y
/i/
The English word "and" is translated into Spanish as y. Wiktionary also lists e and et (disused).
Meaning: used to connect two similar words, phrases, et cetera (conj)
Ways to say it
| Spanish | IPA |
|---|---|
| y | /i/ |
| e | /e/ |
| et (disused) |
The word is a conjunction used to connect two similar words, phrases, et cetera.
Which one should you use?
While y is the predominant word for "and", you should use e instead of y when the following word begins with the sound of the letter 'i' (specifically words starting with 'i-' or 'hi-'). This is done to avoid the repetitive sound of two 'i' sounds in a row, such as in the phrase padre e hijo.
How does it change in a sentence?
The form y changes to e when the following word begins with the sound of the letter 'i' (specifically words starting with 'i-' or 'hi-').
How do you pronounce it?
/i/
Did you know?
- The word y was inherited from the Old Spanish é or e, which originally came from the Latin word et.
- If you are reading a very old Spanish manuscript, you might encounter y written as a symbol that looks like a stylized '7' or a specialized ligature.
- While y and e are the standard modern forms, the disused form et still appears in specialized legal Spanish terminology.
Examples in context
- ¿Y tú qué tal?And you, how are you?Tatoeba #618944 by Shishir, translation #388264 by Dorenda
- ¿Y por qué no?And why not?Tatoeba #1039350 by Shishir, translation #1039433 by GPHemsley
- Esto y no más.This and no more.Tatoeba #2268897 by cueyayotl, translation #2268896 by _undertoad
- Me gusta el café y el té.I like coffee and tea.
- Trabajé todo el día, y ahora estoy cansado/a.I worked all day, and now I'm tired.
- María y IgnacioMaría and Ignacio
- El sol y el hieloThe sun and the ice
- Mis hermanos e hijos.My brothers and children.
- Pan y mantequillaBread and butter
- Sal y pimientaSalt and pepper
- Amor y odioLove and hate
- 12481 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Mateo and Lucía are at a grocery store.
- Mateo¿Quieres café y té?Do you want coffee and tea?
- LucíaSolo quiero café, Mateo.I only want coffee, Mateo.
- MateoEstá bien, ¿y azúcar?That's fine, and sugar?
- LucíaSí, azúcar y leche también.Yes, sugar and milk too.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “and” translations and entries y, e, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries e, et, y, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
