1. Sílabas, Acentos, y Diptongos
(Syllables, Accents, and Dipthongs)

2. Syllables
cla-se
sá-ba-do
mú-si-ca
Ma-ris-cos
Fres-co
En-cien-do
Par-que
Can-tan-te
In Spanish, you divide words into syllables after a vowel sound or between most double consonants. Listen to and say these words:

3. Sílabas cont…
However, you do not separate most combinations of a consonant followed by an “L” or “R”.
Do-ble
Re-fres-cos
In-gre-dien-tes
Vi-na-gre

4. Strong Vowels
The strong vowels in Spanish are “A”, “E”, and “O”. When two strong vowels appear together, each is pronounced individually forming two syllables.
Pa-e-lla
Tra-e-mos
Fe-o
To-a-lla
Hé-ro-e

5. Weak vowels or Sticky vowels
The vowels “I” and “U” are weak vowels or sometimes called “sticky vowels”. When there is a two vowel combination and one of the letters is a sticky vowel, then the two vowels stick together and form one syllable sound.

6. THESE ARE CALLED DIPTHONGS
Sticky Vowels “I”
ai or ia - farmacia
ei or ie - seis
oi or io - violín
ui or iu
THESE ARE CALLED DIPTHONGS

7. Sticky Vowels “U” au or ua –auto agua eu or ue –eugenia, que iu or ui-
ou or uo
THESE ARE ALSO CALLED DIPTHONGS

8. Accents
The pronunciation of a word in Spanish is determined by the last letter of the word

9. Regla #1
If a word ends in a vowel, the letter “s” or the letter “n”, then the strong syllable is on the 2nd to the last syllable.
La piscina
El centro
Estudioso
gracioso

10. Regla #2
If a word ends in any other consonant (besides s and n) then the stressed syllable is the last syllable.
Comunidad
Profesor
Papel
reloj
festival

11. When do you have to write the accent?
When the pronunciation of the word is contrary to rule #1 or rule #2, you have to write in the accent mark.
Rule #1 Rule #2
Plátano lápiz
Patín fútbol
Cómodo césped

12. Listen to the word and tell me if you need to write in an a
Payaso
Ciudad
Abrigo
Zapato
Camisa
Papel
Amigo
primavera
Articulo
Detras
Aqui
Almacen
Magnifico
Leccion
Publico
Limite

13. Answers Payaso Ciudad Abrigo Zapato Camisa Papel Amigo primavera
Artículo
Detrás
Aquí
Almacén
Magnífico
Público
Límite

14. Dipthongs and Accents
When you want to divide a dipthong (or unstick a sticky vowel, then write an accent over the weak vowel of the dipthong.
panería
Alegría
leíste

15. Another purpose for Accents
Accents are also used to distinguish words
si, sí
el, él
mas, más
mi, mí
se, sé