How to pronounce Spanish
Say it like SPAN-ish. Spanish has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (SPAN).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce Spanish. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- SPAN
- ish
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Spanish pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- SPANSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "a" in cat.
- ishKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "i" in sit.
American vs British pronunciation of Spanish
American and British speakers say Spanish in essentially the same way: /ˈspænɪʃ/ in the US and /ˈspænɪʃ/ in the UK.
British respelling: SPAN-ish.
What does Spanish mean?
- the Romance language spoken in most of Spain and the countries colonized by Spain
- the people of Spain
- of or relating to or characteristic of Spain or the people of Spain“Spanish music”
Words that rhyme with Spanish
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of Spanish.
Questions about saying Spanish
How do you pronounce Spanish?
Say SPAN-ish. The American pronunciation is /ˈspænɪʃ/. In British English it is /ˈspænɪʃ/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in Spanish?
Spanish has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (SPAN). Broken into parts: SPAN · ish.
Do Americans and Brits say Spanish the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ˈspænɪʃ/ and the British form is /ˈspænɪʃ/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.