The Curious Case of the Phonetic Change from Latin “F” to Spanish “H”

Have you ever noticed how some common words sound strikingly similar across European languages, yet begin with different letters? There are many words that begin with “h” in Spanish and correspond to words that begin with “f” in Portuguese, Italian, French, and Latin. In this article, we discuss the fascinating history behind this phonetic change from Latin “f” to Spanish “h“.

Take, for example, the noun “flour.“ In Spanish, it is “harina,” while in Portuguese, Italian, and French, it is “farinha,” “farina,” and “farine,” respectively. All these words trace their roots back to the Latin “farīna,” suggesting a curious linguistic twist that left Spanish standing out.

Examples of Words with Phonetic Change from Latin “F” to Spanish “H”

Here are some examples of words that begin with “h” in Spanish and correspond to words that begin with “f” in Portuguese, Italian, and French, which is the original spelling in the Latin source:

EN	SP	PT	IT	FR	Latin
to do	hacer	fazer	fare	faire	facĕre
falcon	halcón	falcão	falcone	faucon	falco
hunger	hambre	fome	fame	faim	fames
liver	hígado	fígado	fegato	foie	ficātum
fig	higo	figo	fico	figue	ficus
flour	harina	farinha	farina	farine	farīna
thread	hilo	fio	filo	fil	filum
aunt	hormiga	formiga	formica	fourmi	formīca
oven	horno	forno	forno	four	furnus
smoke	humo	fumaça	fumo	fumée	fumus
to flee	huir	fugir	fuggire	fuir	fugĕre

Why did Spanish decide to swap the “f” for an “h” in so many words? Here is a dive into the fascinating history behind this phonetic change:

The Great “F” Fade

During the evolution of Latin into Romance languages, around the 7th-9th centuries AD, a sound shift occurred in spoken Latin in the Iberian Peninsula. The initial “f” sound, as in “farīna,” weakened to a breathy “h” sound, eventually disappearing altogether in standard modern Spanish. This explains why words like “harina” (flour), “hierro” (iron), and “hacer” (to do) in Spanish correspond to “farine,” “ferro,” and “fazer” in other Romance languages.

Basque Influence

Some linguists theorize that the presence of the Basque language, which lacked the “f” sound, in northern Spain during this period might have influenced the pronunciation shift. Speakers may have replaced the unfamiliar “f” with the closest alternative, the “h” sound. This theory is contested by some linguists.

Not All “F”s Were Lost

It is important to note that not all words starting with “f” in Latin evolved into “h” in Spanish. Words borrowed later from Latin often retained the original “f,” especially in technical or scientific terms like “fácil” (easy) or “flora” (flora). One interesting example is the Spanish noun “humo” (smoke) which starts with “h,” where as the corresponding verb maintained the “f” at the beginning, i.e., “fumar” (to smoke).

A Linguistic Legacy

This unique evolution of the “f” sound stands as a testament to the dynamic nature of language. It serves as a reminder that languages are constantly evolving, shaped by historical, geographical, and even cultural influences. So, the next time you notice the “h” replacing the “f” in Spanish, remember, it is not just a random letter swap, but a fascinating journey through time and linguistics!

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