AccentsAccents

Guidelines for Placing Written Guidelines for Placing Written Accents in SpanishAccents in Spanish

Acento prosódicoAcento prosódico

AllAll Spanish words of more than one syllable Spanish words of more than one syllable have one syllable that is stressed more than have one syllable that is stressed more than the others, in pronunciation. This is called the others, in pronunciation. This is called acento prosódico (oral accent). acento prosódico (oral accent). No written No written symbol is required to indicate this stress.symbol is required to indicate this stress.

e.ge.g. lago. lago (In pronouncing this word, the (In pronouncing this word, the syllable syllable lala is stressed more than the syllable is stressed more than the syllable go,go, and no written symbol is required to and no written symbol is required to indicate this stress)indicate this stress)

Acento ortográficoAcento ortográfico

SomeSome Spanish words also require a written Spanish words also require a written accent over the accent over the vowelvowel of the syllable with the of the syllable with the greatest stress. This is called greatest stress. This is called acento acento ortográfico (written accent). This accent is ortográfico (written accent). This accent is indicated in writing with the following indicated in writing with the following symbol: symbol: ´́

e.g. e.g. música música (In writing this word the (In writing this word the ´ ´ must be must be placed over the placed over the uu, in the syllable with greatest , in the syllable with greatest stress, stress, mu.mu.

N.B. Not all words carry a written accent.N.B. Not all words carry a written accent.

Words that do not require a Words that do not require a written accent (acento written accent (acento

ortográfico)ortográfico) The majority of words in Spanish The majority of words in Spanish do not requiredo not require a written accent. a written accent.

The words that The words that do not carrydo not carry a written accent can be put into three a written accent can be put into three groups, as follows:groups, as follows:

Words with Words with more than one syllablemore than one syllable that end in a that end in a vowevowel or l or nn or or s s ANDAND are stressed on the are stressed on the second-to-last syllable.second-to-last syllable.

e.g. e.g. mañana, casi, decide, necesito, ventanas, escribenmañana, casi, decide, necesito, ventanas, escriben

Words with Words with more than one syllablemore than one syllable that end in a that end in a consonant,consonant, other other than n or sthan n or s, , ANDAND are stressed on the are stressed on the last syllablelast syllable..

e.g. e.g. popular, eficaz, contestar, felicidad, Marisolpopular, eficaz, contestar, felicidad, Marisol

Words with Words with only only one syllableone syllable (with a few exceptions). (with a few exceptions). e.g. e.g. yo, es, en, al, del, con, sal, haz, viyo, es, en, al, del, con, sal, haz, vi

Words that require a written Words that require a written accent (acento ortográfico)accent (acento ortográfico)

Spanish words that require a written accent can Spanish words that require a written accent can be put into four different groups, as follows:be put into four different groups, as follows:

1.Exceptions to guidelines 1 and 2, above:1.Exceptions to guidelines 1 and 2, above: Words that end in a Words that end in a vowevowel or l or nn or or s s BUTBUT are are

NOT STRESSEDNOT STRESSED on the on the second-to-last second-to-last syllable;syllable; e.g. e.g. Panamá, encontró, compré, colibrí, tabú, Panamá, encontró, compré, colibrí, tabú,

jamás, jardín, médico, fantásticasjamás, jardín, médico, fantásticas Words that end in a Words that end in a consonant,consonant, other than n other than n

or sor s, , BUTBUT are are NOT STRESSEDNOT STRESSED on the on the last last syllable.syllable. e.g. e.g. árbol, azúcar, lápiz, cárcelárbol, azúcar, lápiz, cárcel

Words that require a written Words that require a written accent (continued)accent (continued)

2.2. Words with stressed weak vowels in Words with stressed weak vowels in hiatushiatus.. (Hiatus: The separation of a weak vowel (i or u) (Hiatus: The separation of a weak vowel (i or u)

so so as to form a separate syllable in what would as to form a separate syllable in what would otherwise be a diphthongs or a triphthong.)otherwise be a diphthongs or a triphthong.)

Note: A diphthong is a combination of a weak Note: A diphthong is a combination of a weak vowel (i or u) and a strong vowel (a, e, or o), or two vowel (i or u) and a strong vowel (a, e, or o), or two weak vowels in the same syllable.weak vowels in the same syllable.

A triphthong is a combination of two weak A triphthong is a combination of two weak vowels vowels and a strong vowel in the same syllable.and a strong vowel in the same syllable.

e.g. oír, reír, sociología, Raúl, continúoe.g. oír, reír, sociología, Raúl, continúo

Words that require a written Words that require a written accent (continued)accent (continued)

3.3. Some words with similar spelling but Some words with similar spelling but different meaning or grammatical different meaning or grammatical function. function.

Note: Most of these words are Note: Most of these words are monosyllables and are the exceptions monosyllables and are the exceptions referred to above. referred to above.

e.g. e.g. elel (the) and (the) and élél (he or him), (he or him), si si (if) (if) and and sísí (yes), (yes), tutu (your) and (your) and tútú (you) (you)

Words that require a written Words that require a written accent (continued)accent (continued)

4.4. The words The words que, cual, quien, cuan, que, cual, quien, cuan, cuanto, como, cuando, cuanto, como, cuando, andand donde donde when they introduce interrogative or when they introduce interrogative or exclamatory expressions.exclamatory expressions.

e.g. e.g. ¡Qué susto!¡Qué susto! ¿Cómo estás?¿Cómo estás? ¿Cuánto cuesta?¿Cuánto cuesta?

Final notes Final notes

Written accents are always placed over vowels, Written accents are always placed over vowels, NEVER NEVER over consonants. (The over consonants. (The tilde in the tilde in the ññ is not an accent mark.) is not an accent mark.)

No word can have more than one written accent.No word can have more than one written accent.

When the stressed syllable of a word requires a written accent and the stressed When the stressed syllable of a word requires a written accent and the stressed syllable contains a diphthong, the accent is placed over the second weak vowel syllable contains a diphthong, the accent is placed over the second weak vowel (if the diphthong consists of two weak vowels) and over the strong vowel (if the (if the diphthong consists of two weak vowels) and over the strong vowel (if the diphthong consists of a weak vowel and a strong vowel).diphthong consists of a weak vowel and a strong vowel).

e.g. cuídate, péinate, abrió, coméis, comunicación, comprensióne.g. cuídate, péinate, abrió, coméis, comunicación, comprensión

All words ending in All words ending in ionion carry a written accent over the carry a written accent over the oo, but lose the accent , but lose the accent when when eses is added to make them plural. is added to make them plural.

e.g. canción, nación, impresión, e.g. canción, nación, impresión, BUTBUT canciones, naciones impresiones canciones, naciones impresiones

All words that have a stressed syllable occurring before the second-to –last All words that have a stressed syllable occurring before the second-to –last syllable must carry a written accent over the stressed syllable.syllable must carry a written accent over the stressed syllable.

e.g. pronóstico, cómprateloe.g. pronóstico, cómpratelo