Difference in sound between je and ge?

Question

Equipaje

Gerente

From my understanding both the j in the first and the g in the second word sound like a raspy English h. Is there a way to tell from the sound (or structure) of a word whether it's spelled with a j or a g?

Answer 1

I had a friend from mexico who told me that even though both make an "h" sound, "g" is more aspirated and guttural.

• Good one. Then I'll make my g's sound more like the Dutch g's. - S1r_Wakka Jul 9, 2011
• I don't think it's way, way gutteral. I think this guy says it like I mean http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EiV753kqrFI - andres2011 Jul 13, 2011

Answer 2

No difference whatsoever, and there is no way to tell whether such a sound will be written with "ge" or "je", except for a few lists of words for which you can remember the "rule".

For example, only 9% of the words ending in "je" sounds are actually written with "ge", and almost all of them are foreign words.

• Where can I find one of these "lists of words?" - territurtle Jul 9, 2011
• Why would you want such a list? - lazarus1907 Jul 10, 2011

Answer 3

Not usually. Some similar words follow spelling patterns though.

Mensaje, Vendaje

Like in English, if you here "shun" at the end of a word you know it is spelled "tion"

Construction, Alternation

Answer 4

If you think about words like " geologia" and "Jale" the "G" and the " J" are so similar it is difficult to tell them apart. The only way I know to distinguish them is in the context of the word being spoken.

• Not just similar, identical. - samdie Jul 9, 2011

Answer 5

if G is followed by e or i it takes on that soft gutteral sound the j usually makes in Spanish. Funny enough, in English it does a very similar thing with g and i,e by making the g change to a soft j sound instead of the hard g, like in general.

Am I right?

• Except that there are a bunch of exceptions (e.g. margarine) in English and none in Spanish. Surprise. Surprise. - samdie Jul 9, 2011