Ten rules. That is all that stands between you and full marks on phonics. Print this checklist, test yourself on each rule, and do not move on until every one is automatic.
⭐ 10 SSC Rules for Papers 1 and 2
- Vowels are PURE — no glide. Each of a / e / i / o / u has exactly one sound. casa = /kasa/, never /keɪsə/.
- h is ALWAYS silent — hablar = /ablar/; hola = /ola/; hacer = /aser/.
- ll = /y/ — like 'y' in 'yes'. llamo = /yamo/; calle = /kaye/.
- ñ = /nj/ — like 'ny' in 'canyon'. España = /Espanya/; mañana = /manyana/.
- j and g(e,i) = /x/ (guttural, back of throat — like Scottish 'loch'). jamón = /xamon/; gente = /xente/.
- c(e,i) and z = /s/ — cenar = /senar/; zapato = /sapato/. (AQA follows Latin American convention.)
- v = b (identical sounds) — vivir = /bibir/. Never try to distinguish v from b in speech.
- rr (and initial r) = trill — a rolled r. perro, río. Mid-word single r is a flap, not a trill.
- qu = /k/, u silent — que = /ke/; quiero = /kyero/.
- Stress rules — penultimate syllable if the word ends in a vowel, n, or s; final syllable if it ends in any other consonant; a written accent always overrides both rules.
This introduction covers The GCSE Spanish Pronunciation Checklist within SSC practice sentences for GCSE Spanish. Revise SSC practice sentences in Phonics & Pronunciation (SSC) for GCSE Spanish with 11 exam-style questions and 10 flashcards. Use this page as part of a wider topic revision path rather than treating it as an isolated fact. It is section 1 of 4 in this topic. Use this introduction to connect the idea to the wider topic before moving on to questions and flashcards.
Practice questions for SSC practice sentences
Quick recall flashcards
Read-aloud: trilled r words
carro · perro · tierra · correr · río · ropa · romano
rr always trilled. Single r at start of word also trilled.
Read-aloud: 'ñ' words fluency drill
España · mañana · año · señor · niño · baño
All = /nj/ sound as in 'canyon'.