The Spanish alphabet contains the letter “h,” however not like in English, it’s all the time silent. This attribute usually results in confusion for learners, significantly when encountering cognates (phrases with shared origins throughout languages). For instance, the English phrase “lodge” is similar to the Spanish “lodge,” however the preliminary “h” is pronounced in English and silent in Spanish.
Understanding this silent letter is essential for correct pronunciation and spelling. Whereas seemingly minor, appropriate pronunciation impacts communication and demonstrates respect for the language. Traditionally, the silent “h” in Spanish developed from Latin, the place it was as soon as aspirated (pronounced with a breathy sound). This historic context helps clarify its presence in up to date Spanish orthography. Mastering this facet of Spanish phonetics is a elementary step towards fluency.