y
/ʝ/
igriega is the Spanish name for the English letter Y.
The term refers specifically to the letter Y. While the letter itself is written as y, the name used to identify it in speech is igriega.
Which one should you use?
In Spain, it is common to refer to the letter Y as i griega. In Mexico and many other parts of Latin America, the term ye is more predominant.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Spain, the name i griega is commonly used to denote the letter Y. In Mexico and many Latin American countries, the term ye is the more frequent way to name the letter.
How do you pronounce it?
/ʝ/
What mistakes should you avoid?
English speakers often mistakenly refer to the letter y as ye when speaking Spanish. However, its formal name is igriega.
Did you know?
- The name i griega literally means 'Greek i'. This is because the letter Y was adopted from the Greek letter upsilon.
- Depending on where you are, the pronunciation of the letter 'y' can change drastically. In some regions, the 'y' in 'igriega' or 'ye' might even sound like a soft 'j' or 'sh' sound.
- In many Latin American countries, calling the letter igriega might sound overly formal or even academic. Most people in those regions will simply call it ye in everyday conversation.
Examples in context
- La palabra termina con la letra y.The word ends with the letter y.
- Escribe una y en el cuaderno.Write a y in the notebook.
Example conversation
Daniel is helping Elena spell a word.
- Daniel¿Cómo se escribe tu apellido, Elena?How do you spell your last name, Elena?
- ElenaSe escribe con y al final.It is written with a y at the end.
- DanielEntiendo, entonces es con y.I see, so it's with a y.
- ElenaSí, así es.Yes, that's right.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry y, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
