Spanish · Names
How to pronounce José in Spanish
José
Spanish personal name: José
Latin American Spanish · Choose 1.00× to hear the original pace.
José is pronounced /xoˈse/ in Spanish. In José: The IPA may show /x/ or a lighter /h/, depending on the accent. Keep airflow continuous instead of making an English j. Listen to the word on its own, then compare it with the example sentence.
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Find the sounds in José
Read José in these IPA segments: xo · ˈse. Dots and stress marks identify the boundaries shown in the reference; these symbols are not English spelling. The mark /ˈ/ comes immediately before the main stressed syllable. Give that syllable a little more prominence without swallowing the others.
1.The j-like breath sound
In José: The IPA may show /x/ or a lighter /h/, depending on the accent. Keep airflow continuous instead of making an English j.
Watch out: The English “j” in “jam” is not the sound of Spanish j here.
2.A steady /e/ vowel
In José: Keep the tongue toward the front and sustain a single /e/ vowel. Listen for its exact height in the recording.
Watch out: English “ay” often ends with a glide; do not automatically carry that glide into this vowel.
3.A steady /o/ vowel
In José: Round the lips and keep the tongue toward the back for a steady /o/. Follow the length indicated in the transcription.
Watch out: Avoid automatically turning a single /o/ into the moving vowel of English “go”.
Hear it in context
Me llamo José.
My name is José.
Listen once, say it aloud, then replay at 1.00×. Keep the word connected to the surrounding sentence rather than giving every syllable equal weight.
Pronunciation and variety
This guide uses a Latin American Spanish model for José. In Spain and other regions, individual consonants may differ. The linked reference records the source transcription; the audio provides one consistent practice model.
The English-style respelling is approximate. Use the IPA and recording together for vowel quality and consonants that do not have an exact English equivalent.
Questions about José
How do you pronounce José?
José is pronounced /xoˈse/ in Spanish. In José: The IPA may show /x/ or a lighter /h/, depending on the accent. Keep airflow continuous instead of making an English j. Listen to the word on its own, then compare it with the example sentence.
What should I listen for first?
In José: The IPA may show /x/ or a lighter /h/, depending on the accent. Keep airflow continuous instead of making an English j. Start at 0.75×, then return to 1.00× to hear the natural rhythm.
