Why is ya pronounced with a jay sound?

Question

Jah lo say! I already know!

Is it always jah, or is that a type of dialect? Am I a fool for saying yah lo say?

Answer 1

The standard Spanish sound to pronounce the "y" is the same as the "y" in the English word "yes."

The "j" sound is a dialect but I'm not sure exactly where from.

The "sh" is from Argentina (and maybe other places).

Gracias. Or, as they say in some places, grathias. Como dulthey de tú! (or, as it would be written, como dulce de tú) - Fredbong, Sep 11, 2009

de ti - 00494d19, Sep 11, 2009

ohhhhhh, now I see, this is: how sweet of you: Qué amable de ti - 00494d19, Sep 11, 2009

Hehe, gracias a ti también Heidita. - Fredbong, Sep 11, 2009

Answer 2

In some dialects yo is pronounced jo. So that makes sense.

Answer 3

Yah lo say, quite close.

say however makes an i at the end (/sei/) and the Spanish e does not.

Have a look at the phonetic descriptions give by Lazarus.

How do letters sound

Answer 4

A 'J" sounding "Y" is widely used in the Spanish-speaking Caribbean islands. I don't know if it is limited only to those locales though.