CH is a digraph, that is, it is a combination of two letters (c and h) representing a single phoneme or sound. It is always followed by a vowel.
Una chica vino a verte.
A girl came to see you.Esta película es de un director checo.
This movie is by a Czech director.
The digraph CH may appear in initial, middle, or final position in the word:
- Words starting with CH: chocolate (chocolate), charco (puddle), chispa (spark).
- Words with CH in them: cachorro (puppy), mochila (backpack), pecho (chest).
- Words ending in CH. They are infrequent, being usually of foreign origin: sándwich (sandwich), kitsch (kitsch), sketch (sketch).
Pronunciation tip: The Spanish digraph CH has the same sound as the English “ch” in “chair”, the only difference being that slightly less air is released for the Spanish sound. In contrast, it is never pronounced /sh/ as in the English pronunciation of “chef”:
Fun fact: CH was the fourth letter in the Spanish alphabet until 2010, when the Real Academia Española decided to remove it from the alphabet, considering it a digraph.
- See also: Words with C
Spanish nouns that start with CH
| choclo corn | chalet, chalé detached house | changa odd job |
| chacra farm | chelo cello | chancla thong |
| champú shampoo | chorro stream, jet | chupetín lollipop |
| chubasco shower (rain) | chupete pacifier | champiñón mushroom |
| chaparrón downpour | charango small guitar | chamán shaman |
| choque crash | Chipre Cyprus | China China |
| charla chat, talk | chasco hoax | chicle chewing gum |
| chifle whistle | chisme gossip | chileno Chilean |
| charol patent leather | chiquero pigpen | chirlo smack |
| champaña champagne | chillido shreak | chichón lump (on the head) |
Animals starting with CH: chancho (pig), chimpancé (chimpanzee), chita (cheetah), chivo (young goat), chacal (jackal), chicharra (cicada).
Foods with CH: chocolate (chocolate), chaucha (snap bean), chile (chili), chorizo (chorizo), churrasco (churrasco), churro (churro), chuleta (chop).
Jobs starting with CH: chofer (chauffeur, driver), chef (chef), chocolatero (chocolatier), chapista (sheet metal worker).
Names starting with CH: Chabela, Charo, Chelo, Christian.
¿Le puedes alcanzar el chupete al bebé?
Can you hand the pacifier to the baby?Me salió un chichón enorme por el golpe.
I got a huge lump on the head from the blow.El chisme va a correr por todo el pueblo.
The gossip is going to spread around the town.Anoche celebramos con una botella de champaña.
Last night we celebrated with a bottle of champagne.
Spanish adjectives that start with CH
| chico small | chipriota Cypriot | chirriante squeaky |
| chato flat | chino Chinese | chauvinista chauvinistic |
| chistoso funny | chocolateado chocolaty | chiflado nuts (crazy) |
| chueco crooked | chiquito tiny | chabacano gaudy |
| chismoso gossipy | chispeante sparkling, crackling | chulo cute, cool |
| chocante shocking | charlatán very talkative | chambón klutzy |
| chicloso chewy | charolado glossy | chungo tricky, not good |
| checo Czech | chiíta Shiite | chacotero prankster |
| chillón shrill | chacarero farmer | chaqueño from Chaco Province |
| chic chic | chapado plated | chapucero slapdash |
Este suéter me queda chico.
This sweater is too small for me.La carne no está tierna; está chiclosa.
The meat isn’t tender; it’s chewy.¡Qué atuendo más chic luces esta noche!
What a chic outfit you’re wearing tonight!El balcón es chiquito.
The balcony is tiny.
Adjectives starting with CH to describe a person
| chistoso funny, amusing | charlatán very talkative | chauvinista chauvinistic |
| chispeante lively, witty | chismoso gossipy | chiflado nuts |
| chic chic | chueco bowlegged | chambón klutzy |
Es obsoleto ser chauvinista.
It is obsolete to be chauvinistic.Mi mejor amiga es chispeante y divertida.
My best friend is witty and funny.
- See also: Spanish adjectives
Spanish verbs that start with CH
| charlar to chat, talk | chorrear to drip | chamuscar to scorch |
| chillar to shriek | chupar to suck, lick | chascar to click, snap |
| chiflar to whistle | chocar to crash | chicanear to be sly |
| chismear to gossip | chantajear to blackmail | chirriar to squeak, screech |
| chatear to chat (in writing) | chequear to check | chapar to plate |
| chapucear to mess up | chasquear to snap | chismorrear to gossip |
| chispear to drizzle | chapotear to slosh, splash | chicotear to whip |
Las niñas chismean en el baño.
The girls are gossiping in the bathroom.¿Sabes chiflar?
Do you know how to whistle?Lleva paraguas; está chispeando.
Take your umbrella with you; it’s drizzling.El sol chamuscó mis ojotas.
The sun scorched my flip-flops.
- See also: Spanish verbs
Spanish adverbs with CH
| Spanish adverbs that start with CH | Spanish adverbs with CH in them |
|---|---|
| chabacanamente gaudily | dichosamente blissfully |
| chistosamente funnily | estrechamente strictly |
| chillonamente shrilly | despechadamente resentfully |
| chispeantemente lively | muchísimo a great deal, very much |
| chambonamente clumsily | anchamente widely |
| chapuceramente sloppily | derechamente straightforwardly |
El alumno habló chabacanamente, con lenguaje vulgar.
The student spoke gaudily, using vulgar language.Este adorno está hecho chapuceramente.
This decoration is sloppily made.
- See also: Spanish adverbs
More everyday Spanish words with CH
Some everyday Spanish words with CH in them include:
¡Chau!
Bye!
¡Chao!
Bye
estar chocho
to be over the moon
mucho(s)
a lot (masculine singular and plural forms, respectively)
mucha(s)
a lot (feminine singular and plural forms, respectively)
noche
night
leche
milk
fecha
date (calendar)
salchicha
sausage
muchacho
young man
cuchillo
knife
¡Chau chicos! ¡Buen finde!
Bye guys! Have a great weekend!
Este tema lo hablé mucho con mis amigos.
I discussed this topic a lot with my friends.
¿Qué fecha tienes disponible para la reunión?
What date are you available for the meeting?
La noche está estrellada.
The night is starry.
You may also like:
Practice: Spanish words with CH
References
- Wordreference.com, “chasco,” accessed October 22, 2024, https://www.wordreference.com/
- Oxford Spanish Dictionary, 3rd edition on CD-ROM, Oxford University Press.
- Merriam-Webster Dictionary, accessed October 22, 2024, under “digraph,” https://www.merriam-webster.com/
- Real Academia Española, under “Exclusión de «ch» y «ll» del abecedario,” accessed October 22, 2024, https://www.rae.es/
- Enciclopedia del Lenguaje, “Palabras con CH,” by Carla Giani. Last updated February 26, 2024, https://lenguaje.com/
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