[source]Note also that the letters B and V have exactly the same pronunciation, and their names are pronounced exactly alike. Some colorful expressions are used to indicate which letter is being used, such as B de burro and V de vaca (roughly, “B as in burro” and “V as in vaca”). Sometimes B is referred to as be grande (“big B”) and the V as uve or ve chica (“little V”).
Spanish for Educators
By William C. Harvey
2006
b (‘beh ‘grahn-deh)
v (‘veh ‘chee-kah)
Spanish for Health Care Professionals
By William C. Harvey
Edition: 3 – 2008
b (beh-‘grahn-deh)
v (beh-‘chee-kah)
Complete Spanish Grammar Review
By William C. Harvey
2006
Letter: b
Pronunciation: beh
Letter: v
Pronunciation: veh
Paraphrased conversation with Guedo of Guedo’s Taco Shop
by Clifton Smith
July 29, 2009
Chandler, AZ
Me: Do you speak Spanish?
Guedo: Yes.
Me: Do you say “cer-VAY-suh” or “cer-BAY-suh.”
Guedo: “Cer-VAY-suh.”
Spanish Demystified
by Jenny Petrow
2007
Letter: b
Name: be (beh)
Sound: b
Example: bola (boh-lah)
Letter: v
Name: ve (beh)
Sound: soft b
Example: Vino (bee-noh)
Spanish Vocabulary
By Dorothy Richmond
2007
b: bay
v: bay pronounced identically to b (as in “baby”)
Conversational Spanish in 20 Lessons
By R. Diez De La Cortina
1990
Letter: B b
Name: be
Pronunciation: bay
Letter: V v
Name: ve
Pronunciation: vay
The complete idiot’s guide to intermediate Spanish
By Steven R. Hawson
2000
The sound of the Spanish b and v is distinctive. It is not the same sound as the Engish b, as in “boy,” which sounds a bit like our p to Spanish-speakers. The correct sound lies somewhere between the English b, v, w, and m: for instance, burro = “vwooroh.” If this is too confusing for you, try pronouncing both b and v like the English v in “Victoria” and “velvet” ( as some Chileans do) until your ear becomes more attuned to the actual sound.
A common spelling error made by some Spanish-speakers is to confuse the letters b and v: “se bende” = se vende; “vurro” = burro. Technically, there is a slight difference in pronunciation between b and v, but it’s only observed in some countries.
The Everything Learning Spanish Book
By Andrew Thomas, Frank H. Zambrano, Jacqueline Pastor
2002
Letter: b
Pronunciation: beh
Sample Spanish Word: blusa
Pronunciation: BLOO-sah
English Translation: blouse
Letter: v
Pronunciation: veh
Sample Spanish Word: vocal
Pronunciation: voh-CAHL
English Translation: vowel
The Spanish verb
By Peter Edward Traub, Edward Edgar Wood
1900
Character: b
Name: be
Pronunciation: bay
Character: v
Name: ve
Pronunciation: vay
A first Spanish book and reader
By William Frederic Giese
1902
B — is pronounced less forcibly than in English, the lips being only slightly pressed together. Especially between vowels it approximates the English v. Spaniards pronounce B and V alike.
V — like the second v in valve. It is less forcibly pronounced than English v, with slighter pressure of the lips.
I don’t know avout you, vut I libe in America, viotch!
Anthony,
Varack Ovama told me that, eben though I was vorn in Texas, I am still an American!