SPN2 / Instructor: Gonzalo Díaz-Letelier

Department of Spanish, University of California Riverside

ACCENTUATION RULES

DEFINITIONS:

Accent (acento): to stress a syllable of the word, pronouncing it with a greater intensity or a tone
higher than the others.

Accent mark (tilde): graphic sign that is written on a letter to mark the accent in the word.

TYPES OF WORDS ACCORDING TO ACCENTUATION:

Sharp words (palabras agudas): the voice is stressed on the first syllable –from the end towards
the beginning of the word. Ejemplos: tiburón (shark), inspeccionar (to inspect), lloverá (it will rain).

Plain words (palabras graves o llanas): the voice is stressed on the second syllable –from the end
towards the beginning of the word. Ejemplos: lápiz (pencil), amable (gentle), cantante (singer).

Esdrújulas words (palabras esdrújulas): the voice is stressed on the third syllable –from the end
towards the beginning of the word. Ejemplos: Sábado (Saturday), matemáticas (methematics),
América (America), comiéndolo (eating it).

Sobredrújulas words (palabras sobreesdrújulas): the voice is stressed on the fourth syllable –from
the end towards the beginning of the word. Ejemplos: espontáneamente (spontaneously),
fácilmente (easily), cómpramelo (buy it for me).

REGLAS GENERALES:

Sharp words (palabras agudas): are marked with tilde if they end in a vowel, N, or S. Examples:
ella habló (she spoke), inglés (English), andén (platform).

Plain words (palabras graves o llanas): are marked with tilde if they do not end in a vowel, N, or
S. Examples: ángel (angel), árbol (tree), azúcar (sugar).

Esdrújulas words (palabras esdrújulas): all are marked with tilde. Examples: antibiótico
(antibiotic), plástico (plastic), clásico (classic).

Sobredrújulas words (palabras sobreesdrújulas): all are marked with tilde. Examples:
rápidamente (quickly), específicamente (specifically), entrégamelo (give it to me).