a is sounded like a in far or in fat: mar, sea; sal, salt;
e like a in mate, or e in met: mesa, table; venta, sale;
i like i in marine or in pin: mina, mine; fin, end;
o like o in note or in not: cono, cone; con, with;
u like u in rule or in full: luna, moon; mundo, world.
y, as a vowel, has the same sound as i: muy, very; ley, law.
COMPOUND VOWELS.
These consist of combinations formed with the strong vowels a, e, o, each of which, when they meet, is pronounced as forming a separate syllable:
ae, ao, as in faena, task; nao, ship.
ea, eo, as in correa, strap; empleo, employment.