vocal
/boˈkal/feminine
The Spanish word for vowel is vocal. Wiktionary also lists letra vocal.
Meaning: letter (noun)
Ways to say it
| Spanish | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| vocal | /boˈkal/ | feminine |
| letra vocal | /letɾa bokal/ (from spelling rules) | feminine |
vocal is a feminine noun used to refer to a vowel in a linguistic context.
Which one should you use?
When used as a noun in Spanish, vocal refers to the linguistic unit (a vowel). This is distinct from its use as an adjective, where it means 'vocal' in the sense of relating to the voice.
How does it change in a sentence?
The plural form of vocal is vocales.
How do you pronounce it?
/boˈkal/
Did you know?
- In certain legal or administrative contexts in Spanish, a person serving as a 'member' of a committee or board is referred to as a vocal.
- Ancient Greek ancestors of the word letra referred to a diphthéra, which was a wax-coated leather tablet used for writing.
- In a legal or financial context, a letra can refer to a 'bill of exchange' or a promissory note.
Examples in context
- La palabra tiene una vocal al final.The word has a vowel at the end.
- Escribe una vocal en el espacio en blanco.Write a vowel in the blank space.
Example conversation
Alejandro and Lucía are studying Spanish grammar together.
- AlejandroLucía, ¿cuál es la primera vocal del alfabeto?Lucía, what is the first vowel of the alphabet?
- LucíaLa primera vocal es la 'a', Alejandro.The first vowel is 'a', Alejandro.
- AlejandroEs verdad, lo olvidé por un momento.That's true, I forgot for a moment.
- LucíaNo te preocupes, es normal al principio.Don't worry, it's normal at the beginning.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “vowel” translations and entries vocal, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries letra, vocal, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
