What is yeísmo and where is it common
Yesmo, more accurately called “yeísmo,” is a linguistic phenomenon in Spanish where the traditional distinct pronunciation of the sounds represented by the letters ⟨ll⟩ (palatal lateral approximant /ʎ/) and ⟨y⟩ (palatal approximant /ʝ/) merges into a single sound, typically pronounced like the English “y” in “yes.” This means that words that used to have different sounds for ⟨ll⟩ and ⟨y⟩ are now pronounced the same. Yeísmo is present in over 90% of Spanish speakers worldwide. 1, 2
Where Yeísmo is Common
Yeísmo is dominant throughout most of Latin America, including countries such as Chile, Argentina, Uruguay, Mexico, Central America, Ecuador, Colombia, Venezuela, and parts of Peru. It is also increasingly common across Spain, especially in metropolitan areas and among younger speakers. However, some regions resist yeísmo and maintain the distinction, particularly in areas where Spanish coexists with indigenous or regional languages, like parts of the Andes in Ecuador, Peru, and Bolivia, as well as in northeastern Argentina and some regions in Spain where there is linguistic contact with Catalan and Basque. 2, 1
Variations of Yeísmo
In parts of Argentina and Uruguay, yeísmo can be pronounced with a “sh” or “zh” sound, referred to as “sheísmo” and “zheísmo,” respectively, showing regional accents within the phenomenon. 1, 2
Yeísmo eliminates the traditional difference which used to distinguish words such as “haya” (there is) and “halla” (finds), causing them to be pronounced the same in yeísta dialects.
In summary, yeísmo is a widespread feature in modern Spanish pronunciation, common in Latin America and growing in Spain, marking a linguistic trend toward phonetic simplification in everyday speech.