Yes, you can have a great Spanish accent. And, your accent will separate you from the rest of the crowd. Here are 3 expert tips for developing a solid Spanish accent while learning Spanish.
Decide Which Type of Spanish Accent You Need
Native Spanish speakers will tell you that these particular differences can all be grouped under two main accents. You should either pick a Spanish accent or a Mexican accent to study, with Mexican being perhaps the most common form available.
But, if you are curious to learn some specific details concerning differences between Spanish and Mexican accents, then you can look at some differences in local dialects. Uruguay, for example, uses particular speech sounds. For this Spanish, you will use the word “vos” instead of “tu”, and you will use the sound “th” for “ll” rather than the sound “y”, which is more common.
For the Spanish known as Castillian Spanish, you will pronounce “ce” and “ci” as “th”, and substitute the word “vosotros” for “usetedas”. While speaking Latin American Spanish, such as that used in Mexico, you will want to emphasize the letter “r”, by “rolling” it. Caribbean Spanish, often called “Trade Wind” Spanish characteristically drops the endings of words, usually the letter “s”. Remember also, that regardless of the accent, all Spanish speakers generally understand each other.
Read Out Loud in Spanish
Reading out loud in Spanish helps you to learn in two important ways. You will actually develop the muscles in your mouth that help you to pronounce Spanish. You will also hear the words as you speak them. Listening carefully to what you are reading, will allow to self-correct. In other words, you will hear how you sound, and you will be able to change the way you sound. Doing this by yourself is beneficial because you don’t have the added pressure of trying to communicate with someone right away. You are just listening to the sounds you are making, and working to improve them.
Use the Correct Stress on Spanish Words
Keep in mind that the different syllables of Spanish words have different stresses placed on them. There are rules to follow when adding stress to Spanish vocabulary, and you should learn the rules, and practice them. It is not difficult to find video tutorials online that use native Spanish speakers to explain the rules and demonstrate them.
By keeping in mind these basics, you will avoid common mistakes in Spanish language pronunciation, and soon be on your way to developing a great Spanish accent of your own.
