Pronunciation Lesson 15

Emphasis

Written Accents:

If the pronunciation of a word does not follow the rules taught in Lesson 14, it needs a written accent to indicate how it will be pronounced. This often happens on words that have their emphasis prior to the second-last syllable:

  • Teléfono
  • Águila
  • Éxito
  • Jóvenes
  • Exámenes

There are also many words that use a written accent to that the emphasis will fall to the last syllable, even though it ends with a vowel or an N.

  • Avión
  • Marrón
  • Bailarín
  • Café
  • Colibrí

Listen to the above words carefully and repeat them:

Adding or dropping when plural:

When a word is made plural, the emphasis needs to stay were it originally was. Some words need an accent in the singular form to get the emphasis in the right place, but then when the word is made plural, the accent is no longer necessary. This most often happens with words ending in ón.

  • Avión, aviones
  • Canción, canciones
  • Varón, varones
  • Interés, intereses

Sometimes the opposite happens; a word is fine without an accent, but then the S or ES of the plural form wants to move the emphasis. A written accent prevents this.

  • Joven, jóvenes
  • Examen, exámenes
  • Crimen, crímenes

Again, listen and repeat.

Practice Sentences

You will hear each of the following sentences twice; listen carefully! After the second time, repeat what you heard. You will hear it once more, and say it once more.

Los mamíferos en la fábrica tienen un motín.

(The mammals in the factory have a munity.)

 

El varón daltónico busca los jóvenes con un quinqué.

(The colorblind man looks for the youths with an oil lamp.)