y (e.g. yo, ya, mayo), ll (in many dialects, e.g. llave, calle)
/ʝ/
- Language
- Spanish
- Unit
- Consonantes
- IPA
- /ʝ/
- Practice words
- 5
Sample pronunciation audio — Open the full phoneme overview
Start with one sample audio file for fricativas - /ʝ/.
Quick tip
Let the air pass through a narrow gap, creating friction.
Letters and IPA
Practice words
-
yo
-
ya
-
ayuda
-
llave
-
calle
Minimal pairs
- ya / ya/da
- yema / yema/tema
- yodo / yodo/todo
- calló / calló/caló
- rayo / rayo/rajo
How to produce this sound
Raise the middle of your tongue close to the hard palate and let the air pass with friction; your vocal cords vibrate.
Common mix-ups
- haya / halla
- vaya / valla
- rayo / rallo
- maya / malla
Closest comparison
Este sonido es nuevo; lo más cercano en inglés es y de yes.
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