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I assure you received’t break a sweat whereas studying the Spanish alphabet.
In the event you’re studying this, which means you have got at the very least a passing mastery of some of the foul spelling programs ever conceived—that of the English language, with unusual and nonsensical spellings like “by way of,” “knee” and “indict.”
So after studying English, studying and writing in Spanish goes to be a relative breeze.
Spanish is written with the identical 26 Latin letters as we use within the English alphabet, plus Ñ for a complete of 27 letters.
After you learn this put up, you’ll be capable of establish and pronounce every of the 27 Spanish letters, and also you’ll be given detailed directions on say them, with examples and notes for every letter.
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The 27 Letters of the Spanish Alphabet
The Spanish alphabet, often known as el alfabeto or el abecedario in Spanish, solely has one letter that the English alphabet doesn’t comprise: That’s the ñ, which is pronounced just like the Y within the English phrase “canyon.”
There are additionally some Spanish letters that carry out double obligation when it comes to pronunciation. The G, for instance, can sound just like the G in “gate” or the H in “well being.” There are additionally regional variations. The Z can sound just like the TH in “theta” or the S in “sierra” relying on the place it’s being spoken.
The “official” names for the letters under are from the Royal Spanish Academy, which is making an attempt to standardize the letter names throughout all Spanish-speaking areas for the sake of communicative simplicity. When there are different names that you simply’ll continuously hear, these are given right here as nicely.
Notice that every one Spanish letters are female.
| Letter | Pronunciation of identify | IPA pronunciation | Sound in English |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aaá | a | /a/ | Father |
| Bb | b | /b/ | Boy |
| Cc | c | /ok/ and /θ/ or /s/ relying on area | Scat, chunk, thump or Sarah |
| Dd | d | /d/ | Day |
| Eeé | e | /e/ | May |
| Ff | f | /f/ | Fall |
| Gg | g | /g/ and /x/ | Girl or hello |
| Hh | h | Silent (besides after c) | Silent or chunk |
| Iií | i | /i/ | Beep |
| Jj | j | /h/ or /x/ | Hot |
| Kk | ok | /ok/ | Cat |
| Ll | l | /l/ and as a double-l /ʎ/ or /ʝ/ | Love, you |
| Mm | m | /m/ | Mary |
| Nn | n | /n/ | Nancy |
| Ññ | ñ | /ɲ/ | Canyon |
| Ooó | o | /o/ | No |
| Pp | p | /p/ | Pay |
| q | /ok/ | Cool | |
| Rr | r | /ɾ/ and /r/ | [None] |
| Ss | s | /s/ | Sally |
| Tt | t | /t/ | Taylor |
| Uuúü | u | /u/ | Food |
| Vv | v | /b/ | Bay |
| Ww | w | /gw/ and /b/ | Whiskey or bay |
| Xx | x | /ks/, /x/ and /s/ | Taxi, hot or say |
| Yy | y | [j] or /i/ as a vowel and [j] or [ʝ] as a consonant, relying on the area | Hey or equal |
| Zz | z | /θ/ or /s/ relying on the area | Theta or sit |
Notes on Letters in Spanish
As in any language, there are some particular conditions during which letters change sounds or have a couple of choice, so that you’ll need to learn these detailed notes about every of the Spanish letters.
Aaá
Title: a
This again open vowel is the primary vowel in a Spanish phrase you in all probability already know: amigo (buddy).
Bb
Title: (formally) be, (generally) be alta, (much less continuously) be larga or be grande
At first of a phrase, or after L, M or N, this letter sounds just about the identical in Spanish as in English (just like the B in “boy”), however rather less plosive (softer). In different conditions, it could sound just a little bit nearer to the English V, however not a lot.
The Spanish B is pronounced precisely the identical because the Spanish V—though often some folks, even native audio system, will declare in any other case. Linguists will let you know this doesn’t make any distinction in precise speech patterns, nonetheless.
Simply consider the Spanish B and the V as two letters for a similar sound. This conflation ought to offer you some clue as to why native Spanish audio system have a horrible time understanding and saying the English V as in “Victor.”
Cc
Title: ce
Earlier than I or E, it’s pronounced just like the TH within the English “factor” in central and northern Spain. Elsewhere, it’s pronounced just like the S in “Sarah” earlier than these vowels. This distinction known as ceceo and in addition exists with the letter Z.
Earlier than H, as in English, it turns into just like the CH in “chunk.” Beforehand, this CH was itself thought of a separate letter and indices and libraries have been even organized as such. These are actually thought of two separate letters that merely mix to make this sound.
Wherever else, the letter is pronounced just about just like the English letter Ok (however much less plosive, or softer), just like the C in “scat.”
Dd
Title: de
At first of a phrase or after L, M, or N, this sounds just like the English D in “canine.”
Nevertheless, in different conditions, it sounds just like the TH in “this.” As you’re studying Spanish, you’ll significantly discover this second pronunciation in previous participles ending in -ado and -ido comparable to hablado (spoken).
To get a way of each D pronunciations at work, strive listening intently to dedo (finger), which appears like “DAY-thow.”
Eeé
Title: e
This can be a bit just like the AY within the English “day,” however purer. It’s only one quick vowel sound.
Additionally be aware that it’s all the time pronounced, not like the English E that’s silent that sits on the finish of many phrases. Thus, the most effective factor that Mexicans have ever executed to chocolate and to rooster, and to the world, known as mole and is pronounced MO-lay.
Ff
Title: efe
This is identical because the English F. Take into account it a complete freebie.
Gg
Title: ge
Earlier than I and E, it’s pronounced like our English H—the aspirated sound that begins the phrase “Harry.”
In any other case, although, it sounds just like the English G sound in “gag.” Thus now we have gente (folks) but in addition gato (cat).
An exception exists that’s much like English’s use of the umlaut—really referred to as diéresis in Spanish. In the event you see a G adopted by a Ü after which an I or an E, you must pronounce the English G as in “gag” adopted by the vowels, so you find yourself with one thing like GWEE or GWAY for güi and güe, respectively, like within the phrase agüera (omen).
Hh
Title: hache
Besides when following a C, this letter is all the time silent. At all times!
This appears very simple, however English audio system generally tend to pronounce an aspirated H sound anyhow as they’re studying Spanish. Take into account your self warned.
Iií
Title: i
This vowel is just like the EE in “beep.”
Hardly ever, will you hear the I referred to as by its corresponding outdated identify i latina (the Latin I), to distinction it from Y, which has been continuously referred to as i griega (the Greek Y).
Jj
Title: jota
J can differ regionally from the aspirated H sound like within the English “assist,” to an H sound with numerous hacking within the center, which English doesn’t have, except you depend a Scotsman saying the final consonant in loch.
A Spanish instance is joven (younger), which you’ll be able to hear pronounced by folks from varied international locations right here. The Spaniard goes far more for /x/ and the North and South Individuals go for /h/.
Traditionally, the J was confused with the I for fairly a while within the Latin alphabet, and was merely a flowery technique to write the identical sound. In Spanish, it may possibly sound the identical as a G that’s adopted by an I or an E.
Kk
Title: ka
That is solely utilized in loanwords and international phrases, and the sound is identical because the English Ok however much less aspirated, like within the English phrase “ability.”
Ll
Title: ele
L is pronounced type of like “Larry” however the level of contact of the tongue is barely larger in the direction of the roof of the mouth.
When there’s a double L, the sound modifications and turns into just like the Y in “yesterday.” Nevertheless, in Argentina and Uruguay it will get a little bit of the attractive ZSH, or /ʒ/, sound, just like the S in “pleasure.”
Mm
Title: eme
That is pronounced the identical as in English.
Nn
Title: ene
That is additionally pronounced the identical as in English.
Ññ
Title: eñe
That is the one letter in Spanish that doesn’t exist within the English alphabet, and there’s even a separate key for it on Spanish keyboards.
Even in the event you haven’t studied Spanish in any respect, you’ve in all probability seen it and perhaps also have a sense of the way it’s pronounced: like the beginning of the second syllable within the English “canyon.”
Widespread examples in Spanish embrace niño (youngster) and baño (tub).
Ooó
Title: o
That is pronounced just like the English O in however a bit shorter, not made right into a diphthong. Those that are purists for pronunciation would possibly examine how Spanish audio system say the phrase no (no) to our English model, and attempt to hit the Spanish model. But when not, don’t sweat it—you’ll clearly be understood simply high quality both means.
Pp
Title: pe
That is much like the English P as in “perfection,” however much less plosive (or much less expelled air).
Title: cu
As is normally the case in English, the Spanish Q is all the time adopted by the letter U and both E or I after (QUE and QUI are the one doable combos for this letter), and its sound is a less-aspirated Ok.
Rr
Title: ere
The Spanish R is much like the English R, however extra within the entrance of the mouth, with a single trill. In the event you see a double RR (named erre), it will get a bit extra trill.
This video has a completely pretty demonstration of reaching this trill, together with drawings of the place your tongue ought to go:
Whenever you assume you’re getting shut, strive evaluating the one R to the double RR sounds by listening to the phrases pero (however) and perro (canine) at these hyperlinks. Are you able to hear it, and make the excellence your self?
Ss
Title: ese
That is pronounced identical to in English.
Tt
Title: te
That is only a bit lighter and fewer plosive than the English T, however in any other case the identical.
Uuúü
Title: u
This vowel is much like the OO within the English “meals,” however a bit shorter.
Vv
Title: (formally) uve; (generally) ve, ve baja; (much less continuously) ve corta, ve pequeña
That is pronounced the identical because the Spanish B, so see above for use it. To differentiate it from the B, you must spell it through the use of the commonest uve or ve baja.
Ww
Title: (formally) uve doble; (typically) ve doble or doble ve
This letter will not be utilized in true Spanish phrases however quite in loanwords from languages like English or German. For instance, the phrase whisky. It might even be spelled whiskey (as in English), wiski, and, within the hilarious and quite wishful advice of the official RAE dictionary: güisqui.
Xx
Title: equis
The commonest pronunciation for that is /ks/, as within the phrase taxi—the identical in Spanish and English.
Notice, nonetheless, the distinction of Mexico, during which the X maintains the same sound to the Spanish J—it’s pronounced me-HEE-ko.
Yy
Title: (formally) ye, (generally) i griega
This letter is mostly referred to as i griega (the Greek I), reflecting its unique use in Spanish for loanwords from Greek. It’s now formally often known as ye in order to slot in with the names of different Spanish consonants.
As a consonant, it’s pronounced the identical as a double LL. One instance is the quite common ya (interprets as “already,” amongst different issues). As a vowel, the Spanish Y sounds just like the I, and is normally a part of a diphthong, as in hay (there may be, there are) and soy (I’m).
Zz
Title: zeta
That is pronounced equally to the primary numbered pronunciation for C, which means that it may possibly change from an S to a lisped TH in the event you’re in central or northern Spain.
To do that, FluentU takes genuine movies—like music movies, information reviews and provoking talks—and turns them into partaking language studying classes with interactive, bilingual subtitles.
As a result of the movies characteristic native Spanish audio system from all over the world, you’ll hear genuine pronunciation of every letter and sound in context. You possibly can then follow your pronunciation with customized quizzes, the place you may both communicate or sort the solutions.
What Makes the Spanish Alphabet Simple?
In distinction to English, Spanish doesn’t have such a haphazard relationship between how phrases are spelled and the way they’re pronounced. Aside from just a few exceptions, pronunciation may be very common in Spanish.
Due to this, it’s a lot simpler to be taught the Spanish alphabet than the English one! In elementary colleges, Spanish-speaking youngsters are deliberately given the duty of spelling phrases that they’ll by no means, ever have heard earlier than as a way to take a look at their skills to use Spanish’s practically good spelling system, and it really works.
In the event you’ve gotten this far, you’re now an entire grasp of the Spanish alphabet—in all probability extra so than any of us will ever be for the English alphabet.
True language nerds with a superb degree of Spanish can learn extra concerning the Royal Spanish Academy’s plans for the alphabet right here. However my advice is to only benefit from the language’s comparatively carefree spelling system.
Spanish goes to throw numerous loopy curveballs at you within the studying course of, however the alphabet isn’t considered one of them.
Obtain:
This weblog put up is accessible as a handy and transportable PDF that you simply
can take wherever.
Click on right here to get a duplicate. (Obtain)
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