pronunciation of gu

Question

Please remind me how to pronounce 'gu'. I believe it is pronounced as one sound when gu is followed by 'e' or 'i', and I think it is pronounced to sound like 'gwi' when gu is followed by 'a'. Is 'gu' ever followed by the letter 'o' ?

Welcome to the Q&A forum. - rac1, Feb 12, 2017

Answer 1

The combination "gu" is what you need to get the "hard g" sound as in "go" or "gate" when placed before "i" or "e"

This gives you the hard sound as in guitarra and "guerra."

Before "a" or "o" the sound is automatically hard. "gafas" "gorra"

Before "I" or "e" the "g" without the accompanying "u" will give you the same "aspirate 'h" sound as in "júbilo" or "jarabe". Two samples are "gitano" and "gemelo"