Spanish Alphabet Pronunciation Guide
January 24, 2026
Good news for English speakers: the Spanish alphabet shares 26 letters with English, plus one extra letter - the famous Ñ. Spanish is remarkably consistent in its pronunciation, which makes it one of the easiest languages to read once you learn the rules.
Let's explore the sounds that differ from English:
1. Letters That Sound Different in Spanish
While most Spanish letters sound similar to English, several key letters have completely different sounds. Mastering these differences is the key to sounding natural in Spanish.
| Letter | Spanish Sound | Example | English |
|---|---|---|---|
| H | Always silent | hola | hello |
| J | Like English "H" | jalapeño | jalapeño |
| LL | Like English "Y" | llamar | to call |
| Ñ | Like "NY" in canyon | niño | boy |
| RR | Rolled/trilled | perro | dog |
2. The Letter C - Two Sounds
The Spanish C has two pronunciations depending on the vowel that follows:
| Spanish | English |
|---|---|
| casa | house |
| Spanish | English |
|---|---|
| cerveza | beer |
3. The Letter G - Two Sounds
Like C, the Spanish G changes its sound based on the following vowel:
| Spanish | English |
|---|---|
| gato | cat |
| Spanish | English |
|---|---|
| gente | people |
4. The Letter Z
In Latin American Spanish, Z always sounds like "S". In Spain, it sounds like "TH" in "think."
| Spanish | English |
|---|---|
| zapato | shoe |
5. The Letter Q
Spanish Q always appears with "U" and sounds like "K". The U is silent.
| Spanish | English |
|---|---|
| queso | cheese |
6. Spanish Vowels - Pure and Consistent
Spanish vowels are "pure" - each vowel has only one sound, and it never changes. This is one of the biggest differences from English.
| Vowel | Sound | Example | English |
|---|---|---|---|
| A | "ah" as in "father" | agua | water |
| E | "eh" as in "bed" | pero | but |
| I | "ee" as in "see" | niño | boy |
| O | "oh" as in "go" | hola | hello |
| U | "oo" as in "food" | bueno | good |
7. Tips for Mastering Spanish Pronunciation
- Remember: Spanish is phonetic. Once you learn the rules, you can pronounce any word correctly just by reading it.
- Focus on the unique letters: J, LL, Ñ, and RR are where most English speakers need the most practice.
- Keep vowels short and pure: Don't add extra sounds to vowels like we do in English.
- Practice with native audio: Use the interactive examples above to train your ear and mouth together.