When it comes to learning Spanish, one of the first things you need to understand is the Spanish alphabet.
In this article, I will share with you a comprehensive guide on the Spanish alphabet, including its history, pronunciation, and how it differs from the English alphabet.
Brief History of the Spanish Alphabet
The Spanish alphabet, also known as the “alfabeto” or “abecedario,” has a rich history dating back to the 11th century. Originally, the Spanish language used the Latin alphabet, which consists of 23 letters.
However, over time, the Spanish language evolved, and several letters were added to the alphabet to accommodate new sounds and words.
The current Spanish alphabet consists of 27 letters, which include the five vowels (a, e, i, o, u) and 22 consonants. These consonants are b, c, ch, d, f, g, h, j, k, l, ll, m, n, ñ, p, q, r, rr, s, t, v, x, y, and z.
How to pronounce the letters of the Spanish Alphabet
The pronunciation of the Spanish alphabet can be challenging for English speakers, as some of the letters have different sounds from their English counterparts.
For example, the letter “c” in Spanish can be pronounced like the English “k” or “s” depending on the context.
| C – sound /k/ | English |
| casa | house |
| correo | post |
| cocina | kitchen |
| cubo | cube |
| C – sound /s/ | English |
| Cecilia | (name – Cecile) |
| cebolla | onion |
| cilantro | coriander |
The letters “b” and “v” can also be tricky for English speakers, as they are often both pronounced like the English “b” sound.
Additionally, the Spanish “r” and “rr” can be difficult to master, as they have a “rolled R” sound that is not present in English.
| R – strong (rolled R) | English |
| rosa | rosa |
| río | river |
| ruido | noise |
| guitarra | guitar |
| perro | dog |
| terremoto | earthquake |
| R – soft | English |
| aparecer | to appear |
| prisión | prison |
| pareja | partner |
| naranja | orange |
| marido | husband |
There are many other pronunciation rules so my recommendation is to practice with a native Spanish speaker or using language learning apps that provide audio recordings of the letters.
You can book an online lesson with a teacher on Italki here
Differences between the Spanish and English Alphabet
While the Spanish and English alphabets share some similarities, there are also several key differences.
For example, the Spanish alphabet includes the letters “ñ” and “ll,” which are not present in the English alphabet.
Another important difference between the Spanish and English alphabet is the pronunciation of certain letters. As we mentioned earlier, the letter “c” in Spanish can be pronounced like the English “k” or “s” depending on the position.
The Spanish “j” is pronounced like the English “h,” and the Spanish “h” is silent at the beginning of the words.
However, it takes the pronunciation of words like cheers when the “h” is after a “c”
| J – (pronounced like ‘h’ in English) | English |
| juego | game |
| juguete | prison |
| jengibre | ginger |
| Silent H | English |
| hola | hello |
| ahora | now |
| hortencia | hortensia flower (Hydrangea) |
| CH | English |
| sándwich | sandwich |
| chico | boy |
| chocolate | chocolate |
