ch / ll / ñ
The Sounds CH, LL and Ñ
Three spellings for sounds that English does not write with one letter: ch as in church (chave), ll, a palatal l (ollo), and ñ, like the ny in canyon (mañá).
How It Works
Ch sounds like the ch in English church: chave (key), chover (to rain), chuvia (rain), chamar (to call).
Ll is a palatal l. The middle of the tongue presses against the roof of the mouth, a little like the lli in English million: ollo (eye), coller (to take), muller (woman, wife), fillo (son). Many speakers, especially younger ones in towns, say it like the y in yes. The standard pronunciation is the palatal l.
Ñ sounds like the ny in canyon: mañá (tomorrow), viño (wine), camiño (road), galiña (hen).
Compare with Spanish. Several words with Spanish ll have ch in Galician: chave (llave), chamar (llamar), chover (llover). Several words with Spanish j have ll: ollo (ojo), muller (mujer), fillo (hijo), traballo (trabajo). A Spanish n often matches a Galician ñ: viño (vino), camiño (camino). Learn each word with its Galician spelling.
Not lh or nh. Portuguese writes these sounds lh and nh (olho, vinho). The Galician standard uses ll and ñ. In Galician, nh is used only for a different sound, explained in Velar N: Unha and Final N.
Examples (6)
- Onde está a chave?
Where is the key?
- Hoxe chove moito.
It is raining a lot today.
Word by Word: Today it-rains a-lot.
- Teño algo no ollo.
I have something in my eye.
Word by Word: I-have something in-the eye.
- Colle o paraugas, por favor.
Take the umbrella, please.
- Mañá traio viño.
I'm bringing wine tomorrow.
Word by Word: Tomorrow I-bring wine.
- A miña muller chámase Uxía.
My wife's name is Uxía.
Word by Word: The my wife calls-herself Uxía.
One sentence with ñ (miña), ll (muller) and ch (chámase).
Common Mistakes
Keeping the Spanish ll where Galician has ch.
Onde está a llave?Onde está a chave?Many Spanish ll words have ch in Galician: chave, chamar, chover.
Keeping the Spanish j where Galician has ll.
Teño algo no ojo.Teño algo no ollo.Spanish ojo, mujer and hijo are ollo, muller and fillo in Galician.
Using the Portuguese spellings nh and lh.
Mañá traio vinho.Mañá traio viño.The Galician standard writes ñ and ll, not the Portuguese nh and lh.
How It Connects
Learn This First
These spellings represent individual consonant sounds.
Related Patterns
- Velar N: unha and Final N
The digraph nh looks like a Portuguese spelling but stands for a different sound in Galician.
Level 1 - The Letter X
X is another letter that often appears where Spanish has j.
Level 1 - Avoiding Spanish Interference
Spanish spellings such as llave and ojo are frequent interference errors.
Level 4
Practice ch / ll / ñ in Bubblegum
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