# Spelling change -ger/-gir: protejo, elijo

> id: conjugation.present.spelling-ger-gir · category: conjugation · depth: standard · levels: B1 · review: internally_reviewed

**Summary.** Verbs in -ger/-gir write j instead of g before a and o, to keep the soft sound: proteger → protejo, elegir → elijo.

In Spanish spelling, g sounds soft (like j) before e and i, but hard before a, o, u. Verbs in -ger/-gir keep their soft sound in every form, so the letter changes to j whenever the ending starts with a or o: protejo, proteja; dirijo, dirija.

This is purely orthographic — the pronunciation never changes. Only the yo form of the present indicative and the whole present subjunctive are affected.

Elegir stacks this on top of an e → i stem change: elijo, eliges, elige... elijamos.

## Examples
- Protejo mis datos personales. — I protect my personal data.
- Elijo la segunda opción. — I choose the second option.
- Dirige una empresa familiar. — He runs a family business. *(No change: ending starts with e.)*

Related: conjugation.preterite.spelling-car-gar-zar, conjugation.present.stem-e-i

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