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Jul 08, 2018 - 07:47 PM
Both are correct, and which one you hear depends on the regional accent of the speaker -- which is why Fluenz is training your ear to accept both pronunciations.
What is the correct pronunciation of the ll sound in Spanish?
I am confused over the correct pronunciation of the ll sound in Spanish. For example in the word ella, Sonia explains that the ll is pronounced as the English “j” sound. However it seems more than not it is pronouned as the English “y” sound. I have heard this both in Fluenz as well as other outside resources. Is it an accent type of thing or do I need to listen more carefully?
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Open Jul 08, 2018 - 06:40 PM
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Jul 10, 2018 - 06:47 PM
In addition to that asnwer, I'd like to point out if you haven't already learned this but this is mainly spoken in Spain in this way, but the C in alot of words like Cinco depending on the letter placement it will be pronounced with an english TH sound as in cinco would be pronounced Thinco or phonetically "thinko" or the word "cerca" would be "therca" (therka). It takes a bit of an adjustment if you are trained to only speak one way and hear it and understand it the other.
Jul 12, 2018 - 03:32 AM
This is also the case with "ya." Some say "JA," some say "YA," and some people say both depending on context. Another way to become more familiar with these differences is by listening to music! TV shows and movies require a bit more time commitment, and I think they can be overwhelming for a newer listener, but songs are quicker and simpler, and they also offer the opportunity to follow along using a lyrics website. One example, Enrique Iglesias is Spanish, so you will here him use the TH sound that Brian mentions. A lot of his music has English and Spanish versions, so you can hear both and see how phrasing is changed to better convey the meaning of the song.
