abecedario
/abeθeˈdaɾjo/masculine
The English word "alphabet" is translated into Spanish as abecedario or alfabeto.
Meaning: an ordered set of letters used in a language (noun)
Ways to say it
| Spanish | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| abecedario | /abeθeˈdaɾjo/ /abeseˈdaɾjo/ |
masculine |
| alfabeto | /alfaˈbeto/ | masculine |
Both words refer to an ordered set of letters used in a language.
What does it mean word for word?
The word abecedario is derived from the sequence of the first four letters of the Spanish alphabet: a, b, c and d.
Which one should you use?
While alfabeto and abecedario are often interchangeable, abecedario is more commonly used in educational contexts when referring to the sequence of letters taught to children.
How does it change in a sentence?
Both alfabeto and abecedario are masculine nouns and require masculine articles, such as el or un.
How do you pronounce it?
/abeθeˈdaɾjo/
When do people say it?
In many Spanish-speaking contexts, referring to el abecedario is the equivalent of saying "the ABCs" in English.
Did you know?
- Until 1994, the Spanish abecedario officially included ch and ll as separate letters, making the alphabet 29 letters long.
- The word alfabeto was originally a back-formation from the word analfabeto, which means 'illiterate'.
Examples in context
- Te sabías el abecedario.You knew the alphabet.This sentence uses abecedario to show someone's knowledge of the letters.Tatoeba #3874763 by cueyayotl, translation #2232475 by rafael8243
- Recita el alfabeto al revés.Say the alphabet backwards.This sentence uses alfabeto to instruct someone to recite the letters in reverse.Tatoeba #929694 by Shishir, translation #67287 by sacredceltic
- Escribe el alfabeto en mayúscula.Write the alphabet in capitals.This sentence uses alfabeto to instruct someone to write the letters in capital letters.Tatoeba #2169882 by marcelostockle, translation #67288 by CM
- 51 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Mateo is helping María study Spanish.
- MateoMaría, ¿conoces ya el abecedario?María, do you already know the alphabet?
- MaríaSí, pero no sé pronunciar algunas letras.Yes, but I don't know how to pronounce some letters.
- MateoPodemos repasar el abecedario juntos hoy.We can review the alphabet together today.
- MaríaMuchas gracias, Mateo. Me ayudaría mucho.Thank you very much, Mateo. It would help me a lot.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “alphabet” translations and entries abecedario, alfabeto, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries abecedario, alfabeto, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
