The letter ‘q’ in Spanish almost invariably appears followed by the letter ‘u,’ forming the digraph ‘qu.’ This combination typically represents a velar ‘k’ sound before the vowels ‘e’ and ‘i.’ Examples include words like “queso” (cheese) and “quiero” (I want), where the ‘qu’ functions phonetically similarly to the ‘c’ in “come” and “kite.” Occasionally, loanwords might retain a ‘q’ without a following ‘u,’ but these are exceptions.
Understanding the role of ‘q’ is essential for proper pronunciation and spelling in Spanish. This digraph helps distinguish sounds that might otherwise be confused, contributing to the language’s clarity and phonetic structure. Historically, the ‘qu’ spelling reflects the evolution of the language from Latin, where the ‘qu’ represented a similar sound. This orthographic convention contributes to the visual consistency of Spanish and connects it to its linguistic roots.