Key learning points

1. The sound-symbol correspondence [a] sounds like the 'a' in the Spanish word 'alto', meaning tall.
2. The sound-symbol correspondence [o] sounds like 'o' in the Spanish word 'dos', meaning two.
3. The word 'hola' means hello; the 'h' is not pronounced.
4. The verb 'estar' means to be, being when referring to location. ‘Estoy’ means ‘I am’ and ‘está’ means she, he, it is.

Keywords

• [a] - pronounced as in 'casa'

• [o] - pronounced as in 'dos'

• Estar - Spanish verb meaning 'to be'

• Estoy - Spanish verb meaning 'I am'

• Está - Spanish verb meaning 'she, he, it is'

Common misconception