun.

Substituting /m/ for /ŋ/. For example

• Swim becomes Swing.

/ŋ/ as in SING, STRONG and FEELING

​The sound /ŋ/ in English is similar to the sound of the letter "n" followed by "g", "c", or "j" in Spanish. Spanish words with this sound are: tengo, cangrejo, banco, monja.

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Possible pronunciation problems

Substituting /ŋ/ for /n/. For example:

• Feeling becomes "Feelin".

• Sing  becomes Sin.