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How do I read in Spanish?


Reading in Spanish when you see words like, "Espantapájaros" - can seem intimidating. HOWEVER, there is a way to break the words down into little fragments. There are steps to this, and once you get it, you'll be able to win any Spanish Spelling Bee :D


First step: Learn the alphabet

Second step: Learn the letter combinations

Third and last step: Learn how syllables works in Spanish - break down the words (You got this!)



The Spanish Alphabet:


A (ah), B (beh,) C (seh), D (deh), E (eh), F (eh-feh), G (heh), H (ah-cheh), I (ee), J (hoh-tah), K (kah)

L (eh-leh), M (eh-meh), N (eh-neh), Ñ (e-yneh), O (oh), P (peh), Q (cooh), R (eh-reh), S (eh-se), T (teh)

U (ooh), V (veh), W (doh-bleh-ooh), X (eh-keys), Y (eeh-gree-eh-gah), Z (zeh-tah)


Step one - done!


The Spanish Letter Combinations:


1. The "CH" sound. This sound is always "cha-cha" - like the words, "church, cheers, chair...etc"


Spanish word examples: Muchacho (boy), Ochenta (eighty), Ocho (eight)



2. The "LL" sound. This double "LL" is similar to the "Y" sound in English when the "Y" is used as a consonant. Think of words like, "Yellow, York...etc"


Spanish word examples: Lluvia (rain), Llaves (keys), Llama (flames), Calle (street)



3. The "RR" vs the single "R" sound. The double "RR" sound is the famous trilling "r" sound in Spanish. While the single "r" sound is more like the second "T" in the English word "tomato" or the"ttl" in "settle"


It is quite important to understand the sound difference between the two. Words with trilling "rr" vs the single "r" - can be two different things.


Spanish word examples between the two: Caro (expensive), Carro (car), Pero (but), Perro (dog)



4. The "CC" sound. This sound makes the "KS" sound.


Spanish word examples: Calefacción (heater), Acción (action)



5. The "Qu" sound. This sound makes the "K" sound. HOWEVER, just with the letters "E" and "I"


Spanish word examples: Queso (cheese), Quiso (wanted)


Warning: This letter combination can only be "Que" or "Qui



6. The "G" sound. This letter has two different sounds, just like in English! There is the "H" sound and the hard "G" sound. The sound that it will make will depend on what letter follows the letter "G"


a. If the letter "G" is directly followed by the letter "E" or "I" - the sound will always be the "H" sound (like the words Hen, Him...etc)


Spanish word examples: Gelatina (gelatin), Gente (people), Gimnasio (gym)


b. If the letter is followed by the letters, "A," "O," or "U" - it will have a hard "G" sound. It will sound like the hard "G" sound from the words "Go" or "Game"


Spanish word examples: Gasolina (gasoline), Gato (cat), Goma (rubber)


Now, you may be wondering how to make the hard "G" sound with the letters "E" and "I" - don't fret, I'll show you!


The way to make this work is to add the letter "U" right after the letter "G". The letter "u" will then become silent, and will allow for the "E" or "I" to be used with a hard "G" sound.


Spanish word examples: Guerra (war), Guitarra (guitar)


Warning: The letter "U" will not be silent if it is followed by the letter "A" or "O"


Spanish word examples: Guantes (gloves)


Hint: If you want to have the "U" make a sound when it's followed by the "E" or "I", just add two little dots on top of the letter "U" - like this "ü"


Spanish word examples: Güera (blond), Vergüenza (shame)



7. The letter "C" sound. Again, just like in English, this letter has two sounds. Which sound it makes will depend on what letter follows it.


a. When the letter, "C" is followed by the letters "A, O, U" - it will make the hard "C" sound. Just like the English word "Car, Come, Cool"


Spanish word examples: Cama (bed), Coma (coma), Cuna (crib)


b. When the letter "C" is followed by the letters "E" or "I" - it will make the soft "c" sound. Like the English words "Cell" or "Cylinder"


Spanish word examples: Celular (cellphone), Cima (summit)



8. The letter "Z" sound. This one makes the "lisp" sound - However, in much of Latin America, it is pronounced as an "S" sound.


Warning: This letter can only be followed by the following letters "A, O" or "U"


Spanish word examples: Zapatos (shoes), Zorro (fox), Azul (blue)


Warning: If you want to make the "Z" sound with "E" and "I" - just replace the "Z" for a "C" - all good!




9. The "J" sound in Spanish is similar to the "H" sound in English. Words like "House, Home, Hole, Whole...ect" - This letter can be followed by any of the five vowels (ja, je, ji, jo, ju)


Spanish word examples: Jarro (pitcher), Jaula (cage)




The Last and Final Step (woohoo!):


The last and final step is to remember that Spanish words are read around the vowels and words are broken down as such. To explain this concept, I will take the words that were used as examples above.



  1. Muchacho - mu /cha / cho

  2. Ochenta = o / chen / ta

  3. Ocho = o / cho

  4. Lluvia = llu / vi / a

  5. Llaves = lla / ves

  6. Llamas = lla / mas

  7. Calle = ca / lle

  8. Caro = ca / ro

  9. Carro = ca / rro

  10. Pero = pe / ro

  11. Perro = pe / rro

  12. Calefacción = ca / le / fac / ci / ón

  13. Acción = ac / ci / ón

  14. Queso = que / so

  15. Quiso = qui / so

  16. Gelaltina = ge / la / ti / na

  17. Gente = gen / te

  18. Gimnasio = gim / na / si / o

  19. Gasolina = ga / so / li / na

  20. Gato = ga / to

  21. Goma = go / ma

  22. Guerra = gue / rra

  23. Guitarra = gui / ta / rra

  24. Guantes = gu / an / tes

  25. Güera = gu / e / ra

  26. Vergüenza = ver / gu / en / za

  27. Cama = ca / ma

  28. Coma = co / ma

  29. Cuna = cu / na

  30. Celular = ce / lu / lar

  31. Cima = ci / ma

  32. Zapatos = za / pa / tos

  33. Zorro = zo / rro

  34. Azul = a / zul

  35. Jarro = ja / rro

  36. Jaula = ja / u / la

  37. (last but definitely not least) Espantapájaros = es / pan / ta / pá / ja / ros


CONGRATULATIONS! You now know how to read in Spanish :D





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