Spanish pronunciation

Start by finding the stressed syllable. Spanish accent marks often show where that stress falls, while a few marks distinguish words with different grammatical jobs. The first pronunciation lesson teaches you to connect spelling, rhythm, and meaning.

Learn to notice stress

A word can carry stress without containing a written accent. In casa, the first syllable is prominent; in hotel, the last one is. Recognizing that contrast helps you keep a word’s rhythm when you speak it in a sentence. It also makes written accent rules easier to understand.

The accent lesson begins with familiar words and their endings, then adds the cases that simple shortcuts miss. You will compare written forms and think about the role a word plays in its sentence. A stress studio lets you choose syllables and check the reasoning.

Practice the whole word, not just the rule

Read the word, find its stressed syllable, then say the whole word smoothly. Avoid inserting a long pause between syllables. The syllable display is a spelling aid, not a phonetic transcription or a substitute for listening to speech.

Look up words in the Loquus Dictionary to hear supported audio and explore their meaning. Keep the correct spelling with the pronunciation. When you meet an accented word, notice the mark before guessing from the ending.

Turn recognition into a new example

After you can identify a pattern, use it. Compare qué with que in a question and in a linking clause, or tú with tu when talking about a person and that person’s belongings. Explain which meaning you intend before checking the written form.

This section starts with accent marks and stress. It does not yet cover every Spanish sound or regional accent. Follow the published lesson for a complete explanation of this topic, then connect it with the app’s writing system reference and speaking tools.

Sources

• RAE and ASALE: Diccionario panhispánico de dudas, tilde
• RAE and ASALE: Diccionario panhispánico de dudas, qué
• RAE and ASALE: Diccionario panhispánico de dudas, tú
• Universitat Oberta de Catalunya: Acentuación gráfica
• Instituto Cervantes: Plan curricular, Ortografía, A1 and A2
• Instituto Cervantes: Plan curricular, Pronunciación y prosodia, B1 and B2
• RAE and ASALE: Diccionario panhispánico de dudas, acento
• RAE and ASALE: Diccionario panhispánico de dudas, hiato
• RAE and ASALE: Diccionario panhispánico de dudas, que
• RAE and ASALE: Diccionario panhispánico de dudas, mayúsculas
• RAE and ASALE: Diccionario panhispánico de dudas, plural
• RAE and ASALE: Diccionario de la lengua española, hablar