Lección Uno: The Spanish Alphabet

The alphabet is one of the first things you should master as a beginner.

The Spanish alphabet, called “Abecedario” or “Alfabeto”  has 27 letters, and it is very similar to the English alphabet with a few differences in pronunciation.

Look at the image below for the pronunciations (in parentheses):

To further help with pronunciation, here are some additional details:

• A is pronounced as "ah", like in "father".

• B is pronounced as "beh", like in "baby".

• C is pronounced as "seh" when followed by an "e" or "i", and as "keh" when followed by any other vowel or a consonant. For example, "ciudad" is pronounced "see-you-dahd" and "carro" is pronounced "ka-rroh".

• D is pronounced as "deh", like in "day".

• E is pronounced as "eh", like in "bet".

• F is pronounced as "eh-feh".

• G is pronounced as "heh" when followed by an "e" or "i", and as "geh" when followed by any other vowel or a consonant. For example, "gato" is pronounced "gah-toh" and "generoso" is pronounced "heh-neh-roh-soh".

• H is always silent in Spanish and is only used to indicate a different pronunciation for "c" and "g" when followed by "e" or "i".

• I is pronounced as "ee", like in "see".

• J is pronounced as "hota", with a strong "h" sound, like in "hello".

• K is not a native letter of the Spanish alphabet, and it's mainly used in loanwords from other languages.

• L is pronounced as "eh-leh", like in "let".

• M is pronounced as "eh-meh", like in "met".

• N is pronounced as "eh-neh", like in "net".

• Ñ is pronounced as "eh-nyeh", with a sound similar to the "ny" in "canyon".

• O is pronounced as "oh", like in "go".

• P is pronounced as "peh", like in "pay".

• Q is always followed by a "u" and is pronounced as "coo".

• R is pronounced as "eh-reh", with a rolling sound made by the tongue on the roof of the mouth.

• S is pronounced as "eh-seh", like in "set".

• T is pronounced as "teh", like in "tea".

• U is pronounced as "oo", like in "food".

• V is pronounced as "veh", like in "very".

• W is not a native letter of the Spanish alphabet, and it's mainly used in loanwords from other languages.

• X is pronounced as "eh-kis", like in "extra".

• Y is called "i griega" and is pronounced as "ee gree-eh-gah", like in "yesterday".

• Z is pronounced as "zeta", like in "zero".

There is much more to learn about the alphabet in Spanish and we will certainly make use of this content in future lessons.

Leave a comment responding to the following:

1. Can you name a letter in the Spanish alphabet that doesn't exist in the English alphabet?
2. What are two real life situations in which you might need this knowledge?

References:

Canta Conjess. (2020). SPANISH ALPHABET: Names of Spanish Letters and How to Pronounce them [Photograph]. https://cantaconjess.com/spanish-alphabet. https://cantaconjess.cdn.prismic.io/cantaconjess/c23d5d04-7402-467d-879e-03ae4d377b96_Spanish+Alphabet+Chart.pdf