Pronunciation
j is a rough h
j is a voiceless sound from the back of the mouth. In much of Latin America it is a strong h. g before e or i uses the same sound.
j
Typical mistake
English j is a voiced “dg”. gente then sounds like “gentle”, and the Spanish word disappears.
How to make the sound
- 01Fog a mirror with a h from farther back than English h.
- 02jugo, gente, México, trabajo.
- 03Keep the voice off. It should not buzz.
Practice words
jugo
juice
gente
people — j sound
México
the x is the same sound
trabajo
work
Questions
- Is g always this sound?
- g before e or i is. g before a, o, u is a hard g, as in gato.
- How strong should it be?
- A clear h from the back is enough. You do not need a harsh scrape.
See also
Next — topical phrases: Phrases
Check j out loud
Record a phrase with this sound — the teacher will tell you if you landed it.