Pronunciation Lesson 16

Accents

Differentiation:

Sometimes an accent is used to tell apart two words that would otherwise look identical. Often the pronunciation is not changed at all, while the meaning is. For example, the accent on the following words makes no audible difference:

  • (I know), Se (reflexive pronoun)
  • (yes), Si (if)
  • (tea), Te (object pronoun)
  • (you), Tu (your)

Meaning & Pronunciation:

Sometimes the written accent will change the meaning and the pronunciation, as in the following words.

  • Papa (potato), Papá (Dad)
  • Esta (this), Está (is)
  • Bebe (drinks), Bebé (baby)

Please listen and repeat:

Practice Sentences

Repeat each sentence after you hear it. After saying all of the sentences, do the activity once more.

Yo que él se duerme.

(I know that he falls asleep.)

haces tu trabajo.

(You do your work.)

Mi papá come la papa.

(My dad eats the potato.)

El bebé bebe la leche.

(The baby drinks milk.)