I have just returned from a holiday in Andalucia and have realised that "ll" is pronounced "y" in Spanish?

Question

So is the name of the South American camelid properly pronounced as "lama" or "yama"?

Answer 1

So Buddhists follow the Deli Yama?

Answer 2

Llama is pronounced as "yama"  in Spanish as you say. The "Ll" in Spanish has the same sound as the "Y"  in English in words like: Yale, yarn, year etc....

The same with other Spanish words: Llorar (to cry), llamar (to call), llanta (tire), etc....

Answer 3

lama

llama (he/she/you call) is pronounced yama

Answer 4

I'm from Spain.

"Ll" is pronounced like "y". We write "llama" (the animal) and we pronounce "yama".

"Jamón" is pronounced like "hamón" but you "h" is pronounced stronger.

By the way, Andalucía speaks different from Madrid, Cataluña, Extremadura... There are pronunciation differences all around Spain. It depends on where you are.

-----

---

-

Answer 5

Llama is pronounced "yama" in English like "llamar" in Spanish ("to call") is pronounced "yamar" in English.

It happens in French too  with "travailler" being pronounced "travayah" in English.

Answer 6

the "LL" in Spanish is pronounced differently in different parts of the Spanish speaking world.

Firstly, it is considered a letter in its own right and is never pronounced like an English (or a Spanish) "L"

Traditionally, the pronunciation is similar to an "L" followed by a "Y" as if you said "tell you" quickly.

In Spain, you are most likely to hear it pronounced like a "Y".  Actually, when emphasised it can almost sound like an English "J" sound - technically this is a "palatal stop" where the middle part of the tongue touches the roof of the mouth, so it's not quite the same as an English "J".

In Argentina, the sound may be more like a "SH" (as in shop) or a "ZH" as in pleasure.

But your best bet is to go for the "Y" sound.

The Spanish "J" is indeed pronounced like the SCOTTISH "ch" as in "loch" (also like the German "ch" as in "nicht"), not the English "ch" of course, so it sounds like a strong, "gutteral" English "H"

Answer 7

No dear, Jamon is not said as chamon, it is said like hamon in english.

and Jam is not ham, like Jal.666 said, jam is mermelada.

Also If there is an L it is said as L. If it is a LL it is said as "Y".

so lama is lama.

And dont argue as i have been living in Spain, andalucia, since i was 6

Answer 8

A very usuall mistake that foreigners make when they come to Spain is to prononce "ll" as "l". They say "paela" instead of paella.

Jal.666 our "h" is mute, like in other Romance languages.

------------------

Goddess it depends on the region, here in Galicia we pronounce "j" like Scottish "ch". And very important, we pronounce all letters (except "h" of course), cause Andalucians pronounce half words sometimes and are not easy to understand.

Answer 9

The one "L" lama is the priest.

The two "L" llama is the beast.

But I will bet a silk pajama,

That there is no three "L" lllama.

lol.

All kidding aside, you are correct. It is properly pronounced as "yah-mah", and we usually add the feminine article "la" (llama is feminine) thus "la llama" (plural: las llamas). Bear in mind that llama(s) can also mean flame(s) and to call.

A simple thing to keep in mind about Spanish is that there are three additional consonants:

ch - despite being composed of 2 letters, it is a single consonant & always sounds sounds like ch in chair.

ll - like "ch" it is a single consonant and always sounds same as y in yes.

ñ - sound it as you would "ny" like in araña you would say "ahr-ahnya".

Hope this clears it up for you.

Answer 10

Hmm, not sure about that, it doesn't have a double l.

But I do know in Spanish, jam is ham and ham is jam, Honest!

And they have crisps called Bums!!