If you want to say the word “a” in Spanish, you would say “una” (the feminine form—for almost all words ending in the letter “a”) or “un” (for masculine nouns).
Getting a handle on the “a” in Spanish can seem tricky since nouns are gendered, but the basics are actually pretty simple—particularly if you already speak related languages like English, Italian, or French. That’s why there are many English terms like the word “air” that sound remarkably similar in French (air), Italian (aria), and Spanish (aire). Many learners also find that Spanish has an amazingly easy to understand pronunciation system, but for some irregularities in pronunciation. This is unlike English (among the most difficult languages to learn). Additionally, the alphabet is close to English and other major European languages. There are only 3 extra letters you will need to learn: ch (chay), ñ (eñe), and ll (elle).
With Rosetta Stone’s immersive approach, the emphasis is on learning the language, not just the words. What makes Rosetta Stone unique is that we prepare you to use your new language in the real world. 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 any situation and feel confident.
Like most things that are worthwhile, there are few shortcuts. But if you combine individual practice in the Rosetta Stone award-winning mobile app and practice with other Spanish language learners in Live Tutoring, you can have absolute control over your learning speed and, ultimately, your long-term progress.
Common Spanish Words
There are essential conversational building blocks that make for an excellent place to start. Important words and phrases like hello, goodbye, thank you, who, what, why, where, please, etc. greatly simplify your move into everyday conversation in Spanish.
- Sí = Yes
- No = No
- ¿Quién? = Who?
- ¿Qué? = What?
- ¿Por qué? = Why?
- ¿Dónde? = Where?
- Hola = Hello
- Adiós = Goodbye
- Por favor = Please
- Gracias = Thank you
- Lo siento = Sorry
- Salud (after someone sneezes) = Bless you
It’s important to note that Spanish does have some unique pronunciation distinctions that can make it challenging 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 counsel new Spanish learners to practice making the “tt” sound, as it sounds in the English word butter.
Improving your own pronunciation means getting feedback and making corrections (even if a day at a time or word at a time), practicing, and staying committed to your education––until your brain and tongue develop their own feel for how to form the various sounds that make up the Spanish language. Rosetta Stone embeds our patented speech-recognition engine called TruAccent into every lesson. This feature instantly compares your voice to native and non-native speakers, so you get real-time feedback to know you’re saying it right. 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.
Once you have the basics down, it’s natural to transition to the even longer phrases that make up the backbone of daily conversations. Rosetta Stone’s short and laser-targeted lessons are built with this in mind. They move you towards speaking with full confidence by always guiding you into acquisition of essential vocabulary for real-world situations. Rosetta Stone makes the process feel natural.
As a trusted language-learning partner, Rosetta Stone has experience developing language programs that build your confidence. You will learn in an order that helps you better understand how you can communicate effectively in Spanish. Engage with Spanish at your own pace and on your own time, plus start speaking Spanish from day one.
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.
