The Spanish Alphabet
Introduction to the Spanish Alphabet
The Spanish language, a beautiful member of the Romance languages, offers a rich and melodious experience for learners. Its alphabet is similar to English but has a few unique characteristics.
The Alphabet (El Alfabeto)
Spanish uses a 27-letter alphabet, (plus “CH” and “LL”), which includes all the letters of the English alphabet plus one additional letter, “ñ”.
| Letter | Pronunciation | Example Word | English Translation |
|---|---|---|---|
| A | AH | amor | love |
| B | BEH | bien | good |
| C
CH |
CEH
CHEH |
casa
Chamarra |
house
Jacket |
| D | DEH | día | day |
| E | EH | elefante | elephant |
| F | EFEH | familia | family |
| G | HEH | gato | cat |
| H | ATCHEH | hola | hello |
| I | EE | iglesia | church |
| J | HOTA | jugar | to play |
| K | KAH | kilo | kilo |
| L
LL |
ELEH
EY-EH |
libro
lluvia |
book
rain |
| M | EMEH | mundo | world |
| N | ENEH | nube | cloud |
| Ñ | ENYEH | niño | child |
| O | OH | ojo | eye |
| P | PEH | perro | dog |
| Q | COO | queso | cheese |
| R
RR |
EREH
ERREH |
rosa
carro |
rose
car |
| S | ESEH | sol | sun |
| T | TEH | tiempo | time |
| U | OO | uva | grape |
| V | OO-VEH | vaca | cow |
| W | DOHBLE-OO | wifi | wifi |
| X | EH-KIS | xilófono | xylophone |
| Y | EE-GRIEGA | yogur | yogurt |
| Z | THETA | zapato | shoe |
Learning the Spanish Alphabet
Understanding the Spanish alphabet is an essential step in mastering the language. As one of the Romance languages, Spanish shares its roots with Latin, which contributes to its lyrical and expressive nature. Learning this beautiful language not only allows you to communicate with millions of people worldwide but also gives you insight into a rich and diverse culture.
Each letter in the Spanish alphabet represents a unique sound that forms the building blocks of the language. By familiarizing yourself with these letters and their corresponding sounds through sample words, you’ll be well on your way to reading, writing, and speaking Spanish with confidence.