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How to Learn to
Speak Spanish
Spanish is a beautiful language with a long history
and over 500 million speakers worldwide. It is one of
the easier languages for speakers of English to
learn, due to both language's shared Latin roots.
Learning another language requires time and
dedication. The satisfaction you'll feel after having
your first proper conversation in Spanish will make it
totally worth the effort! Here are some great ideas on
how to learn to speak Spanish and have fun in the
process!
1
Learn Spanish pronunciation. The Spanish
alphabet is identical to English, but the pronunciation
of each letter is significantly different. Some of the
sounds are difficult for English speakers because
they don't occur in that language. A good way to
2
Learn to pronounce letters of the alphabet in
Spanish. Once you learn the pronunciation rules of
v sounds like b
3
Learn numbers next. Knowing how to count is an
essential skill in any language. Learning to count in
4
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!
That way you will remember how to say it, not just
recognize it when you hear it.
5
Learn some basic conversational phrases. By
learning the basics of polite conversation, you'll very
Hello! = Hola![5]
Yes = S[6]
No = No[6]
1
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,
As you can see, the six different endings used are o, -as, -a, -amos, -isand -an. These endings will
be the same for every single regular verb that ends
in "-ar", such as bailar (to dance), buscar (to look
for), comprar (to buy) and trabajar (to work).[9]
2
Learn how to conjugate common, irregular
verbs. Once you get the hang of conjugating regular
verbs, you are off to a very good start. However be
aware that not all verbs can be conjugated using the
normal rules - there are many irregular verbs, each
4
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.
2
Consider signing up for a language course. If you
need some extra motivation or feel you would learn
better in a more formal setting, try signing up for a
Spanish language course.
4
Listen to Spanish music and radio. Listening to
Spanish music and/or radio is another good way to
surround yourself in the language. Even if you can't
understand everything, try to pick out keywords to
help you get the gist of what's being said.
5
Learn about the Spanish cultures. Languages
exist in a dialogue with culture, so certain
expressions and mentalities are inextricably tied to
cultural origins. The study of culture may also help
prevent social misunderstandings.
7
Don't be discouraged! If you're serious about
learning to speak Spanish, keep at it - the
satisfaction you'll get from mastering a second