Llismo

Llismo is a term used in Spanish linguistics to describe the set of phonetic realizations associated with the digraph “ll” in various Spanish varieties and its interaction with the pronunciation of “y.” The term is less standardized than more widely used labels such as yeísmo and lleísmo, but it appears in dialect surveys and phonological descriptions as a way to discuss how the ll-y system is realized across regions.

Phonetic realization standards associated with llismo vary. In dialects that preserve a contrast between ll and y, ll is commonly realized as a palatal lateral approximant [ʎ], while y may be realized as [ʝ] or another close palatal sound. In many other dialects, especially those described as yeísmo, ll and y merge to a single sound, typically [ʝ] or an affricate/fricative variant, leading to the loss of the ll-y distinction. Some regional varieties also show more complex realizations, including fricative sh-like or zh-like sounds for these graphemes in what are sometimes called zheísmo or sheísmo patterns.

Geographically, llismo has historical relevance in parts of Spain and various Latin American regions where a distinction between ll and y persisted longer, though the worldwide trend in the modern era has been toward yeísmo. The concept assists researchers in describing regional speech patterns without presuming a single, uniform pronunciation for all Spanish speakers.

See also: Yeísmo, Lleísmo, Distinción, Palatal sounds.