What is the difference between and in Spanish?

The difference between "y" and "e" in Spanish depends on the context:

"Y" is used as the conjunction "and". It connects two words or phrases, similar to how "and" is used in English.

Examples:

* El gato y el perro (The cat and the dog)

* Quiero comer pizza y helado (I want to eat pizza and ice cream)

* Vengo de España y de Italia (I come from Spain and Italy)

"E" is used as the conjunction "and" when the following word starts with "i" or "hi". This is a grammatical rule to avoid a harsh sound.

Examples:

* El gato e Irene (The cat and Irene)

* Quiero comer pizza e ir al cine (I want to eat pizza and go to the movies)

* Vengo de España e Italia (I come from Spain and Italy)

Note: In some cases, "y" is used even before "i" or "hi" if the following word is a proper noun or has an accent on the first syllable. For example, "y el Imperio Romano" (and the Roman Empire), "y el Himalaya" (and the Himalayas).

It's important to remember that "e" is a very specific case and is only used when the word following "and" starts with "i" or "hi". In all other cases, you should use "y".