Spanish true friends – 10 everyday words – Episode 014

Spanish true friends – 10 everyday words

Podcast episode 14 – SEE ALL EPISODES

EPISODE TRANSCRIPT

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Today, we’ve got another Spanish vocabulary question. Today’s question is: ‘Are there many true friends in Spanish?’

Remember that yesterday we saw some Spanish false friends. Those were words that look very similar in English and Spanish, but mean something completely different.

See also: Maria’s step-by-step Spanish courses.

Today we’re going to look into true friends. Those are words that look very similar, or even identical in English and Spanish, and mean exactly the same thing.

So these words are going to be really easy to learn.

Spanish true friends: learning 10

Let’s hear the 10 Spanish words that have I’ve chosen for you today. They are:

actor

capital

chocolate

euro

horizontal

horrible

metal

natural

normal

yoga

Why am I teaching you these words? Well, mainly for one reason. And it’s that, when you say them, you’re  most likely going to be pronouncing them wrong.

Those words are very easy to remember. They’re very easy to use in conversation. But they are terribly difficult to pronounce right. Because you’ll be tempted all the time to say them like in English.

Spanish true friends: common mistakes

I’m going to go through the 10 words, and I’m going to point out where you should be careful. And how you might be saying them wrong.

Have a look at
Maria’s step-by-step Spanish courses

Let’s start with:

actor

Here you have to remember that the stress goes on the O.

Capital

Again, remember the distress is on the last A.

chocolate

Here the main point is to remember to say the last E. And not to drop it.

Now we come to to what I think is the most difficult one in this list:

euro

Remember to pronounce the E and the U.

horizontal

Here you need to remember that the H is silent. And that the stress falls on the A.

horribly

Again, remember here that the H is silent.

Try to pronounce the double R as best as you can. And definitely remember to pronounce the E. Don’t drop that E.

metal

Here, again, the stress falls on the A.

natural

See how this T is like any other Spanish T. And the stress falls on the A.

normal

Again, the stress falls on the A.

And last word:

yoga

Notice how the Y-O is yo.

Have a look at
Maria’s step-by-step Spanish courses

Spanish true friends: say them out loud

I’m going to say those 10 words once again. Try to say them after me. If possible, say them out loud:

actor

capital

chocolate

euro

horizontal

horrible

metal

natural

normal

yoga

Spanish true friends: speaking drill

Let’s do a speaking drill. I’m going to say the 10 words in English. See if you can come up with them in Spanish. Remember the tips I gave you for the pronunciation:

actor

capital

chocolate

euro

horizontal

horrible

metal

natural

normal

yoga

Learning true friends is really a very motivating way of expanding your vocabulary. It’s dead easy. And all you have to focus on is the pronunciation.

Find out more about my Spanish courses.