When learning English, you'll find that some sounds are familiar, while others are completely new. Spanish has a very consistent, phonetic alphabet where each letter usually makes one sound. English is different. Its sounds can be tricky because the spelling doesn't always match the pronunciation.

Many of the challenges Spanish speakers face come down to a few key vowel and consonant sounds that don't exist in Spanish. Let's break them down.

Spanish has five simple, pure vowel sounds: a, e, i, o, u. English, depending on the dialect, has more than 12. This is one of the biggest differences between the two languages. Some English vowels are short and quick, while others are long and drawn out. This length can change the meaning of a word entirely.

One of the most common sounds in English is one you may have never noticed. It's called the schwa.

Mastering the schwa will instantly make your English sound more natural. It appears in unstressed syllables. For instance, in the word banana, the first and last 'a's are schwa sounds (/bəˈnænə/), while the middle 'a' is stressed and has a different sound.

Besides vowels, a few English consonants can be tricky because they don't have a direct equivalent in Spanish. With a little practice, you can master them.

Let's focus on three common ones: the two 'th' sounds and the 'v' sound.

The letters 'th' can represent two different sounds:

1. Voiceless 'th' (/θ/): As in think, three, and bath. To make this sound, place the tip of your tongue lightly between your teeth and blow air out. There's no vibration in your throat. This is similar to the 'z' or 'c' sound in Peninsular Spanish (like in zapato or cielo).

2. Voiced 'th' (/ð/): As in this, that, and mother. The tongue position is the same, but this time you vibrate your vocal cords. You should feel a buzzing in your throat.

Another key sound is the 'v'. In Spanish, the letters 'b' and 'v' are pronounced identically (as /b/). In English, they are distinct. The 'v' sound is made by lightly touching your top teeth to your bottom lip and vibrating your vocal cords. It's the sound in van, very, and have.

Recognizing these new sounds is the first step. The next is practice. Listen carefully to native speakers and try to imitate the sounds you hear. It takes time, but you'll get it.