What vowels have to follow the letter g to make the g make an h sound, and what vowels to make a g sound?

Question

For example generalmente, the g makes an h sound. I am wondering how to say Malagueña (Salerosa). And the word iguana. Does the g make an h sound or a g sound?

Answer 1

The letter G has two sounds: one of them is that of English "gap" and the other one does not exist in English (it is similar, but much softer). The sound H does not exist in Spanish.

Now, in "Malagueña", the combination "gue" is similar to "ge" in "get", but with that much softer sound that does not exist in English. In "Iguana", the "g" is also this much softer sound.

Answer 2

Most of the words beginning with "G" and followed by "E" make a "H" sound like --- gemelo, gel, gelatina, gemir

but then there is geco, which doesn't...

Also words beginning with "G" followed by "A" make "G" sound like in english.

Gaspacho, gabinete,

This is the same for "G" followed by "U"

guapa, guardía, guacamole

G..I words:

gigante, Gibaltar , gibón- "h" sound

When the "G" is in the middle of a word it usually makes the english "G" sound iguana, magdalena, margarita. salga, trago.

I have problems keeping this straight as well. Thanks, d.c.; I'll add your post to my study notes. - GaryT, Apr 3, 2011

"Geco" should be pronounced like "jeco"; otherwise, it should be written in italics to warn the reader that the word is foreign and follows foreign conventions. - lazarus1907, Apr 3, 2011

"Gibraltar" sounds like "jibraltar", with a very strong aspirated sound, not like a soft G. The same goes for "gibón". - lazarus1907, Apr 3, 2011

Answer 3

The rule is very simple and has no exceptions (and, as Sabor said, is similar to the rule for 'c'). 'g' when followed by 'e' or 'i' is pronounced like the Spanish 'j', otherwise it's "hard". Lazarus mentions a further distinction i.e. that there are two varieties of the "hard" 'g' one: the "hard-hard" (similar to the "hard 'g' in English and the other, the "hard-soft" (or "soft-hard" [this sort of terminology is sooo inadequate]) and has no similar sound in English.

G..I words are more or less irregular. Gibaltar , gibón- "G" sound

(perhaps you meant Gibraltar).

These are not exceptions. 'g' pronounced like 'j' (the "jota").

Whether or not the 'j' sounds like the English 'h' depends on where you are in the Spanish-speaking world. It can range from quite similar, through "rather" different to "very" different (less or more guttural/fricative).

Answer 4

Just read Lazarus' comments.

Answer 5

If you have an easy time remembering that ci and ce are the soft c sounds, you can remember that gi and ge are the softer (more like English h) g sounds.

Ay que sabrosa... Billie Burke! :) - cristalino, Apr 3, 2011