Your first language
The American accent for Spanish speakers
Your English is already good. If Spanish is your first language, these are the American patterns worth your time first, and why.
Start with these patterns
Can and can’t mean opposite things, you may say every vowel in full and roll the R, and the O in hot is close to your “a”, not your “o”.
Can or can’t?
can + verb → kuhncan't → can't
Can’t is strong, with the A in cat, and its T often stops.
If you speak Spanish, a full “a” makes can sound like can’t. Say can “kuhn”, and can’t with the A in cat.
Any vowel can become “uh”
vowel in a quick part → uh
An -le at the end sounds like “uhl”: table.
If you speak Spanish, you may say each vowel as it is written. In quick parts, say “uh” instead.
The O in hot sounds like “ah”
O + consonant → ah
This happens in the strong part. Your lips stay relaxed, not round.
If you speak Spanish, the O in hot is close to your “a” in “casa”, not your “o”.
R is never rolled
R touches nothingD touches once
If your tongue tip touches, even once, hiring sounds like hiding.
If you speak Spanish, the R in “pero” touches once and the RR in “perro” rolls. The English R does neither.
Then, for clear pronunciation
Spanish has five vowels and one sound for B and V, chair and share can sound alike, and school starts on the S, with no vowel before it.
Ship or sheep?
i shortee long
Your mouth is relaxed for ship, with a little smile for sheep.
If you speak Spanish, your “i” is close to the vowel in sheep. Make ship and sit shorter, with a relaxed mouth.
Very or berry?
V teeth on lipB both lipsW round lips
If both lips close, very sounds like berry. If they round, vine sounds like wine.
If you speak Spanish, B and V sound the same in your language. In English, V needs your top teeth on your lower lip: very, not “berry”.
Finish the word, add no vowel
last sound → said
Without its T, note is no. With an added vowel, sport is support.
If you speak Spanish, no Spanish word starts with sp, st or sc. Start on the S: state, not “estate”.
Chair or share?
CH touch, then let goSH no touch
CH is T plus SH: touch behind your top teeth, then let go into “shh”.
If you speak Spanish, share may sound like chair. For SH, don’t touch; for CH, touch first.
What you likely do already
Spanish gives you a head start on: T becomes a quick D.