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Presentation and Practice: p, t, «k» Sounds
 

About these sounds

►These voiceless consonants are pronounced without the puff of air (aspiration) that generally occurs in English (phain; thell; chall).

►Spelling of the k sound varies; see chart below.

  
 
  Spelling and Examples  
  Sound Spelling(s) Examples  
  p p papa; Pepe  
  t t total; tonto  
  k1

ca2,3

co2,3

cu2,3

que2

qui2

café

coco

curso

¿Qué?

quince

  
 
  1. Refers to the sound only. The letter k is used only in foreign words.
  2. Spelling of k sound depends on the following vowel sound. The u in que and qui is silent.
  3. In ce, ci combinations, c is pronounced as s (th in Spain). Click here for more.
 
  Práctica
Click the ► symbol. Following along with the script below, repeat after the speaker, noting the pronunciation of the p, t, and k sounds.		  
     
     
           
  p papá papel pupitre  
    prado arpa mapa  
    Papá y Pepe ponen los papeles en el pupitre.  
           
  t ti té total  
    tonto atractivo arte  
    Tomás, ¡a ti te gusta tomar tanto té!  
           
  k coco calle caro  
    parque aquí quince  
    Carmen cree que Carlos come queso.  
           
  p/t/k ¿Qué deporte practica practica Patricia?  
    Quiero que Tomás traiga papas.  

 

  
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