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Spanish Alphabet and Pronunciation

Do you want to learn the Spanish alphabet? In Spanish, they call it the abecedario.

At the top of this page, we have a tool for learning the Spanish alphabet in order. Below that is a tool for learning to spell your name in Spanish and below that is a Spanish alphabet chart with audio.

Learn the Spanish Alphabet

Letter
A a

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Learn to Spell Your Name in Spanish

Knowing how to say the alphabet in order is not the same thing as knowing how to do something useful with it like spelling your name on the phone.

So here’s how to learn to spell your name.

Spell Your Name in Spanish

Your name
Letter

Sound is playing...

Spell It
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Next  
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Do You Also Want to Learn?

Spanish Numbers

Days of the Week

Months of the Year

 

If you like this page, please click on the flag below to try our free Spanish lesson.

Try our free lesson now!

 

Letter
Spanish Name(s)
Pronunciation Advice
Aa
a Play Audio
The first vowel of the abecedary sounds like “ah”, the one that you use to express realization. For example: Ah, I didn’t know it!
Bb
be Play Audio
You might have used this one before since it sounds like the English b when it’s between two vowels.
Cc
ce Play Audio
In English this letter can sound like a k. It can also sound like an s (or th in Spain) when placed before an e or i.
Dd
de Play Audio
There’s not much difference between the Spanish d and the English d. It can also sound like the th would in English, usually when it’s between two vowels.
Ee
e Play Audio
This one can sound like the Eh that Canadians use when they are in doubt and you want to be more clear. “Hot enough for you Eh?
Ff
efe Play Audio
Sounds exactly like the English f
Gg
ge Play Audio
This letter often sounds like the English g. But as in cases before, when it’s behind e or I, it sounds like a very hard h.
Hh
hache Play Audio
In Spanish this letter is almost always muted. But some words are pronounced as in other languages, although maintaining the aspiration. Háwáii is a good example.
Ii
i Play Audio
This vowel is a shorter version of the English e.
Jj
jota Play Audio
This is pronounced similarly to the English h.
Kk
ka Play Audio
An unusual letter in Spanish. Can sound pretty much like the k in English.
Ll
ele Play Audio
It’s similar to the English l, but said with your tongue raised near the top of your mouth, instead of a bit dropped down.
Mm
eme Play Audio
Sounds exactly like the English m.
Nn
ene Play Audio
Sounds exactly like the English n.
Ññ
eñe Play Audio
This is quite a bit different than either the Spanish n or the English n. The Spanish Ñ sounds like the English ny or ni combination used in the words onion or canyon.
Oo
o Play Audio
A quicker and shorter version of the English o.
Pp
pe Play Audio
Really close to the English p, but it doesn’t use as much breath.
Qq
cu Play Audio
This letter only appears when followed by u. It is pronounced like the English k.
Rr
erre Play Audio
When it’s alone, it sounds like the r in the word party. When it’s repeated two times: “rr” it’s pronounced like the tt in the word hotter. We know it’s difficult, just repeat hotter until you get it. Try to make your tongue vibrate. It’s also pronounced this way when there is just one r, but it’s located at the beginning of the word.
Ss
ese Play Audio
Sounds exactly like the English s.
Tt
te Play Audio
More subtle than the English version. But in Spanish, instead of letting your breath explode, it requires only touching your teeth.
Uu
u Play Audio
Sounds almost exactly like the oo in loop.
Vv
ve Play Audio
This sounds very similar to the Spanish b, and is often confused for it.
Ww
doble u Play Audio
Similar to the English w, you might also hear it called doble ve.
Xx
equis Play Audio
Similar in pronunciation to the ks sound in English (rocks, locks), though it can vary by region.
Yy
i griega Play Audio
Generally sounds like the English y (yellow) when used in a word.
Zz
zeta Play Audio
Sounds like the English s, though it more resembles the “th” sound in many regions of Spain.

 

The teacher who made these recordings has an educated Latin American accent.

Interested in Other Approaches to the Spanish Alphabet?

Check out the BBC page for the Spanish alphabet.  The Royal Academy of Spanish occasionally changes the official alphabet.

Want to Keep Learning?

If you like this page you can continue improving your Spanish with our free Spanish lesson. Click on the flag below to keep learning.

Try our free lesson now!

Please Leave Your Alphabet Learning Suggestions Below

It’s very likely that some of you have great suggestions for learning the Spanish alphabet.

If so, please share them below so that everyone can benefit from your experience.

One Comment
  • Avatar
    heidi diaz

    i dont have any suggestions because i go the lesson well !

     
    Reply
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