does e = y?

Question

I just came across this last night. Does "e" = "y"?

The sentence I came across is, La mujer está parada con su esposa e hijos.

Are there any special rules for when to apply this?

Thanks for the help.

Answer 1

"E" and "y" both mean "and".

"E" is used instead of "y" in front of words beginning with "i" or "hi" for pronunciation reasons.

Try saying "su esposa y hijos"...difficult, right? That's why we use "e"! It rolls off the tongue much more fluidly and easily.

thank you. - MrSillyInc, Aug 11, 2011

"hi" not "h" - gintar77, Aug 11, 2011

De nada, MrSilly. Thanks, Gintar ;) - SonrisaDelSol, Aug 11, 2011

Answer 2

Yes. e is used for words that start with vowels or vowel sounds to mean "and". Since the h in hijos is silent, e is used before it.

thank you. - MrSillyInc, Aug 11, 2011

Welcome to the forum, Tinkerbell! - pesta, Aug 11, 2011

Answer 3

Yes you are correct. When "y" comes before a word that starts with "i" or "hi" it morphs into e to facilitate pronunciation. For example:

Soy intelegente y atlético. Soy atlético e intelegente.

Just a random note, something similar happens to the word "o" (or). When "o" comes before a word that starts with "o" or "ho" also, it turns into "u".

:D

didn't know about the "o" changing, also. thanks for the headsup. - MrSillyInc, Aug 11, 2011

Answer 4

Look in Spanish 4 in the learning section for the whole video. It´s called something like Y -> E, O -> U. I'd link you, but I still have no idea how to make links or pictures on this forum ^u^

http://www.spanishdict.com/answers/198667/a-beginners-guide-to-spanshdct-posting-on-the-forum-pictures-links-and-punctuation - SonrisaDelSol, Aug 11, 2011