Las Reglas de Pronunciación
Rules of Pronunciation
1. THE EXCEPTION TO THE RULE:
IF THE WORD HAS A “WRITTEN” ACCENT MARK IN A SYLLABLE,
then THAT IS WHERE THE STRESS IS.
Ejemplo #1: lá piz = LAH-peece (plural: lápices = LAH-peeh-sehs)
Ejemplo #2: ma te má ti cas =
Ejemplo #3: bio lo gí a =
mah-teh-MAH-teeh-cahs
byoh-loh-HEEH-ah
2. THE MAIN RULE -- The rule that’s in play MOST of the time
BECAUSE most words don’t have ACCENT MARKS:
If a word DOES NOT CONTAIN a written accent, then the stress
can ONLY fall on one of two places in the word. EITHER THE...
a. LAST SYLLABLE = if the word ends in a consonant other than 'n' or 's'
(usually will be one of the following: c, d, j, l, r, z)
Ejemplo #1: car na val = cahr-nah-VAHL
Ejemplo #2: tra ba jar = trah-bah-HAHR
Ejemplo #3: re loj = reh – LOH (breathy end to this syllable)
b. NEXT – TO – LAST SYLLABLE = if the word ends in a vowel, n, or s
(meaning, if the word ends in a, e, i, o, u, n, OR s)
Ejemplo #1: me sa = MEH – sah
Ejemplo #2: cal cu la do ra = cahl – cooh – lah – DOH – rah
Ejemplo #3: mon ta ña = mohn – TAH – nyah