Back to Basics - Page 1
Medical Spanish for healthcare providers: back to basics - page 1
(Click on the underlined portions to here my voice.)
Since this is a "jump-in-and-speak" website, the back to basics section focuses mostly on pronunciation, and how things are said. As you go through the dialogues, there will be lots of translated vocabulary, including idiomatic expressions.
Also see Dictionary & Resources to review further basics of Spanish, such as in-depth verb conjugations, which are out of the scope of this section.
It is very important to be able to pronounce the vowels, which, in Spanish, are always pronounced the same way.
Repeat after me: a, e, i, o, u
Now the first part of the alphabet: a, b, c, ch, d, e, f, g, h, i
The next part: j, k, l, ll, m, n, ñ, o, p, q
And the last part: r, rr, s, t, u, v, w, x, y, z
There are certain consonants that are pronounced a little bit differently than in English. For example, the letter "r" is distinct sounding. (Listen below to the word "arbusto.") Also, the letter "d" is a little bit like "th." Listen at the bottom of this page to the word "comida."
Spanish words that end in a vowel, "n," or "s," by default, are pronounced with emphasis on the second-to-last syllable, unless there is an accent, in which case you emphasize that syllable. So, when words end on other consonants, such as "d," or "l," the stress is on the last syllable. Listen to the following:
These words end in a vowel: el arbusto, la mantequilla, la comida (the bush, the butter, the food)
This phrase has a word with an accent, and a word ending in "d:" el cinturón de seguridad (the seat belt)
The letter "r" is rolled, just like the "rr," when it comes as the first letter in a word.
ropa, roja, rodeado (clothes, red, surrounded)
The "ll" is pronounced a little bit like the "j" in English.
lluvia, llorar, llena (rain, to cry, full)
The letter "h" is silent.
herida, hemorragia, hambre (wound, hemorrhage, hunger)