CHAPTER 1
The Basics
Los fundamentos
Alphabet—Alfabeto
The Spanish alphabet is similar to the English alphabet, except with one extra letter. Plus, the letters are pronounced differently in Spanish. Here is the Spanish alphabet, including how to say each letter, called pronunciation, spelled out for you.
| Letter | Example | Pronunciation |
| A | for abuelo (grandfather) | AH |
| B | for bueno (good) | BEH |
| C | for cama (bed) | SEH |
| D | for desayuno (breakfast) | DEH |
| E | for edificio (building) | EH |
| F | for falda (skirt) | EF eh |
| G | for gracias (thank you) | HEH |
| H | for hablar (to talk) | AH cheh |
| I | for Italia (Italy) | EE |
| J | for jamón (ham) | HOH tah |
| K | for kárate (karate) | KAH |
| L | for leer (to read) | EL eh |
| M | for madre (mother) | EM eh |
| N | for nieve (snow) | EN eh |
| Ñ | for ñame (yam) | EN yeh |
| O | for ocho (eight) | OH |
| P | for pelo (hair) | PEH |
| Q | for queso (cheese) | KOO |
| R | for regalo (gift) | EHRR eh |
| S | for sí (yes) | ES eh |
| T | for tener (to have) | TEH |
| U | for uno (one) | OO |
| V | for ventana (window) | BEH |
| W | for watt (watt) | DO bleh beh |
| X | for xerocopia (photocopy) | EH kees |
| Y | for ya (already) | ee gree EH gah |
| Z | for zapato (shoe) | SEH tah |