How to Pronounce the Letter "H" in Spanish | Examples + Audio Included (2024)

Ever find yourself in the middle of a Spanish conversation, about to pronounce a word with the letter “H”, and think, “Wait, how do I say this again?” Don’t fret. The Spanish “H” is a unique character, and by the end of this guide, you’ll master its sound… or should I say, its silence? 🤫

First off, here’s the shocker: The letter “H” in Spanish is silent! Yes, you read that right. While many letters in the Spanish alphabet have their twists and quirks (don’t get us started on the famous “R” roll, the “H” stands out by its complete lack of sound.

Understanding the Silent “H” In Spanish🤐

The history of the silent “H” in Spanish is rooted in ancient linguistic evolutions. Although words were pronounced with a noticeable “H” sound centuries ago, the pronunciation vanished, but the spelling remained. This shift makes Spanish a unique language in terms of Spanish pronunciation guide.

For instance:

Note: The following examples highlight the silent “H” in Spanish words. They are paired with English words that sound phonetically similar, but the meanings may differ. This is not a translation guide, but rather an illustration of phonetic resemblances.

• English: Hello – Spanish: Hola (Oh-lah)
• Spanish meaning: Hello
  • Listen:

• English: Hour – Spanish: Hora (Oh-rah)
• Spanish meaning: Hour
  • Listen:

• English: Ham – Spanish: Hambre (Ahm-breh)
• Spanish meaning: Hungry
  • Listen:

• English: Hall – Spanish: Halla (Ah-yah)
• Spanish meaning: He/She/It finds
  • Listen:

• English: Hair – Spanish: Hilo (Ee-loh)
• Spanish meaning: Thread
  • Listen:

• English: Hill – Spanish: Hilo (Ee-loh)
• Spanish meaning: Thread
  • Listen:

• English: Host – Spanish: Hospedar (Ohs-peh-dar)
• Spanish meaning: “To lodge” or “to host someone”.
  • Listen:

• English: Hut – Spanish: Hogar (Oh-gahr)
• Spanish meaning: Home
  • Listen:

• English: Hug – Spanish: Hoyo (Oy-yoh)
• Spanish meaning: Hole
  • Listen:

• English: Hoop – Spanish: Hueso (Way-soh)
• Spanish meaning: Bone
  • Listen:

• English: Harm – Spanish: Hormiga (Or-mee-gah)
• Spanish meaning: Ant
  • Listen:

• English: Hawk – Spanish: Halcón (Al-kohn)
• Spanish meaning: Hawk
  • Listen:

• English: Hum – Spanish: Humo (Oo-moh)
• Spanish meaning: Smoke
  • Listen:

• English: Herald – Spanish: Heraldo (Eh-ral-doh)
• Spanish meaning: Herald
  • Listen:

• English: Hem – Spanish: Hemisferio (Eh-mees-feh-ree-oh)
• Spanish meaning: Hemisphere
  • Listen:

• English: Helm – Spanish: Helado (Eh-lah-doh)
• Spanish meaning: Ice Cream
  • Listen:

• English: Hose – Spanish: Hoz (Ohs)
• Spanish meaning: Sickle
  • Listen:

The “H” with its Pals 🤝

When “H” is combined with other letters, it either remains silent or influences the pronunciation of the adjacent letter. Explore this with these juicy examples:

• ch: churro (choo-roh) – A delicious Spanish treat
  • Listen:
• hu: huevo (way-voh) – Egg
  • Listen:
• hi: hijo (ee-hoh) – Son
  • Listen:
• he: hermano (ehr-mah-no) – Brother
  • Listen:
• ho: hombre (ohm-breh) – Man
  • Listen:

ha:

• hacer (ah-sehr) – To do or make
  • Listen:
• hasta (ah-stah) – Until
  • Listen:

hu:

• hueso (way-soh) – Bone
  • Listen:
• hundir (oon-deer) – To sink
  • Listen:

hi:

• historia (ees-toh-ree-ah) – History
  • Listen:
• hilo (ee-loh) – Thread
  • Listen:

he:

• helado (eh-lah-doh) – Ice cream
  • Listen:
• herramienta (ehr-ree-yen-tah) – Tool
  • Listen:

ho:

• hospital (oh-spee-tal) – Hospital
  • Listen:
• hongo (ohn-goh) – Fungus or mushroom
  • Listen:

ha:

• hambre (ahm-breh) – Hunger
  • Listen:
• hallar (ah-yahr) – To find
  • Listen:

For “ch”, which forms a distinct sound:

• • chico (chee-koh) – Boy
    • Listen:
  • chimenea (chee-meh-neh-ah) – Chimney
    • Listen:
  • chocolate (choh-koh-lah-teh) – Chocolate
    • Listen:
      See Also

      Covering all the bases: Duolingo's approach to writing skills

And so on. Keep in mind, when you’re practicing these sounds, tools like Spanish-learning apps for beginners can be super handy!

Exceptions When Pronunciating H in Spanish 🚫

Now, every good rule in language learning has its exceptions, right? In Spanish, “H” combined with certain letters can tweak the Spanish alphabet pronunciation. Consider the Hu sound in certain contexts:

• hueso (wess-oh) – Bone
  • Listen:
• huida (wee-dah) – Escape or flight
  • Listen:
• huir (weer) – To run away or flee
  • Listen:
• huésped (wes-ped) – Guest
  • Listen:
• huerto (wehr-toh) – Orchard or vegetable garden
  • Listen:
• hule (hoo-leh) – Oilcloth or rubber
  • Listen:
• huracán (oo-rah-kahn) – Hurricane
  • Listen:
• huespedaje (wes-peh-dah-he) – Lodging
  • Listen:
• hundido (oon-dee-doh) – Sunken or submerged
  • Listen:
• humedad (oo-meh-dahd) – Humidity or moisture
  • Listen:

While most of the time “H” remains silent, it’s always good to have a keen ear when listening to Spanish slang from various regions. Dive into slang from places like Spain or Mexico to hear the “H” in action (or inaction, we should say)!

In a Nutshell 🌰

The letter “H” in Spanish might not make a sound, but it surely carries weight in the world of learning Spanish sounds. It’s silent but holds its ground, much like the quiet person at a party who, once you get to know them, has a world of stories to share.

If you’re eager to explore more sounds and perfect your Spanish pronunciation, don’t forget to check out our Spanish grammar rules or immerse yourself in our Spanish conversation starters!

Happy learning, and remember, the key is to keep that “H” hushed! 🤫📚