English Sounds Guide
For Spanish speakers — B1/B2 level
How to use this guide
Each section explains one difficult sound in English. You will find:
- A short explanation of how to make the sound
- The key difference from Spanish
- A table with practice words
IPA symbols used:
/r//l//ɪ//iː//aɪ//ʃ//dʒ/
1. The R sound — /r/
How to make it: Round your lips a little. Raise the middle of your tongue toward the roof of your mouth, but do not touch it. Push air softly from your throat.
Key difference: The English R never vibrates. The Spanish R vibrates (like in roca or perro). The English R is soft and smooth.
| Word | Translation | IPA | Position | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| red | rojo | /rɛd/ | start | Rounded lips, tongue floating |
| run | correr | /rʌn/ | start | Soft R, no vibration |
| right | correcto | /raɪt/ | start | R + diphthong 'ai' |
| road | camino | /roʊd/ | start | R + long 'o' |
| rain | lluvia | /reɪn/ | start | R + diphthong 'ei' |
| rock | roca | /rɒk/ | start | R + open 'o' |
| ring | anillo | /rɪŋ/ | start | R + short 'i' |
| roof | techo | /ruːf/ | start | R + long 'u' |
| river | río | /ˈrɪvər/ | middle | R at start + schwa-R at end |
| carry | cargar | /ˈkæri/ | middle | Double R, still no vibration |
| very | muy | /ˈvɛri/ | middle | Soft R between vowels |
| sorry | lo siento | /ˈsɒri/ | middle | Soft R, not Spanish RR |
| car | coche | /kɑːr/ | end | Final R makes the vowel longer |
| bird | pájaro | /bɜːrd/ | end | 'er' vowel + soft R |
| water | agua | /ˈwɔːtər/ | end | Very soft schwa-R at the end |
| bread | pan | /brɛd/ | cluster | BR group — no vowel between them |
| train | tren | /treɪn/ | cluster | TR group — no vowel between them |
| dream | sueño | /driːm/ | cluster | DR group — no vowel between them |
2. The L sound — /l/
English has two L sounds. Spanish only has one.
Clear L (before a vowel): Same as Spanish. The tip of your tongue touches the roof of your mouth.
Dark L (after a vowel or at the end of a word): Different. The back of your tongue rises. The tip does not need to touch the roof. The sound is deeper and heavier.
Key difference: Words like ball, milk, and feel end with a dark L. If you use the Spanish L here, native speakers may not understand you.
| Word | Translation | IPA | Type | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| love | amor | /lʌv/ | clear L | Tongue tip touches roof |
| lamp | lámpara | /læmp/ | clear L | L + very open 'a' |
| life | vida | /laɪf/ | clear L | Clear L + diphthong 'ai' |
| left | izquierda | /lɛft/ | clear L | L + mid vowel 'e' |
| look | mirar | /lʊk/ | clear L | L + short rounded 'u' |
| long | largo | /lɒŋ/ | clear L | L + open 'o' |
| lake | lago | /leɪk/ | clear L | Clear L + diphthong 'ei' |
| learn | aprender | /lɜːrn/ | clear L | L + long 'er' vowel |
| hello | hola | /həˈloʊ/ | clear L | L between vowels stays clear |
| allow | permitir | /əˈlaʊ/ | clear L | Clear L in stressed syllable |
| yellow | amarillo | /ˈjɛloʊ/ | clear L | Double L, still soft — no vibration |
| follow | seguir | /ˈfɒloʊ/ | clear L | Soft L between vowels |
| million | millón | /ˈmɪljən/ | clear L | Not double L — it is L + 'y' sound |
| ball | pelota | /bɔːl/ | dark L | Back of tongue rises, deeper sound |
| call | llamar | /kɔːl/ | dark L | Dark L after long 'aw' vowel |
| milk | leche | /mɪlk/ | dark L | Dark L before a consonant |
| cold | frío | /koʊld/ | dark L | Dark L + 'd', very resonant |
| feel | sentir | /fiːl/ | dark L | Dark L after long 'ee' vowel |
| people | gente | /ˈpiːpl/ | dark L | L forms its own syllable at the end |
| play | jugar | /pleɪ/ | cluster | PL group — P + L together |
| blue | azul | /bluː/ | cluster | BL group — B + L together |
| glass | vaso | /ɡlæs/ | cluster | GL group — G + L together |
| clean | limpio | /kliːn/ | cluster | CL group — K + L together |
3. The I sound — /ɪ/ /iː/ /aɪ/
Spanish has one 'i' sound. English has three.
Short /ɪ/: Short and relaxed. The mouth is almost closed but not tense. This sound does not exist in Spanish.
Long /iː/: Like the Spanish 'i', but held longer. The tongue is tense.
Diphthong /aɪ/: This is NOT a single vowel. It starts with an open 'a' and moves to 'i'. The letter 'i' in words like time is always this diphthong.
Key difference: Spanish speakers often use /iː/ where English needs /ɪ/. This creates confusion — sit and seat are different words.
| Word | Translation | IPA | Sound | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| sit | sentarse | /sɪt/ | /ɪ/ short | Relaxed mouth, very short vowel |
| bit | trozo | /bɪt/ | /ɪ/ short | Shorter and more relaxed than Spanish 'i' |
| fish | pez | /fɪʃ/ | /ɪ/ short | Short 'i' + 'sh' at the end |
| milk | leche | /mɪlk/ | /ɪ/ short | Short 'i' before two consonants |
| rich | rico | /rɪtʃ/ | /ɪ/ short | Short 'i' + 'ch' |
| big | grande | /bɪɡ/ | /ɪ/ short | Relaxed 'i', no tension |
| live (verb) | vivir | /lɪv/ | /ɪ/ short | Verb: short 'i'. Adjective live: diphthong |
| give | dar | /ɡɪv/ | /ɪ/ short | Very short, almost like a schwa |
| win | ganar | /wɪn/ | /ɪ/ short | Short 'i' — do not make it long |
| trip | viaje | /trɪp/ | /ɪ/ short | TR cluster + short 'i' |
| see | ver | /siː/ | /iː/ long | Long 'ee' — like Spanish 'i' but longer |
| feet | pies | /fiːt/ | /iː/ long | 'ee' spelling = long 'i' |
| green | verde | /ɡriːn/ | /iː/ long | Long 'ee', lips stretched |
| sleep | dormir | /sliːp/ | /iː/ long | Long 'ee' between consonants |
| beach | playa | /biːtʃ/ | /iː/ long | 'ea' spelling = long 'ee' |
| read | leer | /riːd/ | /iː/ long | 'ea' sounds like 'ee' here |
| team | equipo | /tiːm/ | /iː/ long | 'ea' = 'ee' — not two separate vowels |
| key | llave | /kiː/ | /iː/ long | 'ey' at the end = long 'ee' |
| field | campo | /fiːld/ | /iː/ long | 'ie' spelling = long 'ee' |
| time | tiempo | /taɪm/ | /aɪ/ diphthong | Starts at 'a', slides to 'i' |
| five | cinco | /faɪv/ | /aɪ/ diphthong | 'i' is never a single vowel here |
| night | noche | /naɪt/ | /aɪ/ diphthong | 'igh' is silent except for the diphthong |
| smile | sonrisa | /smaɪl/ | /aɪ/ diphthong | Diphthong + silent final 'e' |
| find | encontrar | /faɪnd/ | /aɪ/ diphthong | Diphthong before a nasal consonant |
| white | blanco | /waɪt/ | /aɪ/ diphthong | 'wh' + diphthong 'ai' |
| life | vida | /laɪf/ | /aɪ/ diphthong | Mouth opens first, then moves to 'i' |
| sky | cielo | /skaɪ/ | /aɪ/ diphthong | 'y' at end of word = diphthong /aɪ/ |
| light | luz | /laɪt/ | /aɪ/ diphthong | 'igh' always = diphthong /aɪ/ |
4. The SH sound — /ʃ/
How to make it: Push your lips forward a little. Put your tongue near the roof of your mouth without touching it. Push air continuously — like a long, soft 'shhh'.
Key difference: This sound does not exist in standard Spanish. The important surprise is that it is written three different ways in English.
Spelling pattern 1 — sh: The most common. What you see is what you get.
Spelling pattern 2 — ti / ci / si: Hidden. The letters ti, ci, and si before an unstressed vowel make the /ʃ/ sound. This is the most common mistake for Spanish speakers.
Spelling pattern 3 — ch (French origin): A false friend. In Spanish, ch = /tʃ/ (like chico). In words borrowed from French, ch = /ʃ/.
| Word | Translation | IPA | Spelling | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| she | ella | /ʃiː/ | sh | Most basic form of the sound |
| ship | barco | /ʃɪp/ | sh | SH + short 'i' |
| shoe | zapato | /ʃuː/ | sh | SH + long 'u', rounded lips |
| shop | tienda | /ʃɒp/ | sh | SH + open 'o' |
| share | compartir | /ʃɛr/ | sh | SH + mid vowel |
| shower | ducha | /ˈʃaʊər/ | sh | SH + diphthong 'au' |
| fish | pez | /fɪʃ/ | sh | SH at the end — air keeps flowing |
| push | empujar | /pʊʃ/ | sh | SH at the end after short vowel |
| brush | cepillo | /brʌʃ/ | sh | BR cluster + SH at the end |
| fresh | fresco | /frɛʃ/ | sh | FR cluster + SH at the end |
| nation | nación | /ˈneɪʃən/ | ti | 'ti' before '-on' always = /ʃ/ |
| station | estación | /ˈsteɪʃən/ | ti | Same spelling as Spanish, different sound |
| action | acción | /ˈækʃən/ | ti | 'ti' = /ʃ/, never like Spanish 'ti' |
| mention | mención | /ˈmɛnʃən/ | ti | Hidden 'ti' before unstressed vowel |
| special | especial | /ˈspɛʃəl/ | ci | 'ci' before a vowel = /ʃ/ |
| social | social | /ˈsoʊʃəl/ | ci | 'ci' = /ʃ/, not 'si' like in Spanish |
| musician | músico | /mjuːˈzɪʃən/ | ci | 'ci' before vowel makes /ʃ/ |
| pension | pensión | /ˈpɛnʃən/ | si | 'si' before '-on' = /ʃ/ |
| mansion | mansión | /ˈmænʃən/ | si | Hidden 'si' — the sound changes |
| ocean | océano | /ˈoʊʃən/ | ce | 'ce' before unstressed vowel = /ʃ/ |
| machine | máquina | /məˈʃiːn/ | ch | French word: 'ch' = /ʃ/ |
| chef | chef | /ʃɛf/ | ch | French 'ch' at the start |
| champagne | champán | /ʃæmˈpeɪn/ | ch | French origin: 'ch' = /ʃ/ |
| brochure | folleto | /broʊˈʃʊr/ | ch | French 'ch' inside the word |
| cliché | cliché | /kliːˈʃeɪ/ | ch | French 'ch' at the end of a syllable |
| chic | elegante | /ʃɪk/ | ch | French 'ch': not /tʃ/, not /k/ — just /ʃ/ |
5. The J sound — /dʒ/
How to make it: Put your tongue on the roof of your mouth, like you are going to say 'd'. Then let air out softly, like a 'zh' sound. The two sounds happen very fast together.
Key difference: The Spanish 'j' is guttural — it comes from the throat (like in jamón). The English /dʒ/ is soft and comes from the tongue touching the roof of the mouth. Like the SH sound, it is written three different ways.
Spelling pattern 1 — j: Direct and easy.
Spelling pattern 2 — g before e or i: A false friend. In Spanish, g before e/i makes the guttural /x/ sound (like gente). In English, g before e/i always makes /dʒ/ (like gentle).
Spelling pattern 3 — dge / ge at the end: The letters dge and ge at the end of a word make /dʒ/. The 'd' and the final 'e' are both silent.
| Word | Translation | IPA | Spelling | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| jump | saltar | /dʒʌmp/ | j | Not the Spanish 'j' — tongue touches roof |
| job | trabajo | /dʒɒb/ | j | Soft sound, no guttural friction |
| juice | jugo | /dʒuːs/ | j | /dʒ/ + long 'u', lips rounded |
| join | unirse | /dʒɔɪn/ | j | /dʒ/ + diphthong 'oi' |
| joke | broma | /dʒoʊk/ | j | Direct /dʒ/ + diphthong 'o' |
| jacket | chaqueta | /ˈdʒækɪt/ | j | Not 'yacket' — clear /dʒ/ at the start |
| jungle | selva | /ˈdʒʌŋɡəl/ | j | /dʒ/ + nasal 'ng' group |
| jaw | mandíbula | /dʒɔː/ | j | /dʒ/ alone before a very open vowel |
| joy | alegría | /dʒɔɪ/ | j | Short /dʒ/ + diphthong 'oi' |
| January | enero | /ˈdʒænjuəri/ | j | Month name — starts with /dʒ/ |
| gym | gimnasio | /dʒɪm/ | g | 'g' before 'y' = /dʒ/ |
| gentle | suave | /ˈdʒɛntəl/ | ge | 'g' before 'e' always = /dʒ/ |
| giant | gigante | /ˈdʒaɪənt/ | gi | 'g' before 'i' = /dʒ/, not like Spanish |
| giraffe | jirafa | /dʒɪˈræf/ | gi | Same animal, very different start sound |
| general | general | /ˈdʒɛnərəl/ | ge | Same spelling as Spanish, different start |
| genius | genio | /ˈdʒiːniəs/ | ge | 'ge' = /dʒ/ + long 'ee' vowel |
| germ | germen | /dʒɜːrm/ | ge | 'g' before 'e': soft, not guttural |
| magic | magia | /ˈmædʒɪk/ | gi | 'gi' in the middle also = /dʒ/ |
| ginger | jengibre | /ˈdʒɪndʒər/ | g | Two /dʒ/ sounds in one word |
| geography | geografía | /dʒiˈɒɡrəfi/ | ge | 'ge' start = /dʒ/; middle 'g' = /ɡ/ |
| judge | juez | /dʒʌdʒ/ | dge | 'dge' = /dʒ/ — the 'd' and 'e' are silent |
| bridge | puente | /brɪdʒ/ | dge | BR cluster + 'dge' at the end |
| edge | borde | /ɛdʒ/ | dge | Short word: 'dge' fills the whole end |
| badge | insignia | /bædʒ/ | dge | 'dge' after a short vowel |
| fridge | nevera | /frɪdʒ/ | dge | FR cluster + 'dge', final 'e' is silent |
| knowledge | conocimiento | /ˈnɒlɪdʒ/ | dge | Silent 'kn' start + 'dge' end = /dʒ/ |
| age | edad | /eɪdʒ/ | ge | 'ge' at the end always = /dʒ/ |
| page | página | /peɪdʒ/ | ge | Long vowel before, /dʒ/ after |
| stage | escenario | /steɪdʒ/ | ge | ST cluster + vowel + 'ge' end |
| orange | naranja | /ˈɒrɪndʒ/ | ge | End is /dʒ/ — not the Spanish 'j' sound |
Quick reference
| Sound | Key rule | Example |
|---|---|---|
| /r/ | No vibration — soft and smooth | run, carry, water |
| /l/ clear | Tongue tip touches roof | love, hello |
| /l/ dark | Back of tongue rises — deeper sound | ball, milk, feel |
| /ɪ/ short | Short and relaxed — not tense | sit, fish, big |
| /iː/ long | Like Spanish 'i' but longer | see, feet, beach |
| /aɪ/ diphthong | Starts at 'a', slides to 'i' | time, night, sky |
| /ʃ/ | Lips forward, soft continuous air | she, nation, machine |
| /dʒ/ | Tongue to roof, then soft air out | jump, gentle, bridge |
Practice tip: Use the speaker button in the interactive apps to hear each word slowly. Listen first, then repeat. Focus on one sound per day.