Spanish alphabet and pronunciation guide covering letters, sounds, rules, and examples for accurate speaking.
The Spanish alphabet and pronunciation are the foundation for learning the language. Spanish pronunciation is largely phonetic, meaning words are generally pronounced as they are written. The Spanish alphabet has 27 letters, including the additional letter ƞ, and pronunciation follows consistent rules, with some regional variations.
Spanish Alphabet
The Spanish alphabet consists of 27 letters:
| Letter | Name | Example Word | Example Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| A | a | casa | house |
| B | be | barco | boat |
| C | ce | cepillo | brush |
| D | de | dedo | finger |
| E | e | elefante | elephant |
| F | efe | flor | flower |
| G | ge | gato | cat |
| H | hache | hora | hour |
| I | i | iguana | iguana |
| J | jota | jugo | juice |
| K | ka | kiwi | kiwi |
| L | ele | luna | moon |
| M | eme | mano | hand |
| N | ene | noche | night |
| Ñ | eñe | niño | boy |
| O | o | oso | bear |
| P | pe | perro | dog |
| Q | cu | queso | cheese |
| R | erre | ratón | mouse |
| S | ese | sol | sun |
| T | te | taza | cup |
| U | u | uva | grape |
| V | ve | vaso | glass |
| W | doble ve | whisky | whisky |
| X | equis | xilófono | xylophone |
| Y | i griega | yate | yacht |
| Z | zeta | zapato | shoe |
Spanish Pronunciation
Below are the basic sound rules for Spanish letters and combinations:
| Letter/Combination | Pronunciation | Example | Example Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| A | /a/ | casa | house |
| E | /e/ | elefante | elephant |
| I | /i/ | iguana | iguana |
| O | /o/ | oso | bear |
| U | /u/ | uva | grape |
| B/V | /b/ or /β/ between vowels | vino / vaca | wine / cow |
| C + a/o/u | /k/ | casa, cobre, cupa | house, copper, cup |
| C + e/i | /θ/ (Spain) or /s/ (Latin America) | cebolla, cine | onion, cinema |
| CH | /tʃ/ | chico | boy |
| D | /d/ or /ð/ between vowels | dedo | finger |
| F | /f/ | flor | flower |
| G + a/o/u | /g/ | gato, goma | cat, rubber |
| G + e/i | /x/ / ɣ/ (soft "h" sound) | gente, girasol | people, sunflower |
| H | silent | hora | hour |
| J | /x/ | jugo | juice |
| L | /l/ | luna | moon |
| LL | /ʎ/ (traditional) or /ʝ/ / /dʒ/ | lluve, llamar | rain, call |
| M | /m/ | mano | hand |
| N | /n/ | noche | night |
| Ñ | /ɲ/ | niño | boy |
| P | /p/ | perro | dog |
| Q + u + e/i | /k/ | queso, química | cheese, chemistry |
| R (single) | /ɾ/ (tap) | pero | but |
| RR (double) | /r/ (trill) | perro | dog |
| S | /s/ | sol | sun |
| T | /t/ | taza | cup |
| X | /ks/ or /s/ | taxi, México | taxi, Mexico |
| Y | /ʝ/ or vowel /i/ | yeso, rey | cast, king |
| Z | /θ/ (Spain) or /s/ (Latin America) | zapato | shoe |
Special Pronunciation Rules
. Stress and Accents
- Spanish words are naturally stressed on the next-to-last syllable if they end in a vowel, 'n', or 's':
- casa (CA-sa), joven (JO-ven), pasos (PA-sos)
- If a word ends in any other consonant, the stress falls on the last syllable:
- papel (pa-PEL), salud (sa-LUD)
- Written accents (á, é, í, ó, ú) indicate the stressed syllable:
- café (ca-FÉ), útil (Ú-til), mamá (ma-MÁ)
. Silencing 'H'
- The letter h is always silent:
- hola (O-la), hermano (her-MA-no)
. Doubled Letters 'LL' and 'RR'
- LL is traditionally pronounced /ʎ/ (like a soft "ly"), but many regions say /ʝ/ (like English "y") or even /dʒ/ (like "j" in "jug").
- RR is a strong trilled /r/ sound:
- perro (PE-rro), carro (CA-rro)
. Softening of B, D, G Between Vowels
- When b, d, or g appear between vowels, they become softer, approximant sounds:
- abuelo (a-βwe-lo), ciudad (ciu-ðad), jugar (xu-ɣar)
Regional Variations
| Region | Notable Pronunciation Features |
|---|---|
| Spain (especially Madrid) | - C and Z as /θ/ (like "th" in "thin")<br>- Softer ll (traditionally /ʎ/)<br>- Clear s |
| Latin America (most countries) | - C and Z as /s/<br>- Ll as /ʝ/ ("y" sound)<br>- Some regions aspirate or drop s (e.g., "las casas" → "lah casah") |
| Argentina/Uruguay | - Ll and Y as /ʒ/ or /ʃ/ (like "s" in "measure" or "sh" in "she")<br>- Distinctive intonation ("Lunfardo") |
| Caribbean | - Aspiration or deletion of s at the end of syllables<br>- Softening or omission of r and l sounds |
Tips for Learners
- Focus on consistent vowel sounds: a, e, i, o, u are always short and clear.
- Practice the rolled rr by trilling the tip of your tongue.
- Listen to native speakers to identify regional differences.
- Use written accents as guides to stress syllables correctly.
- Don’t pronounce silent h and be careful with ll and y sounds.
Understanding the Spanish alphabet and pronunciation rules will help you read aloud confidently and be understood clearly.
How should Spanish vowels be pronounced for clear speech?
Always short, clear, and consistent regardless of word position
Spanish vowels are consistently short and clear, unlike English vowels which can be long or diphthongized.
Last updated: Thu Jun 12, 2025
