The Spanish Alphabet Structure
The Spanish alphabet consists of 27 letters, including the unique letter 'ñ'. Understanding these letters is fundamental for proper pronunciation and spelling in Spanish. While similar to the English alphabet, Spanish letters have distinct sounds and characteristics that make them unique.
Spanish Vowels (Las Vocales)
Spanish has five vowels that maintain consistent pronunciation regardless of their position in a word. This consistency makes them easier to master compared to English vowels.
Important
Unlike English, Spanish vowels always maintain their sound, making pronunciation more predictable and easier to learn.
Spanish Consonants (Las Consonantes)
Many Spanish consonants share similar sounds with their English counterparts, but some have unique pronunciations that require special attention.
Special Consonants
The Letter Ñ
The letter 'ñ' is perhaps the most distinctive character in the Spanish alphabet. It appears in common words like (Spain) and (tomorrow). This letter originated from medieval Spanish, where scribes wrote 'nn' with a tilde above to save space.
Accent Marks and Diacritical Signs
Spanish uses accent marks (tildes) to indicate stress in words and distinguish between similar words with different meanings.
Notes
Accent marks only appear on vowels: á, é, í, ó, ú
Common Examples with Accents
Letter Combinations
Some Spanish letters create unique sounds when combined. Understanding these combinations is crucial for proper pronunciation.
Examples
The word (dog) uses the rolled 'rr' sound, while (but) uses a single 'r'.
Pronunciation Rules
Understanding basic pronunciation rules will help you read and speak Spanish correctly. These rules are more consistent than English pronunciation rules.
C and G Rules
The letters 'c' and 'g' change their pronunciation depending on the following vowel:
Important
When you need the hard 'g' sound before 'e' or 'i', add a 'u': (war), (guide)
If you're planning to visit Spanish-speaking countries, you might want to check our guide on 25 Phrases in Spanish to Know Before Visiting Madrid. Once you've mastered the alphabet, you can move on to more advanced concepts like 30 Spanish Verbs for Advanced Learners.