Pronounciation of letter v

Question

How do you pronounce the letter v?

Do you pronounce it like a b? - beti27, Apr 24, 2017

Yes, a soft b. Do you remember the old saying? Baseball has been bery bery good to me :) - DilKen, Apr 24, 2017

Welcome to SpanishDict. - rac1, Apr 24, 2017

Answer 1

Officially and practically there're no differences between V and B in Spanish. When both of them occur between vowels (bebé, cavar) the sound is softer (lips getting close without contact).

When they (both) occur at the beginning of the words the sound is stronger though never as strong as in English.

In the same way there's no difference in Spanish between LL (lluvia) and Y (yuca).

Only those who are not native speakers try to keep (or create) differences.

Answer 2

"has veen " . Nice one Ken. - ray76, May 6, 2017

Answer 3

At the beginning of a "breath group" both the "b" and a "v" will have a sound approximating the English "B". This also occurs after the letter "n" or "m" in which case the "n" will sound like an "m" The word "envidia" will sound like "embidia." And "en vista de" will sound like "embista de."

On the other hand the "v" and "b" between vowels will sound more like the English "v" except the bottom lip doesn't touch the upper teeth. Instead it touches the upper lip.

That's why this "b" and "v" thing is called a "bibabial fricative" in Phonetics.

It doesn't matter if the b/v is between vowels in two separate words.

"La voy a ver" and "se llama Bárbara" Both "v's" will be more like the English "v" and the first "B" in Bárbara, will have the "v" sound. But remember, properly pronounced, the lower lip does NOT touch the upper teeth. It will touch the upper lip. Some regions may differ.

Keep calm and keep a stiff upper lip.

Berrry informative my friend , this should be the definitibe answer .;) - ray76, May 6, 2017

Answer 4

B or V are pronounced the same way as B in English when they are at the beginning of a word. For example the words " vaca" and "baca" are pronounced the same and very similar to an English B.

The problem comes with with B or V when they are between vowels. Then the B or V is pronounced as in the English B but without getting the lips wholly together. Of course native Spanish speakers don't know this, it's unconscious but we immediately recognize foreigners because they say: "iba" or "IVA" with an English B or sometimes with an English V, which is even worse. Remember the B or V between vowels produces a sound where the lips don't come wholly together.

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I think the best way of checking that B or V sound the same either at the beginning of a word or between vowels is that Spanish speakers have a lot of spelling mistakes in using B or V. If they sounded " different" we would not make mistakes!!!!!

I think some people in Chile could pronounce V as the English V. In the rest of the cases in 99% of the cases we don't pronounce V as the English V in any case. - polenta1, Apr 25, 2017

Hi, Polenta, I think that I have given the scientific explanation of what you have said here. - Daniela2041, May 6, 2017

Check it out. I hope I understood you correctly. - Daniela2041, May 6, 2017

Answer 5

Mexican Ana lesson on B and V

Answer 6

Pronunciation of 'b' and 'v' in Spanish
Lluisa Astruc (youtube)
4 years ago 50,895 views
Description of pronunciation of 'b' (and 'v') in Spanish showing use of bilabial plosive and approximant.

different sounds of b and v depending on location in the word

Answer 7

I remember a teacher from Barcelona saying when the v or b is between two vowels it is softer almost like a soft v or b - this includes when a word beginning with v /b follows a word ending with a vowel. If it is at the start of a sentence or between consonants it is much stronger and more like a B.

I think Cuba may be different.

This video may help by Catalina Moreno

Youtube

Very good video. I really like her youtube videos, I think I've watched all of them :) - DilKen, Apr 24, 2017

Answer 8

We have had this discussion many many times.

I don't believe that Bs and Vs are always pronounced the same in Spanish.

Just listen to Spanish speakers saying Barcelona and Valencia.

Ian: I fixed your link for Valencia. I don't hear much if any difference, they both sound like soft b's to me. - DilKen, Apr 24, 2017

Ian: by the way, I would say that the Spanish "e" vowel sounds different, depending on where is is in the word, what consonants follow it, etc. - DilKen, Apr 24, 2017

Answer 9

In Spanish, there's no distinction of /v/ or /b/. Well, your hearing must be exceptionally good so as to find any difference.

Stick to pronouncing it as in English.

Do you mean pronounce the v as a soft b? In English we buzz/vibrate the v which would not be very Spanishy :) - DilKen, Apr 24, 2017

Answer 10

La b y la v son más fuertes si son la letra inicial o no ocureh entre vocales.. Sin embargo, en Cuba, la b casi no se oye en la palabra "Cuba", por ejemplo. "En Cuua el mambo es rey." La u se prolonga pero la b de "mambo" se pronuncia

Pero sí se suena en "calabozo", No me lo explico. No se oye en, "Oye, micobio, vamos al Malecón". "Micobio" suena como "micoooyo", con la o prolongrada. Es decir "amigo, "comañero, "compadre", etc. . . .

Answer 11

Currently, both "b" and "v" are pronounced like the English "b".

In my native Guatemala, I learned that the names of the letters are:

"Be labial"

"Ve dental"

I was taught in both primary and secondary school that although most people do not pronounce them differently, historically, there was supposed to be a difference.

"B" is pronounced by putting your upper and lower lips together. (Thus "labial")

"V" is/was pronounced by putting your upper TEETH and lower lips together. (Thus "dental", although a more accurate word would be "labiodental")

On the other hand, no one will look at you weird if you pronounce them "properly". That is to say, the same as the English pronounciation. - Paulo69, May 5, 2017

By "noboby" do you mean people in Guatemala or todo el mundo? - DilKen, May 5, 2017