Understanding Syllables & Stress in Spanish Words
It’s not difficult to know for sure when and where to use accent marks
on Spanish words. Follow these simple rules and good practices!
Rule #1: A single consonant coming between two vowels stays with the following vowel.
Ex.: famoso
*Rule #2: Two consonants coming together are usually separated.
Ex. doctor
*If the second of two consonants is “r” or “l,” the consonants are
NOT separated.
Ex.: padre
I. Define the following words.
II. Re-write, dividing the following Spanish words into syllables, using Rule #1 and the method we practiced in class.
1) comico 7) calle
2) favorito 8) una
3) oficina 9) llave
4) camino 10) mariposa
5) ella 11) casino
6) esa 12) comedor
13) vecino
III. Define the following words.
IV. Use Rule #2 to re-write and divide the following Spanish words into syllables.
1) doctor 9) contrario
2) donde 10) entrada
3) tinta 11) fantasma
4) padre 12) arte
5) libro 13) alumno
6) posible 14) artista
7) campo 15) escuela
8) mantilla
Rule #3 pertains to vowels. In Spanish there are two categories of vowels: strong (s) and weak (w).
Strong vowels=a, e, o
Weak vowels=i, u
When two vowels come together in a Spanish word, they are
are called a “dipthong.” Each dipthong will be made up of:
ss (a strong and a strong) =two syllables
ws (an accented weak and a strong) = two syllables
ww( a weak and a weak) =one syllable
ws (a weak and a strong) =one syllable
Ex. leer=ss=two syllables Ex. Luis=ww=one syllable
Ex. María=ws=two syllables Ex. contrario=ws=one syllable
V. Rule #5: Natural stress in Spanish words finds that:
* MOST Spanish words that end in a VOWEL, N, or S, stress
naturally on the NEXT –TO-THE-LAST –SYLLABLE.
Ex. vecino=ve-ci-no>When pronounced, the stress can be heard
on the next to the last syllable, agreeing with
the rule; therefore, no written accent is needed.
Ex. periodico=pe-rio-di-co> When pronounced, the stress
cannot be heard on the next to the
last syllable, NOT AGREEING WITH
THE RULE; therefore a written accent
is needed on the syllable where the
stress is heard, in this case, the
second syllable in the word, “rio.”
An accent makes this syllable makes
the word agree with its pronunciation
with its pronunciation: pe-rió-di-co.
**MOST Spanish words that end in ANY OTHER CONSONANT,
stress naturally on the LAST- SYLLABLE.
Ex. español=es-pa-ñol> When pronounced, the stress can be heard
on the last syllable, agreeing with the rule
for most Spanish words; therefore, no
written accent is needed.
Ex. lapiz=la-piz> When pronounced, the stress cannot be heard on the
last syllable, NOT AGREEING WITH
RULE; therefore, a written accent is needed on
the syllable where the stress is heard, in this case,
the next to the last syllable, “la.” An accent on this
syllable makes the word agree with its pronunciation:
lá-piz.