Help:IPA/Spanish

__NOTOC__

The charts below show how the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA) represents Spanish language pronunciations in Wikipedia articles. For a guide to adding IPA characters to Wikipedia articles, see Template:IPA, and {{section link|Wikipedia:Manual of Style/Pronunciation#Entering IPA characters}}.

For terms that are more relevant to regions that have not undergone {{lang|es|yeísmo}} (where words such as {{lang|es|haya}} and {{lang|es|halla}} are pronounced differently), words spelled with {{vr|ll}} can be transcribed in IPA with {{angbr IPA|ʎ}}. This unmerged pronunciation predominates in the Andes, lowland Bolivia, Paraguay, some rural regions of Spain and some of northern Spain's urban upper class.{{Harvcoltxt|Penny|2000|p=120, 132, 147}}

For terms that are more relevant to regions that have {{lang|es|seseo}} (where words such as {{lang|es|caza}} and {{lang|es|casa}} are pronounced the same), words spelled with {{vr|z}} or {{vr|c}} (the latter only before {{vr|i}} or {{vr|e}}) can be transcribed in IPA with {{angbr IPA|s}}. This pronunciation is most commonly found outside mainland Spain.

In all other cases, if a local pronunciation is made, it should be labeled as "local" (e.g. {{IPA|es|...|local}}).

See Spanish phonology for a more thorough discussion of the sounds of Spanish, and Spanish dialects and varieties for regional variation.

Key

colspan="2" \| IPA	rowspan="2" \| Examples	rowspan="2" \| English approximation
style="background: none"
style="vertical-align:top;" \| {\| class="wikitable" ! colspan="4" \| Consonants
{{abbr\|EU\|European Spanish}}	{{abbr\|LA\|Latin American Spanish}}
colspan="2" style="text-align:center;" \| {{IPA link\|b}}{{IPA\|/b, d, ɡ, ɟʝ/}} are pronounced as fricatives or approximants {{IPA\|[β, ð, ɣ, ʝ]}} in all places except after a pause, {{IPA\|/n/}} or {{IPA\|/m/}}, or in the case of {{IPA\|/d/}} and {{IPA\|/ɟʝ/}}, after {{IPA\|/l/}}. In the latter environments, they are stops {{IPA\|[b, d, ɡ, ɟʝ]}} like English {{vr\|b, d, g, j}}, but are fully voiced in all positions, unlike in English. When it is distinct from {{IPA\|/ʝ/}}, {{IPA\|/ʎ/}} is realized as an approximant {{IPA\|[ʎ]}} in all positions {{Harvcol\|Martínez-Celdrán\|Fernández-Planas\|Carrera-Sabaté\|2003\|p=257-8}}. \| {{lang\|es\|bebé\|italic=no}}, {{lang\|es\|ambos\|italic=no}}, {{lang\|es\|viva\|italic=no}}, {{lang\|es\|envío\|italic=no}} \| {{lang\|en\|about}}
colspan="2" style="text-align:center;" \| {{IPA link\|β̞\|β}} \| {{lang\|es\|bebé\|italic=no}}, {{lang\|es\|fútbol\|italic=no}}, {{lang\|es\|viva\|italic=no}}, {{lang\|es\|apto\|italic=no}}The distinction between {{IPA\|/p, t, k/}} and {{IPA\|/b, d, ɡ/}} is lost in word-internal syllable-final positions. The resulting realization varies from {{IPA\|[p, t, k]}} to {{IPA\|[b, d, ɡ]}} to {{IPA\|[β, ð, ɣ]}} to {{IPA\|[ɸ, θ, x]}}, with voiced approximants/fricatives (i.e. {{IPA\|[β, ð, ɣ]}}) being the usual form in conversational style {{harvcol\|Hualde\|2005\|p=146}}. \| {{lang\|en\|about}}, but without lips completely closed
colspan="2" style="text-align:center;" \| {{IPA link\|d̪\|d}} \| {{lang\|es\|dedo\|italic=no}}, {{lang\|es\|andar\|italic=no}}, {{lang\|es\|aldea\|italic=no}} \| {{lang\|en\|day}}
colspan="2" style="text-align:center;" \| {{IPA link\|ð̞\|ð}} \| {{lang\|es\|dedo\|italic=no}}, {{lang\|es\|arde\|italic=no}}, {{lang\|es\|sed\|italic=no}}, {{lang\|es\|ritmo\|italic=no}} \| {{lang\|en\|other}}
colspan="2" style="text-align:center;" \| {{IPA link\|f}} \| {{lang\|es\|faro\|italic=no}}, {{lang\|es\|Dafne\|italic=no}} \| {{lang\|en\|face}}
colspan="2" style="text-align:center;" \| {{IPA link\|ɡ}} \| {{lang\|es\|galgo\|italic=no}}, {{lang\|es\|lengua\|italic=no}}, {{lang\|es\|guerra\|italic=no}} \| {{lang\|en\|again}}
colspan="2" style="text-align:center;" \| {{IPA link\|ɣ˕\|ɣ}} \| {{lang\|es\|galgo\|italic=no}}, {{lang\|es\|signo\|italic=no}}, {{lang\|es\|águila\|italic=no}}, {{lang\|es\|acto\|italic=no}} \| {{lang\|en\|again}}, but without the tongue touching the palate
colspan="2" style="text-align:center;" \| {{IPA link\|ʝ˕\|ʝ}} \| {{lang\|es\|haya\|italic=no}}, {{lang\|en\|blue jeans}}, {{lang\|es\|manager}} \| {{lang\|en\|beyond}}
colspan="2" style="text-align:center;" \| {{IPA link\|ɟʝ}} \| {{lang\|es\|ya\|italic=no}}, {{lang\|es\|enyeso\|italic=no}}, {{lang\|es\|hielo\|italic=no}}, {{lang\|en\|jet}}, {{lang\|en\|gin}} \| {{lang\|en\|jet}}
colspan="2" style="text-align:center;" \| {{IPA link\|k}} \| {{lang\|es\|caso\|italic=no}}, {{lang\|es\|que\|italic=no}}, {{lang\|es\|kilo\|italic=no}}, {{lang\|en\|rock}} \| {{lang\|en\|scan}}
colspan="2" style="text-align:center;" \| {{IPA link\|l}} \| {{lang\|es\|luna\|italic=no}}, {{lang\|es\|hala\|italic=no}}, {{lang\|fr\|ballet}} \| {{lang\|en\|lean}}
colspan="2" style="text-align:center;" \| {{IPA link\|m}}Nasals always assimilate their place of articulation to that of the following consonant. Before velars, they are {{IPAblink\|ŋ}}, and before labials, they are {{IPAblink\|m}}. The labiodental {{IPAblink\|ɱ}} appears before {{IPA\|/f/}}. \| {{lang\|es\|meta\|italic=no}}, {{lang\|es\|cama\|italic=no}}, {{lang\|es\|ámbar\|italic=no}} \| {{lang\|en\|mother}}
colspan="2" style="text-align:center;" \| {{IPA link\|ɱ}} \| {{lang\|es\|inflar\|italic=no}} \| {{lang\|en\|comfort}}
colspan="2" style="text-align:center;" \| {{IPA link\|n}} \| {{lang\|es\|ni\|italic=no}}, {{lang\|es\|cana\|italic=no}}, {{lang\|es\|sin\|italic=no}}, {{lang\|es\|álbum\|italic=no}}, {{lang\|en\|parking}} \| {{lang\|en\|need}}
colspan="2" style="text-align:center;" \| {{IPA link\|ɲ}} \| {{lang\|es\|ñu\|italic=no}}, {{lang\|es\|caña\|italic=no}}, {{lang\|es\|cónyuge\|italic=no}} \| {{lang\|en\|canyon}}
colspan="2" style="text-align:center;" \| {{IPA link\|ŋ}} \| {{lang\|es\|tengo\|italic=no}} \| {{lang\|en\|sing}}
colspan="2" style="text-align:center;" \| {{IPA link\|p}} \| {{lang\|es\|pato\|italic=no}}, {{lang\|es\|lupa\|italic=no}} \| {{lang\|en\|spin}}
colspan="2" style="text-align:center;" \| {{IPA link\|r}}The rhotic consonants, {{IPAblink\|r}} and {{IPAblink\|ɾ}}, only contrast word-medially between vowels, where they are usually spelled {{vr\|rr}} and {{vr\|r}}, respectively. Otherwise, they are in complementary distribution: Word-initially, stem-initially, and after {{IPA\|/l, n, s/}}, only {{IPA\|[r]}} is found; before a consonant or pause, the two are interchangeable, but {{IPA\|[ɾ]}} is more common (hence so represented here). Elsewhere, only {{IPA\|[ɾ]}} is found. When two rhotics occur consecutively across a word or prefix boundary they result in one long trill, which is transcribed with {{angbr IPA\|ɾr}} in this key: {{lang\|es\|dar rocas}} {{IPA\|[daɾ ˈrokas]}}, {{lang\|es\|superrápido}} {{IPA\|[supeɾˈrapiðo]}} {{harvcol\|Hualde\|2005\|p=184}}. \| {{lang\|es\|río\|italic=no}}, {{lang\|es\|carro\|italic=no}}, {{lang\|es\|honra\|italic=no}}, {{lang\|es\|abrogar\|italic=no}} \| Scottish {{lang\|en\|run}} (trilled r)
colspan="2" style="text-align:center;" \| {{IPA link\|ɾ}} \| {{lang\|es\|brío\|italic=no}}, {{lang\|es\|caro\|italic=no}}, {{lang\|es\|por\|italic=no}} \| {{lang\|en\|atom}} (with flapping)
colspan="2" style="text-align:center;" \| {{IPA link\|s}}When preceding a voiced consonant, {{IPA\|/s, θ, f, ʃ/}} may be voiced ({{IPA\|[{{IPAplink\|z}}, {{IPAplink\|ð}}, {{IPAplink\|v}}, {{IPAplink\|ʒ}}]}}), but since this is variable {{harvcol\|Campos-Astorkiza\|2018\|p=174}}, {{IPA\|/s, θ, f, ʃ/}} are always transcribed with {{angbr IPA\|s, θ, f, ʃ}} in this system.In much of Hispanic America and in the southern half of Spain, {{IPA\|/s/}} in syllable-final positions is either pronounced as {{IPAblink\|h}} or not pronounced at all. In transcriptions linked to this key, however, it is always represented by {{angbr IPA\|s}}.Northern and Central Spain distinguish between {{vr\|s}} ({{IPAslink\|s}}) and soft {{vr\|c}} or {{vr\|z}} ({{IPAslink\|θ}}). Almost all other dialects treat the two as identical, either pronouncing them as {{IPA\|/s/}} ({{lang\|es\|seseo}}) in Latin America and some parts of Andalusia, or as {{IPA\|/θ/}} ({{lang\|es\|ceceo}}) in most of Andalusia. In areas with the distinction, the alveolar sibilant is typically more retracted (often perceived as closer to the sound represented by {{vr\|sh}} in {{lang\|en\|ship}}) than in areas with {{lang\|es\|seseo}}. Contrary to {{lang\|es\|yeísmo}}, {{lang\|es\|seseo}} and {{lang\|es\|ceceo}} are not phonemic mergers but the outcome of a different evolution of sibilants in southern Spain in comparison with northern and central dialects. See phonological history of Spanish coronal fricatives and {{Harvcoltxt\|Martínez-Celdrán\|Fernández-Planas\|Carrera-Sabaté\|2003\|p=258}} for more information. \| {{lang\|es\|saco\|italic=no}}, {{lang\|es\|casa\|italic=no}}, {{lang\|es\|está\|italic=no}}, {{lang\|es\|xenón\|italic=no}} \| {{nowrap\|between {{lang\|en\|sip}} and {{lang\|en\|ship}} (retracted) ({{abbr\|EU\|European Spanish}}),}} {{lang\|en\|sip}} ({{abbr\|LA\|Latin American Spanish}})
style="text-align:center;" \| {{IPA link\|θ}} \| style="text-align:center;" \| {{IPA link\|s}} \| {{lang\|es\|cera\|italic=no}}, {{lang\|es\|zoo\|italic=no}}, {{lang\|es\|caza\|italic=no}}, {{lang\|es\|juzgar\|italic=no}} \| {{lang\|en\|thing}} ({{abbr\|EU\|European Spanish}}), {{lang\|en\|sip}} ({{abbr\|LA\|Latin American Spanish}})
colspan="2" style="text-align:center;" \| {{IPA link\|ʃ}}{{IPA\|/ʃ/}} is used only in loanwords and certain proper nouns. It is nonexistent in many dialects, being realized as {{IPAblink\|tʃ}} or {{IPAblink\|s}}; e.g. {{lang\|en\|show}} {{IPA\|[tʃow]~[sow]}}. \| {{nowrap\|{{lang\|en\|show}}, {{lang\|ca\|Freixenet}}, {{lang\|fr\|Rocher}}, {{lang\|fr\|beige}}}} \| {{lang\|en\|shack}}
colspan="2" style="text-align:center;" \| {{IPA link\|t̪\|t}} \| {{lang\|es\|tamiz\|italic=no}} \| {{lang\|en\|stand}}
colspan="2" style="text-align:center;" \| {{IPA link\|tʃ}} \| {{lang\|es\|chico\|italic=no}}, {{lang\|en\|bridge}} \| {{lang\|en\|choose}}
colspan="2" style="text-align:center;" \| {{IPA link\|x}}{{IPA\|/x/}} is pronounced as {{IPAblink\|h}} in many accents such as those in the Caribbean, Central America, Colombia, Andalusia, and the Canary Islands {{harvcol\|Hualde\|2005\|p=156}}. It is pronounced as {{IPAblink\|χ}} in northern Peninsular Spanish {{harvcol\|Coloma\|2012\|pp=3; 17}}. \| {{lang\|es\|jarra\|italic=no}}, {{lang\|es\|gen\|italic=no}}, {{lang\|es\|México\|italic=no}},The letter {{vr\|x}} represents {{IPA\|/x/}} only in certain proper names like {{lang\|es\|Ximena}} and some placenames in current or former Mexico (e.g. Oaxaca and Texas). {{lang\|en\|hall}}The letter {{vr\|h}} represents {{IPA\|/x/}} only in loanwords; in native words it is always silent, unless it is a part of the digraph {{angbr\|ch}}. \| Scottish {{lang\|en\|loch}}
colspan="2" style="text-align:center;" \| {{IPA link\|ʎ}}Most speakers no longer distinguish {{IPA\|/ʎ/}} from {{IPA\|/ʝ/}}; the actual realization depends on dialect, however. See {{lang\|es\|yeísmo}} and {{Harvcoltxt\|Martínez-Celdrán\|Fernández-Planas\|Carrera-Sabaté\|2003\|p=258}} for more information. \| {{lang\|es\|lluvia\|italic=no}}, {{lang\|es\|halla\|italic=no}}, {{lang\|es\|el yeso\|italic=no}} \| {{lang\|en\|million}}

| style="vertical-align:top;" |

IPA	Examples	{{nowrap\|English approximation}}
class="wikitable" ! colspan="3" \| Vowels
style="text-align:center;" \| {{IPA link\|ɑ̈\|a}} \| {{lang\|es\|paso\|italic=no}} \| {{lang\|en\|father}}
style="text-align:center;" \| {{IPA link\|e̞\|e}} \| {{lang\|es\|peso\|italic=no}} \| {{lang\|en\|berry}}
style="text-align:center;" \| {{IPA link\|i}} \| {{lang\|es\|piso\|italic=no}}, {{lang\|es\|y\|italic=no}}, {{lang\|en\|jeep}} \| {{lang\|en\|see}}
style="text-align:center;" \| {{IPA link\|o̞\|o}} \| {{lang\|es\|poso\|italic=no}} \| {{lang\|en\|more}}
style="text-align:center;" \| {{IPA link\|u}} \| {{lang\|es\|puso\|italic=no}}, {{lang\|en\|look}}, {{lang\|fr\|tour}} \| {{lang\|en\|cool}}
colspan="3" style="border-left: #fff solid 1px; border-right: #fff solid 1px" \|
colspan="3" \| Semivowels{{IPA\|[j, w]}} are allophones of {{IPA\|/i, u/}} that manifest when unstressed and adjacent to another vowel. Mid vowels {{IPA\|/e, o/}} may also be realized as semivowels, as in {{IPA\|[ˈpo̯eta, ˈmae̯stɾo]}} ({{lang\|es\|poeta}}, {{lang\|es\|maestro}}). Semivocalic realizations of {{IPA\|/e, o/}} may in addition be raised to {{IPA\|[j, w]}}, as in {{IPA\|[ˈpweta, ˈmajstɾo]}}, which is common in Latin America, but stigmatized in Spain {{harvcol\|Hualde\|Simonet\|Torreira\|2008\|p=1911}}. Since both these phenomena are optional and predictable, they are not reflected in transcription ({{IPA\|[poˈeta, maˈestɾo]}}).
IPA	Examples	English approximation
style="text-align:center;" \| {{IPA link\|j}} \| {{lang\|es\|Viena\|italic=no}}, {{lang\|es\|rey\|italic=no}} \| {{lang\|en\|yet}}
style="text-align:center;" \| {{IPA link\|w}}Some speakers may pronounce word-initial {{IPA\|[w]}} with an epenthetic {{IPA\|[ɡ]}} (e.g. {{lang\|es\|Huila}} {{IPA\|[ˈɡwila]~[ˈwila]}}). \| {{nowrap\|{{lang\|es\|Huila\|italic=no}}, {{lang\|es\|auto\|italic=no}}, {{lang\|es\|argüir\|italic=no}}, {{lang\|en\|web}}, {{lang\|fr\|ouija}}}} \| {{lang\|en\|wine}}
colspan="3" style="border-left: #fff solid 1px; border-right: #fff solid 1px" \|
colspan="3" \| Stress and syllabification
IPA	Examples	English approximation
style="text-align:center;" \| {{IPA link\|ˈ}} \| {{lang\|es\|ciudad\|italic=no}} {{IPA\|[θjuˈðað]}} \| {{lang\|en\|domain}}
style="text-align:center;" \| {{IPA link\|.}} \| {{lang\|es\|mío\|italic=no}} {{IPA\|[ˈmi.o]}} \| {{lang\|en\|Leo}}

Notes

References

{{citation

|last=Campos-Astorkiza

|first=Rebeka

|year=2018

|chapter=Consonants

|editor-last=Geeslin

|editor-first=Kimberly L.

|title=The Cambridge Handbook of Spanish Linguistics

|publisher=Cambridge University Press

|pages=165–189

|doi=10.1017/9781316779194.009

|isbn=978-1-107-17482-5

}}

{{Cite journal

|last=Coloma

|first=Germán

|url=http://www.publicacions.ub.edu/revistes/dialectologia9/documentos/742.pdf

|journal=Dialectologia

|volume=9

|year=2012

|pages=1–26

|location=Barcelona

|publisher=Universitat de Barcelona

|title=The importance of ten phonetic characteristics to define dialect areas in Spanish

|issn=2013-2247

}}

{{citation

|last=Hualde

|first=José Ignacio

|authorlink=José Ignacio Hualde

|year=2005

|title=The Sounds of Spanish

|publisher=Cambridge University Press

|isbn=0-521-54538-2

}}

{{citation

|last1=Hualde

|first1=José Ignacio

|last2=Simonet

|first2=Miquel

|last3=Torreira

|first3=Francisco

|year=2008

|title=Postlexical contraction of non-high vowels in Spanish

|journal=Lingua

|volume=118

|issue=12

|pages=1906–1925

|doi=10.1016/j.lingua.2007.10.004

|url=https://www.academia.edu/559143

}}

{{citation

|last=Martínez-Celdrán

|first=Eugenio

|last2=Fernández-Planas

|first2=Ana Ma.

|last3=Carrera-Sabaté

|first3=Josefina

|year=2003

|title=Castilian Spanish

|journal=Journal of the International Phonetic Association

|volume=33

|issue=2

|pages=255–259

|doi=10.1017/s0025100303001373

|url=https://www.cambridge.org/core/services/aop-cambridge-core/content/view/39B1C556856D62AF8FC53D3F22435750/S0025100303001373a.pdf/castilian_spanish.pdf

}}

{{cite book

|last1=Penny

|first1=Ralph J.

|title=Variation and change in Spanish

|date=2000

|publisher=Cambridge University Press

|location=Cambridge

|isbn=0521780454

|url=https://archive.org/details/variationchangei0000penn/page/n5/mode/2up

|access-date=21 June 2022

|url-access=registration

|doi=10.1017/CBO9781139164566

}}

colspan="2" \| IPA	rowspan="2" \| Examples	rowspan="2" \| English approximation
style="background: none"
style="vertical-align:top;" \| {\| class="wikitable" ! colspan="4" \| Consonants
{{abbr\|EU\|European Spanish}}	{{abbr\|LA\|Latin American Spanish}}
colspan="2" style="text-align:center;" \| {{IPA link\|b}}{{IPA\|/b, d, ɡ, ɟʝ/}} are pronounced as fricatives or approximants {{IPA\|[β, ð, ɣ, ʝ]}} in all places except after a pause, {{IPA\|/n/}} or {{IPA\|/m/}}, or in the case of {{IPA\|/d/}} and {{IPA\|/ɟʝ/}}, after {{IPA\|/l/}}. In the latter environments, they are stops {{IPA\|[b, d, ɡ, ɟʝ]}} like English {{vr\|b, d, g, j}}, but are fully voiced in all positions, unlike in English. When it is distinct from {{IPA\|/ʝ/}}, {{IPA\|/ʎ/}} is realized as an approximant {{IPA\|[ʎ]}} in all positions {{Harvcol\|Martínez-Celdrán\|Fernández-Planas\|Carrera-Sabaté\|2003\|p=257-8}}. \| {{lang\|es\|bebé\|italic=no}}, {{lang\|es\|ambos\|italic=no}}, {{lang\|es\|viva\|italic=no}}, {{lang\|es\|envío\|italic=no}} \| {{lang\|en\|about}}
colspan="2" style="text-align:center;" \| {{IPA link\|β̞\|β}} \| {{lang\|es\|bebé\|italic=no}}, {{lang\|es\|fútbol\|italic=no}}, {{lang\|es\|viva\|italic=no}}, {{lang\|es\|apto\|italic=no}}The distinction between {{IPA\|/p, t, k/}} and {{IPA\|/b, d, ɡ/}} is lost in word-internal syllable-final positions. The resulting realization varies from {{IPA\|[p, t, k]}} to {{IPA\|[b, d, ɡ]}} to {{IPA\|[β, ð, ɣ]}} to {{IPA\|[ɸ, θ, x]}}, with voiced approximants/fricatives (i.e. {{IPA\|[β, ð, ɣ]}}) being the usual form in conversational style {{harvcol\|Hualde\|2005\|p=146}}. \| {{lang\|en\|about}}, but without lips completely closed
colspan="2" style="text-align:center;" \| {{IPA link\|d̪\|d}} \| {{lang\|es\|dedo\|italic=no}}, {{lang\|es\|andar\|italic=no}}, {{lang\|es\|aldea\|italic=no}} \| {{lang\|en\|day}}
colspan="2" style="text-align:center;" \| {{IPA link\|ð̞\|ð}} \| {{lang\|es\|dedo\|italic=no}}, {{lang\|es\|arde\|italic=no}}, {{lang\|es\|sed\|italic=no}}, {{lang\|es\|ritmo\|italic=no}} \| {{lang\|en\|other}}
colspan="2" style="text-align:center;" \| {{IPA link\|f}} \| {{lang\|es\|faro\|italic=no}}, {{lang\|es\|Dafne\|italic=no}} \| {{lang\|en\|face}}
colspan="2" style="text-align:center;" \| {{IPA link\|ɡ}} \| {{lang\|es\|galgo\|italic=no}}, {{lang\|es\|lengua\|italic=no}}, {{lang\|es\|guerra\|italic=no}} \| {{lang\|en\|again}}
colspan="2" style="text-align:center;" \| {{IPA link\|ɣ˕\|ɣ}} \| {{lang\|es\|galgo\|italic=no}}, {{lang\|es\|signo\|italic=no}}, {{lang\|es\|águila\|italic=no}}, {{lang\|es\|acto\|italic=no}} \| {{lang\|en\|again}}, but without the tongue touching the palate
colspan="2" style="text-align:center;" \| {{IPA link\|ʝ˕\|ʝ}} \| {{lang\|es\|haya\|italic=no}}, {{lang\|en\|blue jeans}}, {{lang\|es\|manager}} \| {{lang\|en\|beyond}}
colspan="2" style="text-align:center;" \| {{IPA link\|ɟʝ}} \| {{lang\|es\|ya\|italic=no}}, {{lang\|es\|enyeso\|italic=no}}, {{lang\|es\|hielo\|italic=no}}, {{lang\|en\|jet}}, {{lang\|en\|gin}} \| {{lang\|en\|jet}}
colspan="2" style="text-align:center;" \| {{IPA link\|k}} \| {{lang\|es\|caso\|italic=no}}, {{lang\|es\|que\|italic=no}}, {{lang\|es\|kilo\|italic=no}}, {{lang\|en\|rock}} \| {{lang\|en\|scan}}
colspan="2" style="text-align:center;" \| {{IPA link\|l}} \| {{lang\|es\|luna\|italic=no}}, {{lang\|es\|hala\|italic=no}}, {{lang\|fr\|ballet}} \| {{lang\|en\|lean}}
colspan="2" style="text-align:center;" \| {{IPA link\|m}}Nasals always assimilate their place of articulation to that of the following consonant. Before velars, they are {{IPAblink\|ŋ}}, and before labials, they are {{IPAblink\|m}}. The labiodental {{IPAblink\|ɱ}} appears before {{IPA\|/f/}}. \| {{lang\|es\|meta\|italic=no}}, {{lang\|es\|cama\|italic=no}}, {{lang\|es\|ámbar\|italic=no}} \| {{lang\|en\|mother}}
colspan="2" style="text-align:center;" \| {{IPA link\|ɱ}} \| {{lang\|es\|inflar\|italic=no}} \| {{lang\|en\|comfort}}
colspan="2" style="text-align:center;" \| {{IPA link\|n}} \| {{lang\|es\|ni\|italic=no}}, {{lang\|es\|cana\|italic=no}}, {{lang\|es\|sin\|italic=no}}, {{lang\|es\|álbum\|italic=no}}, {{lang\|en\|parking}} \| {{lang\|en\|need}}
colspan="2" style="text-align:center;" \| {{IPA link\|ɲ}} \| {{lang\|es\|ñu\|italic=no}}, {{lang\|es\|caña\|italic=no}}, {{lang\|es\|cónyuge\|italic=no}} \| {{lang\|en\|canyon}}
colspan="2" style="text-align:center;" \| {{IPA link\|ŋ}} \| {{lang\|es\|tengo\|italic=no}} \| {{lang\|en\|sing}}
colspan="2" style="text-align:center;" \| {{IPA link\|p}} \| {{lang\|es\|pato\|italic=no}}, {{lang\|es\|lupa\|italic=no}} \| {{lang\|en\|spin}}
colspan="2" style="text-align:center;" \| {{IPA link\|r}}The rhotic consonants, {{IPAblink\|r}} and {{IPAblink\|ɾ}}, only contrast word-medially between vowels, where they are usually spelled {{vr\|rr}} and {{vr\|r}}, respectively. Otherwise, they are in complementary distribution: Word-initially, stem-initially, and after {{IPA\|/l, n, s/}}, only {{IPA\|[r]}} is found; before a consonant or pause, the two are interchangeable, but {{IPA\|[ɾ]}} is more common (hence so represented here). Elsewhere, only {{IPA\|[ɾ]}} is found. When two rhotics occur consecutively across a word or prefix boundary they result in one long trill, which is transcribed with {{angbr IPA\|ɾr}} in this key: {{lang\|es\|dar rocas}} {{IPA\|[daɾ ˈrokas]}}, {{lang\|es\|superrápido}} {{IPA\|[supeɾˈrapiðo]}} {{harvcol\|Hualde\|2005\|p=184}}. \| {{lang\|es\|río\|italic=no}}, {{lang\|es\|carro\|italic=no}}, {{lang\|es\|honra\|italic=no}}, {{lang\|es\|abrogar\|italic=no}} \| Scottish {{lang\|en\|run}} (trilled r)
colspan="2" style="text-align:center;" \| {{IPA link\|ɾ}} \| {{lang\|es\|brío\|italic=no}}, {{lang\|es\|caro\|italic=no}}, {{lang\|es\|por\|italic=no}} \| {{lang\|en\|atom}} (with flapping)
colspan="2" style="text-align:center;" \| {{IPA link\|s}}When preceding a voiced consonant, {{IPA\|/s, θ, f, ʃ/}} may be voiced ({{IPA\|[{{IPAplink\|z}}, {{IPAplink\|ð}}, {{IPAplink\|v}}, {{IPAplink\|ʒ}}]}}), but since this is variable {{harvcol\|Campos-Astorkiza\|2018\|p=174}}, {{IPA\|/s, θ, f, ʃ/}} are always transcribed with {{angbr IPA\|s, θ, f, ʃ}} in this system.In much of Hispanic America and in the southern half of Spain, {{IPA\|/s/}} in syllable-final positions is either pronounced as {{IPAblink\|h}} or not pronounced at all. In transcriptions linked to this key, however, it is always represented by {{angbr IPA\|s}}.Northern and Central Spain distinguish between {{vr\|s}} ({{IPAslink\|s}}) and soft {{vr\|c}} or {{vr\|z}} ({{IPAslink\|θ}}). Almost all other dialects treat the two as identical, either pronouncing them as {{IPA\|/s/}} ({{lang\|es\|seseo}}) in Latin America and some parts of Andalusia, or as {{IPA\|/θ/}} ({{lang\|es\|ceceo}}) in most of Andalusia. In areas with the distinction, the alveolar sibilant is typically more retracted (often perceived as closer to the sound represented by {{vr\|sh}} in {{lang\|en\|ship}}) than in areas with {{lang\|es\|seseo}}. Contrary to {{lang\|es\|yeísmo}}, {{lang\|es\|seseo}} and {{lang\|es\|ceceo}} are not phonemic mergers but the outcome of a different evolution of sibilants in southern Spain in comparison with northern and central dialects. See phonological history of Spanish coronal fricatives and {{Harvcoltxt\|Martínez-Celdrán\|Fernández-Planas\|Carrera-Sabaté\|2003\|p=258}} for more information. \| {{lang\|es\|saco\|italic=no}}, {{lang\|es\|casa\|italic=no}}, {{lang\|es\|está\|italic=no}}, {{lang\|es\|xenón\|italic=no}} \| {{nowrap\|between {{lang\|en\|sip}} and {{lang\|en\|ship}} (retracted) ({{abbr\|EU\|European Spanish}}),}} {{lang\|en\|sip}} ({{abbr\|LA\|Latin American Spanish}})
style="text-align:center;" \| {{IPA link\|θ}} \| style="text-align:center;" \| {{IPA link\|s}} \| {{lang\|es\|cera\|italic=no}}, {{lang\|es\|zoo\|italic=no}}, {{lang\|es\|caza\|italic=no}}, {{lang\|es\|juzgar\|italic=no}} \| {{lang\|en\|thing}} ({{abbr\|EU\|European Spanish}}), {{lang\|en\|sip}} ({{abbr\|LA\|Latin American Spanish}})
colspan="2" style="text-align:center;" \| {{IPA link\|ʃ}}{{IPA\|/ʃ/}} is used only in loanwords and certain proper nouns. It is nonexistent in many dialects, being realized as {{IPAblink\|tʃ}} or {{IPAblink\|s}}; e.g. {{lang\|en\|show}} {{IPA\|[tʃow]~[sow]}}. \| {{nowrap\|{{lang\|en\|show}}, {{lang\|ca\|Freixenet}}, {{lang\|fr\|Rocher}}, {{lang\|fr\|beige}}}} \| {{lang\|en\|shack}}
colspan="2" style="text-align:center;" \| {{IPA link\|t̪\|t}} \| {{lang\|es\|tamiz\|italic=no}} \| {{lang\|en\|stand}}
colspan="2" style="text-align:center;" \| {{IPA link\|tʃ}} \| {{lang\|es\|chico\|italic=no}}, {{lang\|en\|bridge}} \| {{lang\|en\|choose}}
colspan="2" style="text-align:center;" \| {{IPA link\|x}}{{IPA\|/x/}} is pronounced as {{IPAblink\|h}} in many accents such as those in the Caribbean, Central America, Colombia, Andalusia, and the Canary Islands {{harvcol\|Hualde\|2005\|p=156}}. It is pronounced as {{IPAblink\|χ}} in northern Peninsular Spanish {{harvcol\|Coloma\|2012\|pp=3; 17}}. \| {{lang\|es\|jarra\|italic=no}}, {{lang\|es\|gen\|italic=no}}, {{lang\|es\|México\|italic=no}},The letter {{vr\|x}} represents {{IPA\|/x/}} only in certain proper names like {{lang\|es\|Ximena}} and some placenames in current or former Mexico (e.g. Oaxaca and Texas). {{lang\|en\|hall}}The letter {{vr\|h}} represents {{IPA\|/x/}} only in loanwords; in native words it is always silent, unless it is a part of the digraph {{angbr\|ch}}. \| Scottish {{lang\|en\|loch}}
colspan="2" style="text-align:center;" \| {{IPA link\|ʎ}}Most speakers no longer distinguish {{IPA\|/ʎ/}} from {{IPA\|/ʝ/}}; the actual realization depends on dialect, however. See {{lang\|es\|yeísmo}} and {{Harvcoltxt\|Martínez-Celdrán\|Fernández-Planas\|Carrera-Sabaté\|2003\|p=258}} for more information. \| {{lang\|es\|lluvia\|italic=no}}, {{lang\|es\|halla\|italic=no}}, {{lang\|es\|el yeso\|italic=no}} \| {{lang\|en\|million}}

IPA	Examples	{{nowrap\|English approximation}}
class="wikitable" ! colspan="3" \| Vowels
style="text-align:center;" \| {{IPA link\|ɑ̈\|a}} \| {{lang\|es\|paso\|italic=no}} \| {{lang\|en\|father}}
style="text-align:center;" \| {{IPA link\|e̞\|e}} \| {{lang\|es\|peso\|italic=no}} \| {{lang\|en\|berry}}
style="text-align:center;" \| {{IPA link\|i}} \| {{lang\|es\|piso\|italic=no}}, {{lang\|es\|y\|italic=no}}, {{lang\|en\|jeep}} \| {{lang\|en\|see}}
style="text-align:center;" \| {{IPA link\|o̞\|o}} \| {{lang\|es\|poso\|italic=no}} \| {{lang\|en\|more}}
style="text-align:center;" \| {{IPA link\|u}} \| {{lang\|es\|puso\|italic=no}}, {{lang\|en\|look}}, {{lang\|fr\|tour}} \| {{lang\|en\|cool}}
colspan="3" style="border-left: #fff solid 1px; border-right: #fff solid 1px" \|
colspan="3" \| Semivowels{{IPA\|[j, w]}} are allophones of {{IPA\|/i, u/}} that manifest when unstressed and adjacent to another vowel. Mid vowels {{IPA\|/e, o/}} may also be realized as semivowels, as in {{IPA\|[ˈpo̯eta, ˈmae̯stɾo]}} ({{lang\|es\|poeta}}, {{lang\|es\|maestro}}). Semivocalic realizations of {{IPA\|/e, o/}} may in addition be raised to {{IPA\|[j, w]}}, as in {{IPA\|[ˈpweta, ˈmajstɾo]}}, which is common in Latin America, but stigmatized in Spain {{harvcol\|Hualde\|Simonet\|Torreira\|2008\|p=1911}}. Since both these phenomena are optional and predictable, they are not reflected in transcription ({{IPA\|[poˈeta, maˈestɾo]}}).
IPA	Examples	English approximation
style="text-align:center;" \| {{IPA link\|j}} \| {{lang\|es\|Viena\|italic=no}}, {{lang\|es\|rey\|italic=no}} \| {{lang\|en\|yet}}
style="text-align:center;" \| {{IPA link\|w}}Some speakers may pronounce word-initial {{IPA\|[w]}} with an epenthetic {{IPA\|[ɡ]}} (e.g. {{lang\|es\|Huila}} {{IPA\|[ˈɡwila]~[ˈwila]}}). \| {{nowrap\|{{lang\|es\|Huila\|italic=no}}, {{lang\|es\|auto\|italic=no}}, {{lang\|es\|argüir\|italic=no}}, {{lang\|en\|web}}, {{lang\|fr\|ouija}}}} \| {{lang\|en\|wine}}
colspan="3" style="border-left: #fff solid 1px; border-right: #fff solid 1px" \|
colspan="3" \| Stress and syllabification
IPA	Examples	English approximation
style="text-align:center;" \| {{IPA link\|ˈ}} \| {{lang\|es\|ciudad\|italic=no}} {{IPA\|[θjuˈðað]}} \| {{lang\|en\|domain}}
style="text-align:center;" \| {{IPA link\|.}} \| {{lang\|es\|mío\|italic=no}} {{IPA\|[ˈmi.o]}} \| {{lang\|en\|Leo}}

Help:IPA/Spanish

Key

See also

Notes

References