1. Word Stress in Spanish Which sylLAble gets the emPHAsis?

2. Rule #1 The stress falls on the second-to-last syllable (penultimate) The stress falls on the second-to-last syllable (penultimate)Examples: habla, casa, bonita, come, vive, hable, clase, base, … UNLESS…

3. Rule #2 If the word ends with a consonant (except n and s), the stress is on the last syllable (ultimate). If the word ends with a consonant (except n and s), the stress is on the last syllable (ultimate).Examples: verdad, reloj, caracol, hablar, atroz Also, certain vowel combinations: mamey, carey, convoy, Garay, Abreu BUT…

4. Rule #3 If there is a written accent, that syllable gets stressed. It may be the third-to-last (antepenultimate) or it may break Rule #1 or #2. If there is a written accent, that syllable gets stressed. It may be the third-to-last (antepenultimate) or it may break Rule #1 or #2.Examples: fonética, régimen, análisis, histórico, múltiple, plátano, …, hablábamos, comíamos, … escríbemela, láveselo, regalársenoslo, …

5. In summary 1. Words ending in a single vowel letter or the consonant letter n or s are stressed on the penultimate syllable. 2. Words ending in a consonant letter other than n or s or ending in a vowel combination such as ey or ao are stressed on the last syllable. 3. Words that do not follow the first two rules must bear a written accent.

6. Sources Hammond, R.M. (2001).The Sounds of Spanish: Analysis and Application, 300-306. http://www.cascadilla.com/ssaa/index.htmlhttp://www.cascadilla.com/ssaa/index.html (recordings) http://www.cascadilla.com/ssaa/index.html