Pronunciation Guide:

L.A.S. = Latin American Spanish
P.S. = Peninsular Spanish (Spain)

In both sides of the Atlantic, the pronunciation of the vowels does not vary.
Single vowels are pronounced very clearly and without a final schwa sound.

For example, AMARILLO ==> ah-mah-żih-joh.
(Stress is marked on the underlined syllable).
(ż) this sign indicates that the sound does not have an equivalent English sound.

q = in P.S. zeta (Z) and (C) before E or I => the sound is equal to the pronunciation of the TH in the English word think.
For example, AZUL ==> ah-qul (P.S.) ==> ah-sul (L.A.S.)

d = in both P.S. and L.A.S. a "d" between vowels --is pronounced like the TH in the English word that.
For example, MORADO ==> moh- -żah - doh *.

R = in both P.S. and L.A.S. a strong "r" (like a motorcycle sound)

X = in Castile and some L.A. countries -- the pronunciation of the soft "g" or "j" sound => like the German CH sound in Nacht.
- For example, ROJO ==> Roh-Xoh.
In other countries, the "J" sounds like an English H (as in -San José-).

h = initial H is always silent - HOLA => oh-lah.

In Spanish, double L (ll) is pronounced like an English "J" in "jump" (see AMARILLO above).

Final "L" sound like in the English word CALL does not exist in Spanish. All Spanish single L's are pronounced like English initial L's (Line, love, etc.).

PLEASE, never use the American English "r" with any Spanish word. Your speech will sound very foreign and difficult to understand. -- Say medal very fast. The sound of the middle "d" is similar to the Spanish single "r" sound.

* There is no English equivalent to the "ż" sound. (see above).