Voiceless Alveopalatal Fricative of Northwestern Mexican Spanish

The voiceless alveopalatal fricative does not occur in most varieties of Spanish. However, it does occur in the Spanish of northwestern Mexico. It is used instead of the voiceless alveopalatal affricate.

The following words are pronounced with a voiceless alveopalatal fricative in the Spanish of northwestern Mexico:

champú (shampoo)

cheque (cheque)

chocolate (chocolate)

cuchillo (knife)

cuchara (spoon)

leche (milk)

lechuga (lettuce)

noche (night)

ocho (eight)

techo (roof)

The Spanish of northwestern Mexico has the alveopalatal voiceless fricative of English. In northwestern Mexico, the word champú sounds similar to the English word shampoo. In other parts of Mexico, the voiceless alveopalatal affricate is used.