If you want to say “I want…” in Spanish, you would generally say, “Yo quiero…” However, if you’re expressing the phrase to someone who’s helping you in something like a store, hotel, or restaurant environment, you might instead politely say, “Me gustaría…” which translates to “I would like…”
For all the complexities of Spanish verbs, learning Spanish is within reach using Rosetta Stone ––especially if you already speak another Latin-based “romance language” (like French or Italian) or if you’ve already had significant exposure to the basics of Spanish itself. When languages originate from a shared root language, they usually have hundreds or thousands of words in common (cognates) and have significant grammatical similarities. That’s why you can easily find English words like “seven” that look similar in French (sept), Italian (sette), and Spanish (siete). Aside from the similarities in vocabulary, you’ll be glad to know that the Spanish language has an extremely clear and consistent system of pronunciation. Unlike with English, where spelling and pronunciation can seem arbitrary, Spanish has only a few irregularities. The Spanish alphabet is also nearly the same as in English, with only 3 extra letters: ch (chay), ll (elle), and ñ (eñe).
Rosetta Stone teaches you the language, not just the words. You’ll learn to use the new language in your everyday life. So, it’s not just about the features, but what you’re able to do because of them. That way, you’ll be ready to handle situations with ease and confidence.
Learn Spanish Words and Phrases
Some people choose to learn Spanish because they find that they frequently encounter the language in their everyday lives. After all, Spanish is often heard in popular music, movies, and TV shows. Other people make the decision to learn the Spanish language because they have future plans to work, vacation or volunteer in one of the 20 countries in which Spanish is the official language. So whether your reasons are for business or pleasure, you can get off to a great start by first focusing on learning how to pronounce some very basic Spanish words phrases. It is a key part of confidently speaking with one of the 437 million Spanish speakers worldwide.
Far too many new Spanish learners get caught up trying to memorize vocabulary words. This tiresome approach can lead to the unfortunate outcome of not understanding, or being understood in everyday Spanish conversations. That’s why it’s important to stay focused on learning commonly used words and their pronunciation. This smart approach to learning the Spanish language will help you become comfortable and confident conversing with locals.
Spanish does have some pronunciation distinctions that can make it a challenge for language learners. As one example, the letter r is pronounced differently and takes some practice for most new learners. This distinct sound is formed by tapping the tip of the tongue on the roof of the mouth, about a third of the way back in the mouth. Some Spanish-language experts suggest new Spanish learners practice making the “tt” sound, as it sounds in the English word butter.
Polishing proper Spanish pronunciation will depend on your receipt of immediate and accurate feedback on your pronunciation efforts. This instant feedback will give you what you need to make any needed corrections to your pronunciation. Once your pronunciation is entirely accurate, you’ll want to practice speaking until you can easily shape the sounds that make up the spoken Spanish language.
Rosetta Stone helps you get the pronunciation right in a snap with TruAccent. Our patented speech engine instantly compares your voice to native and non-native speakers, so you get real-time feedback for the most accurate pronunciation. It’s also adjustable, which allows you to fine-tune your accent. TruAccent is among the most powerful tools for helping you learn and speak the Spanish language.
After new Spanish learners have the skills to understand and pronounce basic Spanish words and phrases, they can move onto learning the longer Spanish phrases that make up so much of everyday, real-world Spanish conversation. Rosetta Stone’s brief, digestible language lessons are built to help you first learn the basics and then move on to longer phrases––in short, understanding and speaking Spanish with confidence.
Try Our Award-Winning App
Surround yourself with Spanish whenever, wherever with the Rosetta Stone app.
Download a unit and knock it out on the train or a flight. Select a 5-10 minute lesson and sneak it in while you wait in line or for your ride to show up. And explore dynamic features, like Seek and Speak, where you can point at an object in the real world and get a translation.
The best part? You don’t have to choose between app or desktop. Both come with your subscription and sync, so you can switch between devices seamlessly.
