The Spanish alphabet, derived from the Latin, contains 27 letters. While ‘w’ is included, it is not traditionally considered a Spanish letter. Its appearance is primarily limited to loanwords, particularly from English and German, and proper nouns from other languages. Examples include “whisky” (whiskey), “waterpolo” (water polo), and “Wagner” (the composer’s surname).
The inclusion of these terms reflects the evolving nature of language and the increasing interconnectedness of global cultures. Borrowing words allows Spanish speakers to incorporate new concepts and technologies, enriching the language while also presenting unique linguistic challenges, such as pronunciation and grammatical integration. Historically, the ‘w’ was absent from the Spanish lexicon, highlighting a shift in language influenced by global communication.