Inklingo

v

oo-veh (for the name); The sound is the same as 'b'./'u.βe/ (name of the letter); /b/ or /β/ (sound of the letter)

v means the letter V in Spanish (The twenty-third letter of the Spanish alphabet).

the letter V

Also: uve
NounfA1
Mexico & Central AmericaSpain
A bright red boomerang, shaped like a letter V, rests simply on a patch of green grass under a blue sky.

📝 In Action

La 'v' es la inicial de la palabra 'verde'.

A1

The 'v' is the initial letter of the word 'green'.

¿Con qué se escribe 'vaca'? Se escribe con 'uve'.

A1

How do you spell 'cow'? It is spelled with 'v'.

En español, la 'b' y la 'v' suenan exactamente igual.

A2

In Spanish, 'b' and 'v' sound exactly the same.

Translate to Spanish

Words that translate to "v" in Spanish:

uve

✏️ Quick Practice

Quick Quiz: v

Question 1 of 2

What is the official name of the letter 'v' in Spanish?

📚 More Resources

👥 Word Family
b(The letter B (which sounds the same))Noun
abecedario(alphabet)Noun
🎵 Rhymes
📚 Etymology

The letter 'V' descends from the Latin letter 'V', which originally represented both the vowel sound /u/ and the consonant sound /w/. Over time, it separated from 'U' and eventually evolved into the modern 'V' shape we use today.

First recorded: Ancient Roman alphabet

Cognates (Related words)

English: VPortuguese:

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Frequently Asked Questions

Why do 'b' and 'v' sound the same in Spanish?

Historically, the distinction between the sounds of 'b' and 'v' faded in most regions of the Iberian Peninsula and was lost in the languages that branched off, including Spanish. Today, they are considered one single sound for pronunciation purposes.

If they sound the same, how do I know whether to use 'b' or 'v' when writing?

This is purely a spelling convention. You must learn the spelling rules (e.g., verbs ending in -bir use 'b', words starting with 'vice-' use 'v') and memorize the exceptions. Context and sound won't help you decide!