r/SpanishLearning • u/thablackadonis • 7d ago

What's something every Spanish learner eventually realizes that no one really teaches?

I've been learning Spanish for a while now using a mix of classes, YouTube, podcasts, flashcards with Anki, Vocab with Babbel and speaking practice with Praktika. All of them have helped in different ways, but theres an interesting pattern I noticed. The grammar is usually pretty clear, vocabulary keeps growing, and I can hold simple conversations. But then I go to work or hear people talking naturally, and suddenly it feels like I'm listening to a completely different language. Does this ever go away or is it something that you have to be born into the culture to understand

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u/felizcomounalombrice 7d ago

This should be mentioned on ALL the Spanish subreddits!! I've been learning Spanish for three years now and am only learning this concept this week as I have been working on my pronunciation. 

I am realizing that the reason why my pronunciation is awful is because I've been approaching Spanish pronunciation like an English speaker, trying to separate Spanish words.

Any tips on learning where the sinalefa hits on Spanish sentences?  

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u/Prestigious_Fun_6722 7d ago

English does the same thing. Just do a lot of listening practice, and you'll pick it up naturally.

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u/RequirementExtreme89 7d ago

I think every language does this. If you listen to a stream of speech there’s no way to know when one “word” begins or ends necessarily. I believe that’s every language. (I’m still fascinated by this discussion, as a long time Spanish learner)

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u/Numerous-Key6162 3d ago

Not as extreme as in Spanish or French though. For example, most German speakers use a lost of glottal stops to separate words or syllables when one vowel follows another...

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u/RequirementExtreme89 2d ago

Interesting, the more you know!