Silabeo
Spanish words are divided into syllables according to fairly simple rules.
Number of syllables
Spanish words have the same number of syllables as they have diphthongs + vowels, with the exception of the silent U. Here are some examples:
1 syllable | ||||
1 vowel | él | tres | sur | |
1 diphthong | diez | soy | pie | |
2 syllables | ||||
2 vowels | frí·o | pla·to | es·tar | |
1 vowel + 1 diphthong | bai·le | fuer·te | es·toy | |
3 syllables | ||||
3 vowels | de·re·cha | e·xac·to | fe·bre·ro | |
2 vowels + 1 diphthong | cui·da·do | a·bier·to | in·ge·nuo | |
1 vowel + 2 diphthongs | au·xi·liar | die·ci·seis | ||
4 syllables | ||||
4 vowels | car·ni·ce·ro | es·té·re·o | em·ple·a·do | |
3 vowels + 1 diphthong | es·tu·dio·so | eur·o·p·eo | te·le·vi·sión | |
2 vowels + 2 diphthongs | aus·tra·lia·no | |||
etc. |
Spanish Word Division
Spanish syllables are divided as follows:
1. Between two consecutive strong vowels: fe·o
2. Between two consecutive vowels when one is accented: dí·a
3. Between vowel and single consonant: bai·le
4. Between two consecutive consonants: es·tar
a) except when the second one is L or R, in which case the syllable breaks before them: a·trás
5. When there are three consecutive consonants, the syllable usually breaks between the first and second: in·glés
Please note that this lesson is only a guideline for the Spanish that I know, which is Castilian Spanish. There are many regional variations in Spanish pronunciation.
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