Monday 25 October 2010

Pronouncing Spanish - start at the beginning (CH)

This is a single letter, says the Real Academia, guardian of the Spanish language. It is the fourth letter in the Spanish alphabet since 1803, indeed, so let us introduce you: it's name is che (as in Che Guevara). You can click on the image all you like but you won't get anywhere because there is no sound guide avaiable for some reason. Never mind, it is considered a single letter and is pronounced the same way as the same combination in English. If you really want to know, it is an affricate articulation, palatal and voiceless. Thing is, very few dictionares, particularly bilingual, have it as a separate word, possibly because the Real Academia has been arguing about it since 1803. A couple of words to practice on: chorizo (choreetho, and you know the word), chaleco (waistcoat or jacket), chapuza (botched job or odd job).

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