why is there two dots over the u in penguino?

Question

I would like to know why there are two dots over the u in the spanish word for penguin which is penguino?

Answer 1

The two dots (an umlaut) mean that the "u" is pronounced. A "u" between a "g" and an "i" (or "e") is normally silent.

The "u" with the umlaut is used to change the sound of the "g" in front of an "e" or "i". Without the "u" the "g" sounds a lot like the English "h". With the "u", it changes to something like the "g" in the English word "go".