V is the twenty-third letter and the eighteenth consonant of the Spanish alphabet. It is an average-frequency letter in Spanish.
Tienes que creerme; te estoy diciendo la verdad.
You have to believe me; I’m telling you the truth.¿Puedes abrir la ventana, por favor?
Can you open the window, please?
The letter V may appear in initial, middle, or final position in the word:
- Words starting with V: visita (visit), volar (to fly), ventaja (advantage).
- Words with V in them: avión (plane), invierno (winter), invitar (to invite).
- Words ending in V. They are not frequent, being usually of foreign origin: leitmotiv (leitmotif), molotov (Molotov), Kiev.
Pronunciation tip: The Spanish letter V is pronounced in exactly the same way as the letter B. It is a bilabial voiced sound, meaning that the lips come together and the vocal cords vibrate to articulate it. In some Spanish accents, it may be slightly labiodental, which means that the upper teeth slightly “bite” the lower lip, making it somewhat stronger. In any case, it is never a strong fricative sound as in English:
Quick tips:
- The letter V is usually referred to as ve corta (“short” V), ve chica (“small” V), or ve baja (“low” V), as opposed to B, which is called be larga (“long” B), be grande (“big” B), or be alta (“high” B) in Latin American countries. In Spain, it is referred to as uve (“u” V) as opposed to be (B).
- Though different in spelling, Spanish B and V have the same pronunciation.
- See also: Words with B
Spanish nouns that start with V
| vainilla vanilla | vacaciones vacation | velero sailboat |
| ventana window | vida life | vacuna vaccine |
| verdura vegetable | vecino neighbor | violencia violence |
| verano summer | voz voice | viñedo vineyard |
| veinte twenty | varón male, boy | venta sale |
| volcán volcano | ventilador fan | vinagre vinegar |
| vestido dress | viuda widow | valentía bravery |
| vuelo flight | valle valley | vegetación vegetation |
| vidrio glass (material) | vaso glass | veneno poison |
| violín violin | vista sight, view | venganza revenge |
Animals starting with V: vaca (cow), víbora (snake), visón (mink), venado (deer).
Jobs starting with V: veterinario (vet), vendedor (salesperson), vigilante (security guard), violinista (violinist), viajante (traveling salesman).
Names starting with V: Valeria, Victoria, Violeta, Verónica, Vicente, Valentín, Víctor, Virgilio.
Además del piano, la niña toca maravillosamente el violín.
Besides the piano, the girl plays the violin wonderfully.Esta región tiene una vegetación muy variada.
This region has a very diverse vegetation.El dinero no es lo más importante en la vida.
Money isn’t the most important thing in life.La vista desde este mirador es asombrosa.
The view from this lookout is amazing.
- See also: Spanish nouns
Spanish adjectives that start with V
| verde green | valioso valuable | vasto vast |
| viejo old | veloz fast | vegetal vegetable, plant |
| verdadero true | verídico true | ventajoso advantageous |
| vacío empty | venezolano Venezuelan | vocal vocal |
| vivo alive, living | vegetariano vegetarian | veinte twenty |
| variable variable | vergonzoso shameful | venenoso poisonous |
| válido valid | vibrante vibrant | vulgar vulgar |
| virtual virtual | vívido vivid | verdoso greenish |
| volcánico volcanic | violento violent | voraz voracious |
| variado varied | visible visible | voluminoso bulky |
El código que has ingresado no es válido.
The code you have entered is not valid.Su relato fue tan vívido que nos conmovió a todos hasta las lágrimas.
Her story was so vivid that everybody was moved to tears.Es un pueblo tranquilo pero con una vibrante vida nocturna.
It is a quiet town but with a vibrant nightlife.La isla que visitamos es de origen volcánico.
The island we visited is of volcanic origin.
Adjectives starting with V to describe a person
| valiente brave | voluntarioso eager to help | vanidoso vain |
| virtuoso virtuous | venerable venerable | vil vile |
| visionario visionary | vigoroso vigorous | vago lazy |
| vivaz lively | vergonzoso shy, bashful | vicioso vicious |
| vital dynamic, lively | vulnerable vulnerable | voluble changeable, fickle |
Bruno es virtuoso para el piano desde muy temprana edad.
Bruno has been a piano virtuoso from an early age.La niña tiene una mirada vivaz y pícara.
The girl has a lively and mischievous gaze.
- See also: Spanish adjectives
Spanish verbs that start with V
| ver to see | ventilar to air, ventilate | verter to pour |
| venir to come | vengar to venge | vetar to veto |
| volver to come back | vendar to bandage | vigilar to watch |
| vestirse to get dressed | vaciar to empty | vislumbrar to glimpse |
| visitar to visit | validar to validate | vitorear to cheer |
| viajar to travel | verificar to verify | vagabundear to wander |
| vender to sell | vincular to link | voltear to turn |
| votar to vote | vibrar to vibrate | vacilar to waver |
| valer to be worth, cost | volcar to knock over, spill | vencer to defeat |
| variar to vary, change | veranear to spend the summer | vomitar to vomit |
Viajaremos a Europa el año próximo.
We’ll travel to Europe next year.¿Quieres venir a la fiesta conmigo?
Do you want to come to the party with me?Vacíen sus bolsillos y pongan sus pertenencias sobre la cinta transportadora.
Empty your pockets and place your belongings on the conveyor belt.Tu identidad no ha podido ser verificada.
Your identity could not be verified.
- See also: Spanish verbs
Spanish adverbs that start with V
| valientemente bravely | vivamente vividly | vergonzosamente shamefully |
| velozmente rapidly | visualmente visually | viciosamente viciously |
| verdaderamente really, truly | vanamente vainly | vulgarmente commonly |
| vagamente vaguely | voluntariosamente willingly | valerosamente bravely, courageously |
| visiblemente visibly | verticalmente vertically | violentamente violently |
| vigorosamente vigorously | vorazmente voraciously | válidamente validly |
| vilmente vilely | vocalmente vocally | virtualmente virtually |
| vertiginosamente vertiginously | virtuosamente virtuously | variablemente variably |
| voluntariamente voluntarily | venerablemente venerably | virulentamente fiercely |
Este es un diseño visualmente atractivo.
This is a visually appealing design.Tras sus palabras, todos estábamos visiblemente emocionados.
After his words, we were all visibly moved.Estoy verdaderamente apenado por haber dicho lo que dije.
I am truly sorry for saying what I said.Juan aceptó el desafío valientemente.
Juan accepted the challenge bravely.
- See also: Spanish adverbs
More everyday Spanish words that start with V
Some more everyday Spanish words and expressions that start with V include:
vos
informal “you”
vosotros
plural “you”
vuestro/vuestra
your
Ven aquí
Come here
¡Viva!
Hurrah!
¡Vaya!
Wow!
varios
several, various
vez
time
¡Vaya! ¡Esto sí que es una sorpresa!
Wow! This really is a surprise!
¡Viva! ¡Firmamos el contrato!
Hurrah! We’ve signed the contract!
Ven aquí; tengo algo que decirte.
Come here; I have something to tell you.
¿Vos también sos de Argentina?
Are you from Argentina too?
V or B? Spelling tips
- After n: invitación (invitation), enviar (to send), envase (container).
- After b: obviar (to omit), subvalorar (to undervalue), subversivo (subversive).
- After d: advertencia (warning), adversidad (adversity), adversario (opponent).
You may also like:
- Words with Q
- Words with P
- Words with O
- Words with R
- Words with U
- Spanish words
- Common Spanish phrases
Practice: Spanish words with V
References
- Wordreference.com, “vetar,” accessed November 25, 2024, https://www.wordreference.com/
- Oxford Spanish Dictionary, 3rd edition on CD-ROM, Oxford University Press.
- Merriam-Webster Dictionary, accessed November 25, 2024, under “salesman,” https://www.merriam-webster.com/
- Real Academia Española, Diccionario panhispánico de dudas, under “verter,” accessed November 25, 2024, https://dle.rae.es/
- Enciclopedia del Lenguaje, “Palabras con B,” by Carla Giani. Last updated October 25, 2024, https://lenguaje.com/
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