Spanish Words Starting with G

There are 3,220 Spanish words starting with G, and two very different second letters tie for the lead.

A and R Share the Top Spot

A and R take about twenty seven percent each, U fifteen, E ten, O nine and L six. The R and L shares are the GR and GL clusters.

The Silent U in GUE and GUI

G is hard before A, O and U but softens to a J sound before E and I. To keep it hard, Spanish inserts a silent U, giving GUERRA and GUITARRA.

That U is written but never pronounced. When it does need to be said, it takes a diaeresis, as in VERGÜENZA.

Common G Words to Learn

GENTE, GRACIAS, GUERRA, GRUPO and GUSTO cover four branches and include both the hard and the soft sound.

• Gente
• Gracias
• Guerra
• Grupo
• Gusto

Reading the G Page

The useful split here is by sound rather than by letter. GA, GO, GU and the GUE and GUI forms are all hard, while GE and GI are soft and sound like J.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does GUITARRA have a U that is not pronounced

Without it the G would soften before the I and the word would sound like JITARRA. The U is there purely to keep the G hard.

What is the diaeresis for

The two dots over a U tell you to pronounce it after all. VERGÜENZA and PINGÜINO both need it, otherwise the U would stay silent.

Do GENTE and GATO start with the same sound

No. GENTE begins with the soft sound, close to an English H or the Spanish J. GATO begins hard, like the G in got.