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be

beh

NounfA1
the letter B?alphabetical reference

πŸ“ In Action

La palabra 'barco' comienza con la be.

A1

The word 'barco' (boat) starts with the letter B.

Si deletreas tu apellido, ΒΏes con be o con uve?

A2

If you spell your last name, is it with B or with V?

Word Connections

Common Collocations

  • la be alta – The capital B
  • deletrear con be – To spell with a B

πŸ’‘ Grammar Points

Gender of Letters

In Spanish, all names for letters of the alphabet are treated as feminine nouns, so you must always use 'la' before them (la be, la efe, la ge).

❌ Common Pitfalls

Confusing B and V

Mistake: "Using 'be' when you mean 'uve' (the letter V)."

Correction: Since the B and V sounds are almost identical in Spanish, people often clarify by calling the B 'be grande' (big B) and the V 'uve chica' (small V) when spelling aloud.

⭐ Usage Tips

Spelling Clarification

When spelling a word to someone, if you say 'be,' they might ask 'ΒΏBe de burro?' (B like in donkey?) to confirm which letter you mean.

✏️ Quick Practice

πŸ’‘ Quick Quiz: be

Question 1 of 1

Which of the following is the most common way Spanish speakers clarify that they are referring to the letter 'B' and not 'V'?

πŸ“š More Resources

Word Family

Frequently Asked Questions

Why do Spanish speakers sometimes say 'be grande' instead of just 'be'?

They say 'be grande' (big B) to avoid confusion with the letter V, which is called 'uve' or sometimes 've chica' (small V). This practice helps listeners distinguish between the two letters when spelling words aloud, as they sound almost identical.