In Spanish orthography, the letter ‘q’ is always followed by the letter ‘u’, and this combination typically represents a /k/ sound before ‘e’ and ‘i’, and sometimes before ‘a’ and ‘o’. Examples include words like queso (cheese) and quique (small cake). This digraph distinguishes the pronunciation from words with ‘c’ before ‘e’ and ‘i’, which generally produce an /s/ or // sound, depending on the dialect. Less common are instances where ‘qu’ represents a /kw/ sound before ‘a’ and ‘o’ as in aquello (that). This consistent spelling pattern simplifies pronunciation rules for learners.
Understanding this fundamental orthographic rule is essential for proper pronunciation and spelling in Spanish. It reflects the evolution of the language from Latin and its adaptation to represent specific phonetic distinctions. This convention contributes to clarity and consistency within the language, avoiding potential ambiguities. The ‘qu’ combination plays a significant role in a variety of common and specialized vocabulary across diverse fields.