Spanish Alphabet: All 27 Letters With Pronunciation, Vowels, Consonants Explained

If you're starting to learn Spanish, the alphabet is where everything begins. You need to know how each letter sounds, what it's called, and how native speakers actually pronounce it in different words. The Spanish alphabet has 27 letters, and while many look familiar to English speakers, they definitely don't all sound the same. This guide covers everything you need to pronounce Spanish letters correctly, including those tricky regional differences between Spain and Latin America.

The Spanish alphabet: All 27 letters

Notice that several letters have similar-sounding names. B and V are both pronounced almost identically in Spanish (Both like a soft B), so Spanish speakers often clarify by saying "be larga" (Long B) for V and "be corta" (Short B) for B. You'll also hear "be de burro " (B as in donkey) versus "ve de vaca " (V as in cow).

The letter Q is always followed by U in Spanish, and the U is silent. So "que" sounds like "keh" and "qui" sounds like "kee." You'll never see Q without U following it.

The letter ñ is probably the most distinctive feature of the Spanish alphabet. You'll see it in common words like "mañana " (Tomorrow) and "español " (Spanish). It makes a sound similar to the "ny" in "canyon" or the "ni" in "onion."

How to pronounce vowels in Spanish

Spanish vowels are way more consistent than English vowels. Each vowel has basically one sound, and it doesn't change much regardless of where it appears in a word. This makes pronunciation pretty straightforward once you learn the five basic sounds.

These five vowel sounds stay remarkably consistent. You won't find the vowel shifts that make English so confusing for learners. When you see an "A" in Spanish, it always sounds the same way.

Consonants with straightforward pronunciation

Many Spanish consonants sound similar enough to English that you won't have much trouble with them. The letters F, K, L, M, N, P, S, T, and W generally follow patterns you already know.

Spanish letters with multiple pronunciations

Some Spanish letters change their sound depending on what letter comes after them. These are the ones that require more attention.

The letter C

The letter C has two main sounds.

The letter G

The letter G also changes based on position.

The letter R

Here's where many learners struggle. Spanish has two R sounds, and neither one is quite like English.

Why can't you say the R in Spanish? Most English speakers can't roll their Rs at first because English doesn't use this sound. It takes practice. Start by saying "butter" or "ladder" quickly and notice where your tongue taps. That's the single tap R. The rolled R is that same motion repeated rapidly. Some people get it in a few days, others take months. Keep practicing with words like "rápido " and "ferrocarril ."

The letter Z

In Latin America, the letter Z sounds like an S. In Spain, it sounds like the TH in "think." So "zapato " (Shoe) sounds like "sah-PAH-toh" in Mexico but "thah-PAH-toh" in Madrid.

This same distinction applies to C before E or I, as I mentioned earlier. It's one of the biggest pronunciation differences between Spanish dialects.

Special letters and combinations of alphabet in Spanish

The letter Ñ

The ñ makes a sound like "ny" in "canyon." It's technically a separate letter in the Spanish alphabet, not just an N with a decoration. You'll find it in super common words like "año " (Year), "señor " (Mister), and "niño " (Child).

Do you have anything on the pronunciation of "ll" and "ñ"? The ñ is consistent across all Spanish dialects. The LL, however, varies quite a bit.

The letters LL and Y in Spanish language

Historically, LL was considered a separate letter and had its own sound (like "lli" in "million"). These days, most Spanish speakers pronounce LL and Y identically, making a sound like the English Y in "yes."

So "ye " (The letter name) and "lluvia " (Rain) both use this Y sound in most of Latin America. In Argentina and Uruguay, though, LL and Y make a "zh" or "sh" sound, similar to the "s" in "measure."

In parts of Spain, some older speakers still maintain the traditional LL sound, but younger generations usually pronounce it like Y.

The digraph CH

CH used to be considered a separate letter in the Spanish alphabet until 2010, when the Royal Spanish Academy officially removed it. It still makes its own distinct sound (like "ch" in "cheese"), but now it's treated as a two-letter combination rather than a single letter.

You'll see ch in words like "muchacho " (Boy) and "leche " (Milk).

Quick reference for tricky letters

Some letters cause more trouble than others for English speakers learning Spanish. Here's a quick rundown of the ones to watch.

Common spelling patterns to know

Once you understand how to pronounce each letter, Spanish spelling becomes pretty logical. The language is much more phonetic than English.

Spanish doesn't use apostrophes for contractions or possessives the way English does. You won't see "don't" or "Maria's" in Spanish text.

Regional differences between Spain and Latin America

The biggest pronunciation difference between Spain and Latin America involves the letters C (before E or I) and Z. In Spain, these make a "th" sound like in "think." This is called distinción. In Latin America, they sound like S. This is called seseo.

So a Spanish speaker from Madrid would pronounce "gracias " (Thank you) as "GRAH-thee-ahs," while someone from Mexico would say "GRAH-see-ahs."

Another difference involves the LL and Y sounds. Most of Latin America uses a Y sound, but Argentina and Uruguay use that distinctive "zh" or "sh" sound. Spain varies by region.

The letter S also sounds slightly different. In parts of Spain, especially in the south, and in some Caribbean dialects, the S at the end of syllables gets softened or dropped entirely. So "estos " (These) might sound more like "ehtoh."

These regional variations are all correct. There's no single "right" way to pronounce Spanish. If you're learning, pick the dialect that matches where you'll use the language most or which Spanish media you consume.

How to practice Spanish pronunciation

Learning the alphabet is one thing, but using it in real Spanish words is another. Here are some practical ways to get better at pronunciation.

Don't stress about getting a perfect accent right away. Native speakers will understand you even if your pronunciation isn't flawless. The goal is clear communication, and knowing how each letter sounds gets you most of the way there.

If you're serious about learning Spanish through real content like shows, articles, or books, Migaku's browser extension lets you look up words instantly while you're watching or reading. It makes immersion learning way more practical than constantly pausing to check a dictionary. There's a 10-day free trial if you want to check it out.

FAQs

You have made the first step in learning Spanish

Learning the Spanish alphabet gives you the foundation for everything else in the language. Once you know how each letter sounds and how pronunciation changes based on position and region, you can start reading Spanish words out loud with confidence. The best way to master pronunciation is through exposure and practice. Listen to how native speakers use these letters in real words, and try to mimic what you hear.

Make the first step, and pursue perfection later!