Spanish A1.6 Listening Practice: Try And Silent H
Spanish A1 listening practice with audio, transcript, key phrases, and a speaking challenge for try and silent h.
Podcast listening is in beta while creation and discussion tools are refined. This published chapter includes its complete segmented audio and transcript.
Level
A1.6
Audio
Segmented audio
Transcript
22 segments
What to notice while you listen
What you'll understand
Build short guided Spanish sentences from one new pattern at a time.
Use intento plus infinitive and silent h to build an original spoken Spanish answer.
New pattern
intento plus infinitive and silent h
Practice aloud after listening
Intento hablar hoy.
A short Spanish listening chapter with transcript.
Unit 1: add intento plus infinitive and silent h to what you already control, then say one short answer that reuses earlier Spanish instead of starting from a memorized phrase.
Read while you listen.
1. Carmen · Teacher
Welcome to today's Spanish lesson! Today, we are learning how to express what you try to do using 'intento' followed by an infinitive verb, while keeping in mind that the letter 'H' is always silent in Spanish.
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2. Carmen · Teacher
Let's listen to a short five-sentence conversation between Álvaro and Lucía.
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3. Álvaro · Native Speaker 1
Hola, intento hablar.
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4. Lucía · Native Speaker 2
¡Hola! Intento ayudar.
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5. Álvaro · Native Speaker 1
Intento hablar hoy.
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6. Lucía · Native Speaker 2
Hoy es perfecto.
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7. Álvaro · Native Speaker 1
Sí, intento hablar ahora.
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8. Carmen · Teacher
Let's look at what they said. First, Álvaro said: 'Hola, intento hablar.' This means 'Hello, I try to speak.' Notice how the letter 'H' in 'Hola' and 'hablar' is completely silent.
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9. Diego · Student
So 'intento' means 'I try', and I just put the verb 'hablar' right after it?
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10. Carmen · Teacher
That's right, Diego! You don't need any extra words between 'intento' and the action verb.
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11. Carmen · Teacher
Next, Lucía replied: '¡Hola! Intento ayudar.' This means 'Hello! I try to help.'
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12. Diego · Student
Is 'ayudar' another infinitive verb meaning 'to help'?
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13. Carmen · Teacher
Yes, exactly. 'Intento ayudar' means 'I try to help.'
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14. Carmen · Teacher
Then Álvaro used our challenge phrase: 'Intento hablar hoy.' This means 'I try to speak today.'
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15. Diego · Student
Is the 'H' in 'hoy' silent as well?
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16. Carmen · Teacher
Yes! In Spanish, 'H' is always silent, so 'hoy' is pronounced like 'oy'.
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17. Carmen · Teacher
Lucía answered: 'Hoy es perfecto', meaning 'Today is perfect.'
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18. Diego · Student
So 'hoy' just means 'today'?
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19. Carmen · Teacher
Precisely. It's a very common word with that silent 'H'.
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20. Carmen · Teacher
Finally, Álvaro said: 'Sí, intento hablar ahora', which means 'Yes, I try to speak now.'
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21. Diego · Student
Can I use 'intento' with any verb I want to try doing?
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22. Carmen · Teacher
Yes, Diego. Just pair 'intento' with any infinitive verb. Excellent job listening today!
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