Spanish help, please?

Question

What is the rule in Spanish regarding the pronunciation of the "c" which begins words? For example, it is pronounced "k" in casa, yet "th" in ciudad.

Answer 1

It's simple:

C in "ca, co, cu" sounds like K everywhere (but the k is not so strong in Spanish as it is in English).

C in "ce, ci" sounds like TH in most of Spain, and like SS in the rest of Spain and everywhere in Latin America.

CH sounds like CH in "cheese" before all vowels.

Exceptions: Absolutely none.

Answer 2

The Spanish c has 2 possible sounds, just like English. It can sound like the s in some, or like the k in kite. Unlike English, there are very strict rules about when the Spanish c sounds like an s or a k. If the c precedes (comes before) an e or an i, the c will have an s sound. For example, once. If the c precedes any other letter (a, o, u, or a consonant), then it will have a k sound, as in cuarto. The word cocina has both types of c in it - the first c makes the k sound, and the second c makes the s sound.

Answer 3

In Spanish as spoken in Spain, 'c' has a 'th' sound when it is before 'e' and 'i', but a 'k' sound when it is before any other vowel. 'z' is always pronounced as 'th', but 's' should not be. That is a common misconception in the Americas.

In Latin America and Andalucian cities, 'c' before 'e' and 'i' is pronounced 's' as is 'z'. However, in some Andalucian villages, 's' is pronounced 'th' but this is becoming more and more rare, and has never been part of mainstream Spanish. The best place to learn a good Spanish accent is in Cantabria, I am told, which is where I grew up.

Answer 4

Hi there! I'm a native Spanish speaker.
Here's the rule (and it's really easy):

Pronounce the C like a K when it's followed by A, O, U
Example: casa, corona, cupido

Pronounce the C like an S when it's followed by E, I
Example: cebolla, cielo

If you want the K sound with E and I, you most use QU
Example: queso, quiniela

Answer 5

You're thinking of spanish from spain. Because Ciudad is pronounced with an S sound, not a th sound in the rest of the worlds spanish. People from spain pronounce their s sounds with a lisp.

Answer 6

Spanish varies in pronounciation around the world - it has regional accents and dialects in the same way as English. The c varies depending where you go. Cerveza is "theveetha" in some regions of Spain and "servessa" in some parts of Mexico.

Try to be consistant and you will sound better no matter which way you choose to pronounce a word.

Answer 7

In spanish the words
CA-CO-CU Have a sound like K or like c of COuntry.

In Latin america the sound of CE and CI are like S (Se and SI)
like SEveral)

If U want to learn Spain Spanish the CE and CI will have a sound like Z (Zorro).

Answer 8

In Mexico you pronounce like "k" when the next letter is a,o,u,l or r
Casa, coco, cuyo, clon, creer
You pronounce like "ch" when written before an h
Chiles
You pronounce like "s" (silence) when written before e, i, or y
Cecilia, Cecy

Answer 9

It works like this, "K" sound for words that are "ca", "co" and "cu" ie.
Casa
Color
Cuello
and "th" sound for "ce" and "ci" like in:
Cesta
Cielo
I hope it works.

Answer 10

th th th detesto! learn the latin americano accent it's far me appealing.