Spanish Word Stress Rules and Written Accents

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What you'll be able to do

• ✓Count the syllables in a written Spanish word.
• ✓Predict word stress using the final letter.
• ✓Follow a written accent when it overrides the usual stress rules.
• ✓Read an unfamiliar word aloud with its stress in the right place.

From spelling to stress

Stress is the extra strength given to one syllable in a word. In hola, the first syllable is stressed. In adiós, the final syllable is stressed.

English spelling often gives you little help with stress. Spanish spelling is more predictable. Once you can count the syllables, two rules cover the normal patterns, and a written accent shows you when to override them.

A written accent sits over a vowel, but the whole syllable containing that vowel is stressed.

Count the syllables first

For the combinations here, the vowels a, e and o are called strong, while i and u are called weak. These labels describe how vowels group into syllables. They do not identify the stressed syllable.

A weak vowel beside another vowel usually shares its syllable. The u and e share bue in bueno, while the final i and a share lia in familia. Two weak vowels can also share a syllable, as the i and u do in ciudad.

A written accent on a weak vowel can separate the vowels. That is why país divides into pa-ís. In examen, the single consonant between vowels begins the following syllable, giving e-xa-men.

The Vowel, N or S Rule

The Vowel, N or S Rule says that a word ending in a vowel, n or s normally has stress on its second-to-last syllable.

In a two-syllable word such as casa, the second-to-last syllable is the first one. In the three-syllable word hablamos, it is the middle syllable.

Not every stressed syllable carries a written accent. These words follow the normal rule, so they do not need one.

The Other Consonants Rule

The Other Consonants Rule says that a word ending in a consonant other than n or s normally has stress on its last syllable.

That places the stress at the end of hablar, español and ciudad. These words also follow their normal rule, so no written accent is required.

Follow the written accent

A written accent takes priority over both ending rules. Stress the syllable containing the marked vowel, even when the final letter would normally predict something else.

For example, the vowel ending of café would normally give second-to-last stress. The accent instead marks the final syllable. The final l of fácil would normally give last-syllable stress, but its accent marks the first syllable.

In teléfono, the normal vowel-ending rule would stress fo. The accent instead places the stress on lé.

Another job for the accent

An accent can also distinguish two words that otherwise have the same spelling. Sí means yes, while si means if.

Both words have one syllable, so there is no choice between syllables. Here the accent distinguishes meaning rather than moving the stress.

Read an unfamiliar word

To read a new word, count its syllables and inspect the final letter. Use the Vowel, N or S Rule or the Other Consonants Rule, then let any written accent override your prediction.

The vowel endings in zapato and ventana give second-to-last stress. The final consonants in animal and profesor give last-syllable stress. Final s returns zapatos to the second-to-last pattern.

The words

casa

house / homeThe vowel ending places the stress on the first syllable.

coche

carThe vowel ending places the stress on the first syllable.

lunes

MondayFinal s places the stress on the first syllable.

hablar

to speak / to talkFinal r places the stress on the last syllable.

español

SpanishFinal l places the stress on the last syllable.

ciudad

cityIt has two syllables, ciu-dad; the final d gives last-syllable stress.

café

coffeeThe written accent marks the final syllable as stressed.

inglés

EnglishThe written accent overrides the normal pattern for an s ending.

teléfono

telephone / phoneThe written accent marks the second of four syllables as stressed.

música

musicThe written accent marks the first syllable as stressed.

la sílaba

the syllableA recognition term used when discussing the parts of a word.

sí

yesThe accent distinguishes this one-syllable word from si.

si

ifWithout the accent, these letters have a different meaning.

Practice

Type or choose your answer; each one is checked as you go.