Silent s in espana, especial...

Question

Silent "s" in España, especial, espanol, espera. I've heard that way of saying these words from people from Spain. Is there a rule for that? Does it variate regionally in Spain? Or even sometimes in words like gustar no puedes oyerlo. At times I hear no sound and sometimes it is hhh, or jjjj en espanol

Welcome to SpanishDict. - rac1, Jun 10, 2014

Answer 1

As Julian said, dropping the S in Caribbean accents is common. I've also heard it in informal speech from many sections of Mexico and Central and South America. I don't remember it in Granada or Sevilla, but the Wikipedia article on Spanish dialects and varieties says that it occurs in southern Spain (en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spanish_dialects_and_varieties#Debuccalization_of_coda_.2Fs.2F). In addition to the coda and intervocalic examples, I've heard the S dropped in other positions, in words like, for example, 'pescado'. Incidentally, as with all Wikipedia--or Internet or non-Internet--articles--without a lot more research, be careful not to conclude that you've arrived at some definitive truths. Even with my modest knowledge, I wouldn't agree with some of the IPA transcriptions, and I wonder how widespread, or in some cases, even representative, the listed pronunciations are.

I have been finding that it's more widespread than I would have thought. - rac1, Jun 10, 2014

Answer 2

I don´t know of anywhere in Spain where the"S" is dropped, but I have never been there.

In certain Carribean countries it is common to drop the "S" especially at the end of the word, but this is regionalism and does not follow any rule. It is in fact incorrect pronunciation.

My friend from Puerto Rico was just telling me about this. - rac1, Jun 10, 2014

Answer 3

The ''S'' and the ''C'' make the ''TH'' sound in Spain and other countries

The "S" is never pronounced "th", just "C" before certain vowels and "Z - 005faa61, Jun 10, 2014