Don Quixote

:This page is about the fictional character. For the spacecraft, see Don Quijote (space mission).

Spelling and pronunciation

Quixote is the original spelling in mediaeval Castilian, and is used in English. However, modern Spanish has since gone through spelling reforms and phonetic changes which have turned the x into j.

Related Topics:
English - Spelling reform - Phonetic changes

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The x was pronounced like an English sh sound (voiceless postalveolar fricative) in mediaeval times—{{IPA|/kiˈʃote/}} in the International Phonetic Alphabet—and this is reflected in the French name Don Quichotte. However, such words (now virtually all spelt with a j) are now pronounced as a voiceless velar fricative sound like the Scottish or German ch (as in Loch, Bach) or the Greek Chi (?)—{{IPA|/kiˈxote/}}. English speakers generally attempt something close to the modern Spanish pronunciation when saying Quixote/Quijote, although more Anglicized pronunciations of "Don Quixote" often sound more like "Donkey Hotey" or "Don Quicks Oat" or even "Donk Quitz Olt.

Related Topics:
Voiceless postalveolar fricative - International Phonetic Alphabet - Voiceless velar fricative - Scottish - German - Greek

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~