Alphabet: Spelling& Pronunciation
The Spanish alphabet has 30 letters, but k
and w are included only because of
foreign words. In Spanish dictionaries
most of the k section is taken up with
words beginning with kilo- and having to
do with weights and measures. These
words, though of foreign origin, are a part
of the Spanish vocabulary. On the other
hand, there is usually no w section in
Spanish dictionaries. There is also no
section for rr, since no word begins with
rr. Many Spanish words do begin with ll,
and a few with ñ. Both letters have
separate sections in Spanish dictionaries.
i
ci
(see)
cima
qui
(kee)
quito
gi
(hee)
gitano
gui
(ghee)
guía
e
ce
(say)
cena
que
(kay)
queso
ge
(hay)
gente
gue
(gay)
guerra
a
za
(sah)
alzar
ca
(kah)
cama
ja
(ha)
paja
ga
(gah)
gato
o
zo
(soh)
zona
co
(koh)
como
jo
(ho)
ojo
go
(go)
lago
u
zu
(soo)
azul
cu
(koo)
curso
ju
(hoo)
junto
gu
(goo)
gusto
El ALFABETO O ABECEDARIO
A
B
C
Ch
D
E
F
G
H
I
J
K
L
Ll
M
ah
bay
say
chay
day
ay
ef-ay
hay
ah-chay
ee
hota
kah
el-ay
ay-yay
em-ay
N
Ñ
O
P
Q
R
Rr
S
T
U
V
W
X
Y
Z
en-ay
en-yay
oh
pay
coo
er-ay
er-ray
es-ay
tay
ooh
vay
doble v
eh-kees
ee-griega
seta
¿Cuántas letras hay en el alfabeto?
NOTE:
(gwee): güiro
(gwah): guapo
(gway): güelfo
(gwo): antiguo
Pronounce vowels in Spanish clearly, unlike
in English. For example: the name Anthony.
Consonants are pronounced as they are in
English. Keep in mind the following rules.
 C is “hard” (as in car) before a, o, u
like in Carlos, and “soft” (as in city)
before e,i like in César.
 G is “hard” (as in gun) before a, o, u
like in Gomez, but sounds like the
English H (as in hit) before e,i like
Gerardo.
 GU has the “hard” G sound and the U
is not pronounced like in the name
Guevara (gheh-VAH-rah).
 H is a silent letter and is never
pronounced as in the name Héctor
(ECK-tohr).
 J sounds like the English H like in the
name Javier (hah-vee-AIR).
 LL sounds like the English Y as in the
word villa (VEE-yah).
 Ñ sounds like the English combination
NY (as in canyon) like the word Peña
(PEHN-ya).
 QU sounds like the English K and the
U is not pronounced as in Quiroga
(kee-ROH-ga). The QU combination
does not make the kwa sound found in
English words like quack.
 RR or “trilled” R sound is not found in
English. Try to roll your tongue when
two r’s are next to one another. If you
cannot, simply use the regular r.
 Z is like the English S as in the word
bus, not buzz like the last name Pérez
(PEH-rehs).
 Pronunciations given for C and Z are
prevalent in all Spanish America. In
Spain, however, C before E or I and Z
(always) are pronounced as TH, like
in thin. If César were from Mexico or
Argentina, he would call himself
SAY-sahr, but if he were a Spainard
he would call himself THEH-sahr.
Vamos a Practicar: Do you pronounce the
first syllable of the Spanish word like the
English word in the column at the left?
Write Sí or No in the 3rd column.
lane
free
sew
coast
say
see
eye
sane
loon
got
flock
moon
least
train
mean
gate
sole
lento
fri-tos
so-lo
Costa Rica
se-co
si-glo
I-tal-ia
sa-no
lu-na
ga-to
fla-co
mun-do
lis-ta
tren
mi-na
ga-tos
sol