A guide to saying it correctly
How to Pronounce Guanajuato
Learn how to pronounce the name of this historic Mexican city correctly with a simple guide to its Spanish phonetics.
guanajuato
gwah-nah-WAH-toh
/ˌɡwɑːnəˈwɑːtoʊ/ · gua · na · jua · to
Native US English · Kokoro neural TTS · 0:01
It is also frequently mentioned in historical contexts regarding the Mexican Silver Rush.
Where the word comes from
The name is derived from the Purépecha word 'Kuanasï', meaning 'frog' or 'place of frogs', combined with the suffix '-huato', meaning 'hill' or 'place'.
Common ways people get it wrong
- gwah-nah-joo-AH-toh English speakers often try to pronounce the 'j' as a hard English sound, but in Spanish, it acts as a soft 'w' or 'h' sound.
Frequently asked
Is the j silent in Guanajuato?
The j is not silent, but it functions as a glide in this specific word. It creates a 'wah' sound rather than the harsh 'h' sound found in other Spanish words.
Do I pronounce the g at the start?
Yes, the g is pronounced as a hard 'g' sound, like in the word 'go'. It is followed immediately by the 'w' sound.
Is the stress on the last syllable?
No, the primary stress falls on the third syllable, 'WAH'. The final 'to' is unstressed and should be pronounced clearly but softly.
