Many Spanish speakers find English pronunciation tricky, not because they lack ability, but because the two languages are so different in sound, rhythm, and structure. Over the years, I have worked with many Spanish clients who are talented, confident communicators in their own language but feel frustrated by a few persistent English sounds. If you’re looking to polish your English accent, you are not alone. Here are some of the most common pronunciation mistakes, why they happen, and how you can start to overcome them.
Key Differences Between Spanish And English Pronunciation
The first thing to understand is that English and Spanish have fundamentally different sound systems. Spanish has just 5 pure vowel sounds, while English has at least 12, along with a range of diphthongs. English also makes use of consonant clusters and sounds that simply do not exist. These differences can make English sound “bumpy” or unpredictable and can lead to specific pronunciation challenges. If you’re a native Spanish speaker and you’d like to learn to communicate more clearly and confidently in English, take a look at our British English Programme.
Vowel Sounds: The Most Common Pitfalls
Short And Long Vowel Confusion
Spanish vowels are short, clear, and consistent: /a/ (as in “cat”), /e/ (as in “bed”), /i/ (as in “machine”), /o/ (as in “not”), /u/ (as in “rule”). English, in contrast, has both short and long vowels, and the difference in length and quality can change a word’s meaning. For example, “ship” (short i sound /ɪ/ as in “sit”) and “sheep” (long ee sound /iː/ as in “see”) are often confused, as are “full” (short oo sound /ʊ/ as in “book”) and “fool” (long oo sound /uː/ as in “food”).
Spanish speakers may not hold long vowels for as long as needed, or might not distinguish between the subtle differences in English vowel quality. Practising minimal pairs and exaggerating the length of long vowels can help retrain your ear and tongue.
Diphthongs And Unfamiliar Vowels
English is rich in diphthongs, these are vowel sounds that glide from one position to another. Words like “go” (oh sound /əʊ/), “say” (ay sound /eɪ/), and “my” (eye sound /aɪ/) all feature these gliding sounds, which are not found in Spanish. Spanish speakers may pronounce “go” as /go/, missing the glide, or “say” as /se/. Listening to native speakers and practising the movement of the tongue and lips can help master these sounds.
The Schwa /ə/
The schwa, written as /ə/ and pronounced as a relaxed “uh” sound, is the most common vowel sound in English but does not exist in Spanish. It appears in unstressed syllables, as in “sofa” /ˈsəʊ.fə/ or the second syllable of “banana” /bəˈnɑː.nə/. Spanish speakers may pronounce every vowel clearly, making their speech sound over-enunciated or unnatural to English ears. Learning to relax the mouth and “blur” unstressed vowels is key to sounding more fluent.
Consonant Sounds: The Trickiest Challenges
The “V” and “B” Confusion
In Spanish, the b sound /b/ and v sound /v/ are produced very similarly—often almost the same. English, however, distinguishes /v/ (v sound, as in “voice” /vɔɪs/) from /b/ (b sound, as in “boy” /bɔɪ/). Spanish speakers might say “berry” instead of “very” or “ban” instead of “van.” Practise feeling the vibration for /v/ (your top teeth touch your bottom lip) and the quick lip closure for /b/ to clarify your speech.
The “Sh” Sound
Spanish does not have the sh sound /ʃ/, as in “she” /ʃiː/. Many Spanish speakers substitute it with the s sound /s/ or ch sound /tʃ/, so “sheep” /ʃiːp/ might sound like “cheap” /tʃiːp/ or “seep” /siːp/. To master the sh sound, round your lips and let the air flow gently, keeping your tongue away from your teeth.
“Th” Sounds
English’s th sounds, voiceless /θ/ (as in “think” /θɪŋk/) and voiced /ð/ (as in “this” /ðɪs/), do not exist in Spanish. Many Spanish speakers replace /θ/ with the s sound /s/ or t sound /t/, and /ð/ with d sound /d/. So “think” might become “sink” or “tink,” and “this” can sound like “dis.” Try placing your tongue gently between your teeth and blowing air for /θ/, or adding your voice for /ð/.
Dropping Ending Consonants
Spanish words rarely end in consonant clusters, so English words like “world” (ending with ld cluster /ld/ as in /wɜːld/) or “text” (ending with xt cluster /kst/ as in /tɛkst/) can be a challenge. Many Spanish speakers drop the final consonant or simplify the cluster, so “world” might sound like “wor” and “text” like “tes.” Practising these endings slowly and breaking them down can help build clarity.
The “H” Sound
In Spanish, the h is silent, but in English, it is pronounced with a breathy h sound /h/, as in “house” /haʊs/. Spanish speakers sometimes drop the h or replace it with a vowel, so “hair” /heə/ might sound like “air” /eə/. Practising a gentle exhale before the vowel can help.
Rhythm And Intonation
Because Spanish is a syllable timed language, each syllable is pronounced with equal time and emphasis, imagine the steady beat of “ca-da-dí-a” in Spanish, where every part is given the same weight. English, however, is a stress timed language, which means only certain syllables (the stressed ones) are given emphasis and the rest are spoken more quickly and lightly,think of “EV-ery DAY” in English, where “EV” and “DAY” stand out and “-ry” is almost rushed.
If you are a Spanish speaker, you might find that your English sounds a bit flat or robotic at first, because you are naturally giving every syllable equal time. Practising English stress patterns, making some syllables stronger and others lighter will help your speech sound more natural, fluent, and expressive.
Next Steps
These common pronunciations are absolutely fixable. Start by focusing on one sound at a time, record yourself, and listen back for progress. Consistent practice and targeted feedback make a huge difference.
If you are ready to take your accent and confidence to the next level, sign up for my online accent membership for expert guidance, practice materials, and a supportive community. Or, if you prefer a more personalised approach, book a call with me for 1:1 coaching tailored to your unique goals.