L'interface est traduite, mais les explications de cette page sont encore rédigées en anglais — le texte pédagogique n'a pas encore été traduit.
Espagnol : orthographe → son
Spanish spelling is nearly phonemic: once you know ~20 rules you can read anything aloud. Five pure vowels (a e i o u) never reduce. Stress falls on the last syllable if the word ends in a consonant other than n/s, otherwise on the second-to-last; any exception carries a written accent. Castilian (Spain) is transcribed here: c/z before e, i → /θ/. Latin America merges it with /s/ (seseo). b/d/g soften to [β ð ɣ] between vowels — shown because it is the single biggest 'why does it sound like that' for learners.
Suivre un mot
Chaque case est une règle qui se déclenche. Survolez une case (ou ouvrez le tableau) pour voir pourquoi. Les règles s'appliquent dans l'ordre, la première qui correspond gagne — et cet ordre est le système orthographique.
Consonnes et semi-voyelles
| IPA | Spelled | Example |
|---|---|---|
| p | p | pan pan bread |
| b | b, v | vaca ˈbaka cow — b and v are the SAME sound. [β] between vowels. |
| β | b, v | haber aˈβeɾ to have — Soft b/v between vowels — lips don't fully close. |
| t | t | todo ˈtoðo all — Dental, no puff of air. |
| d | d | dedo ˈdeðo finger |
| ð | d | nada ˈnaða nothing — Soft d between vowels, like English 'th' in this. Nearly vanishes in -ado endings. |
| k | c, qu, k | queso ˈkeso cheese |
| ɡ | g, gu | gato ˈɡato cat |
| ɣ | g, gu | agua ˈaɣwa water — Soft g between vowels. |
| m | m | mano ˈmano hand |
| n | n | noche ˈnot͡ʃe night |
| ɲ | ñ | año ˈaɲo year |
| f | f | fuego ˈfweɣo fire |
| θ | z, ce, ci | cerveza θeɾˈβeθa beer — Spain only. Latin America: /s/. |
| s | s | sol sol sun |
| x | j, ge, gi | jamón xaˈmon ham — Harsh in Spain, soft [h] in the Caribbean. |
| t͡ʃ | ch | chico ˈt͡ʃiko boy |
| l | l | luna ˈluna moon |
| j | y, ll, i+vowel | calle ˈkaje street — ll and y merged (yeísmo) for most speakers. Argentina: [ʃ]. |
| r | rr, r- (initial) | perro ˈpero dog — Trilled. Contrasts with the tap: pero 'but' vs perro 'dog'. |
| ɾ | r | pero ˈpeɾo but — One tap of the tongue — the American 't' in 'butter'. |
| w | u+vowel, hu | huevo ˈweβo egg |
Voyelles
Les règles, dans l'ordre
36 règles. La colonne de gauche est un motif (expression régulière) testé à la position courante dans le mot ; (?=…) regarde devant, (?<=…) regarde derrière, $ est la fin du mot.
| # | Pattern | Sound | Why |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | ch | ch is always /t͡ʃ/ | |
| 2 | ll | ll = y for most speakers (yeísmo) | |
| 3 | rr | double r = trill | |
| 4 | (?<=^| )r | word-initial r is trilled | |
| 5 | (?<=[nls])r | r after n, l, s is trilled | |
| 6 | r | single r = one tap | |
| 7 | qu(?=[eiéí]) | qu before e/i: u is silent | |
| 8 | gü(?=[eiéí]) | ü marks that the u IS pronounced | |
| 9 | (?<=[^n ])gu(?=[eiéí]) | gu before e/i: u silent; g softens unless after a pause or n | |
| 10 | gu(?=[eiéí]) | gu before e/i: u is silent | |
| 11 | g(?=[eiéí]) | g before e/i = j sound | |
| 12 | (?<=[^n ])g | g softens everywhere except after a pause or n (agua, algo) | |
| 13 | g | ||
| 14 | c(?=[eiéí]) | c before e/i (Spain); /s/ in Latin America | |
| 15 | c | ||
| 16 | z | z (Spain); /s/ in Latin America | |
| 17 | j | ||
| 18 | ñ | ||
| 19 | h | h is always silent | |
| 20 | (?<=[^mn ])[bv] | b/v soften everywhere except after a pause or m/n (haber, cerveza) | |
| 21 | [bv] | b and v are the same sound; hard after a pause or m/n | |
| 22 | (?<=[^nl ])d | d softens everywhere except after a pause or n/l (todo, verdad) | |
| 23 | x | ||
| 24 | y(?![aeiouáéíóú]) | y alone or at word end = vowel i | |
| 25 | y | ||
| 26 | i(?=[aeouáéóú]) | unstressed i before a vowel becomes a glide | |
| 27 | u(?=[aeioáéíó]) | unstressed u before a vowel becomes a glide | |
| 28 | á | ||
| 29 | é | ||
| 30 | í | ||
| 31 | ó | ||
| 32 | ú | ||
| 33 | ü | ||
| 34 | [aeiou] | ||
| 35 | ph | ||
| 36 | [pbtdkfsmnlw] |