Las consonantes — Consonant SSC Table
🔤 Las consonantes — Consonant SSC Table
| Letter(s) | Sound | English comparison | Examples |
|---|---|---|---|
| ll | /y/ | 'y' in 'yes' | llamo, calle, lluvia |
| ñ | /nj/ | 'ny' in 'canyon' | España, mañana, niño |
| rr / initial r | trill | rolled r | carro, perro, río |
| j / g(e,i) | /x/ | 'ch' in Scottish 'loch' | jamón, gente, gitano |
| c(e,i) / z | /s/ | 's' in 'sun' | cenar, ciudad, zapato |
| v | /b/ | same as 'b' | vivir, volver |
| h | (silent) | never pronounced | hablar, hola, hacer |
| ch | /tʃ/ | 'ch' in 'church' | chico, noche |
| qu | /k/ | 'k' in 'key' (u silent) | que, quien, quiero |
These three rules cause the most errors in AQA Listening and Speaking. Master them and you will hear — and produce — Spanish much more accurately.
Earn the mark scheme marks
⚠️ Errores comunes — Common SSC Mistakes for English Speakers
These are the two most penalised pronunciation errors in AQA Paper 2 (Speaking). Examiners listen for SSC control — getting these right lifts your phonics mark.
❌ Error 1: Pronouncing the 'h' in hablar — saying /hablar/ like an English 'h'
✅ Correcto: hablar = /ablar/ — h is ALWAYS silent in Spanish. Never produce the /h/ sound.
Por qué importa: English speakers automatically voice the h because English 'h' is always pronounced. In Spanish the letter h exists only for historical reasons — it is never spoken. The same applies to hola (/ola/), hacer (/aser/), hay (/ay/). Examiners hear this error immediately.
❌ Error 2: Pronouncing 'j' in jamón like English 'j' (= /dʒ/ as in 'jam')
✅ Correcto: jamón = /xamon/ — Spanish j = guttural /x/ sound, made at the back of the throat. Think Scottish 'loch'.
Por qué importa: The English /dʒ/ sound (as in 'jump') does not exist in Spanish. Using it marks you immediately as a non-native speaker and the examiner cannot credit your SSC control for this sound. Practise by saying 'loch' (Scottish) then transition to jamón.
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