Michal Kazimierczak
5 min 
Learning a language is not just about grammar and vocabulary. It also involves understanding how people communicate, both with words and with gestures, expressions, and silences. In this article, we combine two essential tools to improve your Spanish communication: a clear guide to some spelling rules and a practical introduction to reading emotions through non-verbal language.
H – The silent “h” that doesn’t sound, but has history
In Spanish, the letter h is usually silent, but that doesn’t mean it has no meaning. It often appears at the beginning of words like hueso, huérfano or huerto for historical reasons. In some cases, it was used to avoid confusion in old writing when the letters u and v were easily mixed up.
This h usually appears before the diphthongs ue, ui, ua, either at the beginning or in the middle of a word (huerta, cacahuete, alcahueta). However, not all words follow this rule. Some exceptions like fideuá, uigures or saharaui do not include it. The key is to understand its etymological origin.
📌 Remember: if a word starts with ia, ie or io, it also usually takes an h (hielo, hiena, hiato), unless it comes directly from Greek (ion, iodo).
He – “echo” or “hecho”: an important difference
One of the most common mistakes among Spanish learners is confusing echo (from the verb echar) with hecho (from the verb hacer).
- Echo de menos → without h.
- He hecho la comida → with h, because it includes the verb haber before it.
It is also important not to write hechar, as it does not exist. Nor should you confuse desecho (something thrown away) with deshecho (something that has been dismantled or broken down).
📌 Useful trick: If you can use a form of the verb haber before it (he, han, había…), then it is written with h: he hecho, han hecho, habíamos hecho.
Li – Where do accents go in words like “rio”, “lío” or “guion”?
Combinations of vowels such as ie, io, ia, ue or ua can create doubts when writing. When a word has a closed vowel (i, u) followed or preceded by an open vowel (a, e, o) and the closed vowel is stressed, an accent mark is placed: mío, país, ríe, púa.
However, if the closed vowel is unstressed, it is not accented even if it is pronounced in two syllables: rio (from reír), liais, fie, guion, fui, vio.
📌 Important: Even if they are sometimes pronounced as if they had two syllables, orthographically these words are considered monosyllables and are not accented, unless the closed vowel is the stressed one.
And what if there is an h in between? The rule is the same: the diphthong is analyzed as if the h did not exist. For example: búho (accented), truhan (not accented).
Be – “a ver” or “haber”: they are not the same
The confusion between a ver and haber is very common, even among native speakers. Although they sound the same, they have different meanings:
- A ver is used in expressions such as: A ver si vienes, A ver cómo lo resolvemos, Vamos a ver qué pasa. It comes from the expression “let’s see”.
- Haber is used as an auxiliary verb: Tendría que haberlo dicho antes, Debería haber más opciones.
📌 Practical rule: if you can put “vamos” in front and the sentence still makes sense, then it is a ver. If not, it is probably haber.
Beyond spelling: how to understand what others feel
Mastering writing is a fundamental part of learning Spanish, but so is developing the ability to understand what others feel, even when they don’t express it in words. This is where reading emotions through non-verbal language comes in.
Although each culture expresses emotions differently, there are universal signals — especially in the face — that help us identify what someone is feeling. These are called microexpressions: very brief, automatic movements that reveal emotions such as surprise, sadness, joy or fear.
Some basic expressions:
• Surprise: raised eyebrows, wide open eyes, slightly open mouth.
• Sadness: corners of the lips down, lowered gaze.
• Anger: furrowed eyebrows, tight lips.
• Fear: wide open eyes, tense eyebrows, slightly open mouth.
• Contempt: one corner of the mouth raised.
These expressions are common worldwide, although the way they are shown varies by culture. For example, in some Asian countries emotions tend to be more controlled, while in other places such as Latin America or Southern Europe, they are expressed more openly.
Tips for reading emotions more accurately:
- Observe the face, especially the eyes and mouth. They are the most expressive and least controllable areas.
- Take cultural context into account. What is normal in one culture may be interpreted differently in another.
- Trust your intuition. We often sense inconsistency even if we can’t explain it.
- Practice with videos and real situations. Films, interviews or real conversations are excellent material.
- Don’t jump to conclusions. A microexpression does not always mean what it seems; observe it within context.
In summary
Both correct writing and the ability to read emotions are essential skills for communicating well in Spanish. Spelling helps us be clear and precise, while non-verbal language allows us to connect better with people.
If you are learning Spanish in a multicultural environment like Murcia, these tools will be especially useful for integrating, communicating fluently, and better understanding those around you.
Are you interested in continuing to learn by combining language and emotional communication? In our school you will find dynamic classes adapted to your interests, and an ideal environment to practice every day what you learn.
We are waiting for you.
