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Pronouncing non-English names can be challenging for English speakers due to various reasons. Some names include sounds absent in English, such as the Arabic “kh.” Alternatively, familiar letter combinations might have different pronunciations, like in Welsh, where f sounds like “v,” or in Irish, where aoi is pronounced as “ee.”
Spanish names often have English counterparts with similar spellings, leading English speakers to default to the English pronunciation, which isn’t always accurate. For instance, Lionel Richie and Lionel Messi pronounce their first names differently.
The distinction often lies in stress and vowel sounds. Below is a useful guide to pronouncing vowels in Spanish:
Vowel | Spanish Pronunciation |
|---|---|
a | “ah” |
e | “eh” |
i | “ee” |
o | “oh” |
u | “oo” |
However, there are exceptions in vowel pronunciation do exist, as well as diphthongs, where two vowels are blended into a single syllable. In Spanish, diphthongs form when a strong vowel (a, e, or o) combines with a weak one (i or u), or when i and u come together. Identifying these can prevent over-pronouncing vowels in ways Spanish speakers wouldn’t. Additionally, mastering the ability to roll your r’s is crucial, as all r’s are rolled in Spanish.
It’s also worth noting that Spanish includes a variety of Spanish dialects and numerous regional accents, meaning there’s no single “correct” pronunciation for the names listed below. The phonetic guides are designed to help you avoid common errors English speakers often make when pronouncing Spanish names.
1. Ángel
The first name of Argentine footballer Ángel Di María isn’t pronounced like the English word angel. Instead, it’s “AHNG-hell.”
2. Beatriz
In Spanish, the z sounds like the English s, or, particularly in Spain, like the th in thank. Thus, Beatriz is pronounced “beh-ah-TREESE,” with the last syllable rhyming with geese, or “beh-ah-TREETH,” similar to teeth.
3. Camila
Pop sensation Camila Cabello’s first name is pronounced “kah-MEE-lah,” not “kah-MILL-ah.” (Her last name is “kah-BEH-yo,” not “kah-BELL-oh.”)
4. César
The name César isn’t pronounced like Caesar in Julius Caesar or Caesar salad. It’s said as “SEH-sahr.”
5. Dulce
The name Dulce, meaning “sweet,” is pronounced “DOOL-seh.”
6. Eiza
Since Ei is a diphthong, Mexican actor Eiza González’s first name is pronounced “EY-sah,” not “eh-EE-sah.”
7. Eugenio
When you dissect each sound in Eugenio, it becomes “eh-oo-HEN-ee-oh.” However, since eu and io are diphthongs, “eh-oo” and “ee-oh” are each spoken as one syllable—resulting in a pronunciation closer to “ehw-HEN-yo.”
8. Gabriel
The first name of 100 Years of Solitude author Gabriel García Márquez is pronounced “gah-bree-ELL,” but because ie is a diphthong, it sounds more like “gah-BRYEL.”
9. Gael
Actor Gael García Bernal’s first name isn’t pronounced like gale. Instead, it’s “gah-ELL.”
10. Guillermo
The first name of Pan’s Labyrinth director Guillermo del Toro is pronounced “gee-YEHR-moh.” (His last name translates to “of the bull.”)
11. Jaime
In English, you’d pronounce it “JAY-mee,” similar to Jamie. However, in Spanish, it’s said as “HI-meh.”
12. Josefina
The name Josefina is pronounced “hoh-seh-FEE-nah,” similar to José.
13. Lionel
When referring to Lionel Messi, the name “lee-oh-NELL” is treated as a diphthong, resulting in “lyo-NELL.”
14. Lucía
In its Italian version, this name is pronounced “loo-CHEE-ah,” while in Spanish, it’s “loo-SEE-ah.”
15. Oscar
When Oscar Isaac speaks Spanish, he pronounces his first name as “OH-scar,” not the English “AH-skur.”
16. Quinta
The name Quinta, meaning “fifth,” is pronounced “KEEN-tah.” (However, Abbott Elementary creator Quinta Brunson, named as the fifth child in her family, pronounces it “KWIN-tuh,” like quintuplet. For more on mispronounced actor names, check here.)
17. Selena
In Spanish, Selena is pronounced “seh-LEH-nah,” not “suh-LEE-nuh.”
18. Sergio
The name Sergio is pronounced “SEHR-hee-oh,” but with the io diphthong, it sounds more like “SEHR-hyoh.”
19. Teresa
Like Selena, the Spanish pronunciation of Teresa is “teh-REH-sah.”
20. Xiomara
If you’ve mastered the io in names like Eugenio and Sergio, pronouncing Xiomara as “syoh-MAH-rah” will come naturally.
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