SPELLING 'Q'

1. The digraph <qu> sounds /kw/ in the following cases:

  

- before the vowels <a>, <o>

Sequaç, sequoia, quòrum. etc.

  

- before the vowels <e>, <i>, but by means of the dieresis <qü>

qüestió, aqüífera,  etc.

2. The digraph <qu> with <e>, <i> sounds /k/:

Requerir, que, qui, aquí,  etc.

3. There some cases in which /kw/ is represented by means of <cu>:

Cuidar, evacuar, etc.

4. The digraph <qu> is never used at the end of a word. For the final sound /k/, the consonant <c> is used instead (comp. SPELLING: ‘C’)

Antic, Vic, joc, etc.

5. Therefore, the phonic series with /k/ is represented:

ca, que, qui, co, cu

6. Instead, the phonic series with /kw/ is represented:

qua, qüe, qüi, quo