Spanish conjugation explanation
Rules of stress
<p>In Spanish, every word has one syllable that is emphasized or pronounced more strongly than the others. This is called the <strong>stress</strong> (or <span style="font-style: italic;">acento tónico</span>).</p>
<p>There are two basic rules that determine which syllable naturally receives the stress. If a word follows these rules, it does <strong>not</strong> need a written accent mark. If a word breaks these rules, a written accent mark (<strong>la tilde</strong>) is required to show exactly where the emphasis generally falls.</p>
<div class="conjugation_explanation_title">Rule 1: Words ending in a Vowel, N, or S</div>
<p>If a word ends in a <strong>vowel</strong>, <strong>n</strong>, or <strong>s</strong>, the stress naturally falls on the <strong>second-to-last</strong> (penultimate) syllable.</p>
<ul>
<li>
<div class="conjugation_explanation_example_sentence">ca-sa (<span style="font-style: italic;">house</span>)</div>
<div class="conjugation_explanation_example_sentence_note">Ends in a vowel → stress naturally falls on <span class="green_emphasis">ca</span>.</div>
</li>
<li>
<div class="conjugation_explanation_example_sentence">jo-ven (<span style="font-style: italic;">young</span>)</div>
<div class="conjugation_explanation_example_sentence_note">Ends in <strong>n</strong> → stress naturally falls on <span class="green_emphasis">jo</span>.</div>
</li>
<li>
<div class="conjugation_explanation_example_sentence">lu-nes (<span style="font-style: italic;">Monday</span>)</div>
<div class="conjugation_explanation_example_sentence_note">Ends in <strong>s</strong> → stress naturally falls on <span class="green_emphasis">lu</span>.</div>
</li>
</ul>
<p>Most conjugations in the
<a class="conjugation_explanation_link_intext" href="/study/tenseGuideForTense/14/" target="_blank">Present Indicative</a>
follow this rule (e.g., <span style="font-style: italic;">hablo, comes, viven</span>).</p><div class="conjugation_explanation_title">Rule 2: Words ending in other Consonants</div>
<p>If a word ends in a <strong>consonant</strong> (other than <strong>n</strong> or <strong>s</strong>), the stress naturally falls on the <strong>last</strong> syllable. This includes all verbs in the
<a class="conjugation_explanation_link_intext" href="/study/tenseGuideForTense/58/" target="_blank">Infinitive</a>
form (verbs ending in -ar, -er, -ir).</p><ul>
<li>
<div class="conjugation_explanation_example_sentence">ha-blar (<span style="font-style: italic;">to speak</span>)</div>
<div class="conjugation_explanation_example_sentence_note">Ends in <strong>r</strong> → stress naturally falls on <span class="green_emphasis">blar</span>.</div>
</li>
<li>
<div class="conjugation_explanation_example_sentence">pa-pel (<span style="font-style: italic;">paper</span>)</div>
<div class="conjugation_explanation_example_sentence_note">Ends in <strong>l</strong> → stress naturally falls on <span class="green_emphasis">pel</span>.</div>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="conjugation_explanation_title">Breaking the Rules: The Written Accent</div>
<p>If the pronunciation of a word does <strong>not</strong> follow the two natural stress rules above, an accent mark (<strong>á, é, í, ó, ú</strong>) must be written over the stressed vowel. This tells the reader to "break the rule" and emphasize that syllable.</p>
<p><strong>1. Breaking Rule 1 (Stress on Last):</strong><br /> The word ends in a Vowel, N, or S, but the stress is on the <strong>last</strong> syllable. This is extremely common in the
<a class="conjugation_explanation_link_intext" href="/study/tenseGuideForTense/18/" target="_blank">Preterite tense</a>
and the<a class="conjugation_explanation_link_intext" href="/study/tenseGuideForTense/16/" target="_blank">Future tense</a>
.</p><ul>
<li>
<div class="conjugation_explanation_example_sentence">can-ción (<span style="font-style: italic;">song</span>)</div>
<div class="conjugation_explanation_example_sentence_note">Ends in n, but stress is on <span class="green_emphasis">ción</span>.</div>
</li>
<li>
<div class="conjugation_explanation_example_sentence">ha-bló (<span style="font-style: italic;">he/she spoke</span>)</div>
<div class="conjugation_explanation_example_sentence_note">Ends in vowel, but stress is on <span class="green_emphasis">bló</span>.</div>
</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>2. Breaking Rule 2 (Stress on Penultimate):</strong><br /> The word ends in a consonant (not N or S), but the stress is on the <strong>second-to-last</strong> syllable.</p>
<ul>
<li>
<div class="conjugation_explanation_example_sentence">ár-bol (<span style="font-style: italic;">tree</span>)</div>
<div class="conjugation_explanation_example_sentence_note">Ends in l, but stress is on <span class="green_emphasis">ár</span>.</div>
</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>3. Stress on the Third-to-Last Syllable:</strong><br /> If the stress falls on the <strong>third-to-last</strong> (antepenultimate) syllable, an accent mark is <strong>always</strong> required, regardless of the ending letter.</p>
<ul>
<li>
<div class="conjugation_explanation_example_sentence">mú-si-ca (<span style="font-style: italic;">music</span>)</div>
</li>
<li>
<div class="conjugation_explanation_example_sentence">te-lé-fo-no (<span style="font-style: italic;">telephone</span>)</div>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="conjugation_explanation_title">Importance in Conjugation</div>
<p>In verb conjugations, the written accent is often the only difference between two forms that have completely different meanings. Missing these accents is a frequent mistake that confuses the tense.</p>
<p>Consider the regular verb
<a class="conjugation_explanation_link_intext verb_link" href="/study/conjugations/esp/hablar/" title="Click to see conjugations for hablar" target="_blank">hablar</a>
. A critical distinction exists between the<a class="conjugation_explanation_link_intext" href="/study/tenseGuideForTense/20/" target="_blank">Imperfect Subjunctive</a>
and the<a class="conjugation_explanation_link_intext" href="/study/tenseGuideForTense/16/" target="_blank">Future Indicative</a>
. Both originate from the same root, but the accent mark shifts the stress to the final syllable in the Future tense:</p><p><strong>Imperfect Subjunctive</strong> (Stress on <span class="green_emphasis">la</span>, follows Rule 1):</p>
<div class="study_conjugations_tense_container">
<a class="study_conjugations_tense_label box_label tense_box no_dark_mode " href="/study/tenseGuideForTense/20/" target="_blank" title="Open tense guide">Pretérito imperfecto subjuntivo (ra)</a>
<div class="study_conjugations_conjugation conjugations_table two_columns">
<div class="study_conjugations_forms conjugation_forms">
<div class="conjugation_form">
<span><span class="study_conjugations_pronoun conjugation_pronoun">
yo
</span>hablara
</span>
</div>
</div>
<div class="study_conjugations_forms conjugation_forms">
<div class="conjugation_form">
<span><span class="study_conjugations_pronoun conjugation_pronoun">
tú
</span>hablaras
</span>
</div>
</div>
<div class="study_conjugations_forms conjugation_forms highlighted_conjugation">
<div class="conjugation_form">
<span><span class="study_conjugations_pronoun conjugation_pronoun">
él
</span>hablara
</span>
</div>
</div>
<div class="study_conjugations_forms conjugation_forms">
<div class="conjugation_form">
<span><span class="study_conjugations_pronoun conjugation_pronoun">
nosotros
</span>habláramos
</span>
</div>
</div>
<div class="study_conjugations_forms conjugation_forms">
<div class="conjugation_form">
<span><span class="study_conjugations_pronoun conjugation_pronoun">
vosotros
</span>hablarais
</span>
</div>
</div>
<div class="study_conjugations_forms conjugation_forms">
<div class="conjugation_form">
<span><span class="study_conjugations_pronoun conjugation_pronoun">
ellos
</span>hablaran
</span>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<p><strong>Future Indicative</strong> (Stress on <span class="green_emphasis">rá</span>, breaks Rule 1):</p>
<div class="study_conjugations_tense_container">
<a class="study_conjugations_tense_label box_label tense_box no_dark_mode " href="/study/tenseGuideForTense/16/" target="_blank" title="Open tense guide">Futuro</a>
<div class="study_conjugations_conjugation conjugations_table two_columns">
<div class="study_conjugations_forms conjugation_forms">
<div class="conjugation_form">
<span><span class="study_conjugations_pronoun conjugation_pronoun">
yo
</span>hablaré
</span>
</div>
</div>
<div class="study_conjugations_forms conjugation_forms">
<div class="conjugation_form">
<span><span class="study_conjugations_pronoun conjugation_pronoun">
tú
</span>hablarás
</span>
</div>
</div>
<div class="study_conjugations_forms conjugation_forms highlighted_conjugation">
<div class="conjugation_form">
<span><span class="study_conjugations_pronoun conjugation_pronoun">
él
</span>hablará
</span>
</div>
</div>
<div class="study_conjugations_forms conjugation_forms">
<div class="conjugation_form">
<span><span class="study_conjugations_pronoun conjugation_pronoun">
nosotros
</span>hablaremos
</span>
</div>
</div>
<div class="study_conjugations_forms conjugation_forms">
<div class="conjugation_form">
<span><span class="study_conjugations_pronoun conjugation_pronoun">
vosotros
</span>hablaréis
</span>
</div>
</div>
<div class="study_conjugations_forms conjugation_forms">
<div class="conjugation_form">
<span><span class="study_conjugations_pronoun conjugation_pronoun">
ellos
</span>hablarán
</span>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<p>A similar distinction occurs between the
<a class="conjugation_explanation_link_intext" href="/study/tenseGuideForTense/18/" target="_blank">Preterite</a>
and the<a class="conjugation_explanation_link_intext" href="/study/tenseGuideForTense/14/" target="_blank">Present Indicative</a>
. The Preterite S/3 ending requires an accent because the stress falls on the final 'o'. Without the accent, it is read as the first-person singular of the present tense:</p><p><strong>Preterite</strong> (He/She spoke):</p>
<div class="study_conjugations_tense_container">
<a class="study_conjugations_tense_label box_label tense_box no_dark_mode " href="/study/tenseGuideForTense/18/" target="_blank" title="Open tense guide">Pretérito perfecto simple</a>
<div class="study_conjugations_conjugation conjugations_table two_columns">
<div class="study_conjugations_forms conjugation_forms">
<div class="conjugation_form">
<span><span class="study_conjugations_pronoun conjugation_pronoun">
yo
</span>hablé
</span>
</div>
</div>
<div class="study_conjugations_forms conjugation_forms">
<div class="conjugation_form">
<span><span class="study_conjugations_pronoun conjugation_pronoun">
tú
</span>hablaste
</span>
</div>
</div>
<div class="study_conjugations_forms conjugation_forms highlighted_conjugation">
<div class="conjugation_form">
<span><span class="study_conjugations_pronoun conjugation_pronoun">
él
</span>habló
</span>
</div>
</div>
<div class="study_conjugations_forms conjugation_forms">
<div class="conjugation_form">
<span><span class="study_conjugations_pronoun conjugation_pronoun">
nosotros
</span>hablamos
</span>
</div>
</div>
<div class="study_conjugations_forms conjugation_forms">
<div class="conjugation_form">
<span><span class="study_conjugations_pronoun conjugation_pronoun">
vosotros
</span>hablasteis
</span>
</div>
</div>
<div class="study_conjugations_forms conjugation_forms">
<div class="conjugation_form">
<span><span class="study_conjugations_pronoun conjugation_pronoun">
ellos
</span>hablaron
</span>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<p><strong>Present Indicative</strong> (I speak):</p>
<div class="study_conjugations_tense_container">
<a class="study_conjugations_tense_label box_label tense_box no_dark_mode " href="/study/tenseGuideForTense/14/" target="_blank" title="Open tense guide">Presente</a>
<div class="study_conjugations_conjugation conjugations_table two_columns">
<div class="study_conjugations_forms conjugation_forms highlighted_conjugation">
<div class="conjugation_form">
<span><span class="study_conjugations_pronoun conjugation_pronoun">
yo
</span>hablo
</span>
</div>
</div>
<div class="study_conjugations_forms conjugation_forms">
<div class="conjugation_form">
<span><span class="study_conjugations_pronoun conjugation_pronoun">
tú
</span>hablas
</span>
</div>
</div>
<div class="study_conjugations_forms conjugation_forms">
<div class="conjugation_form">
<span><span class="study_conjugations_pronoun conjugation_pronoun">
él
</span>habla
</span>
</div>
</div>
<div class="study_conjugations_forms conjugation_forms">
<div class="conjugation_form">
<span><span class="study_conjugations_pronoun conjugation_pronoun">
nosotros
</span>hablamos
</span>
</div>
</div>
<div class="study_conjugations_forms conjugation_forms">
<div class="conjugation_form">
<span><span class="study_conjugations_pronoun conjugation_pronoun">
vosotros
</span>habláis
</span>
</div>
</div>
<div class="study_conjugations_forms conjugation_forms">
<div class="conjugation_form">
<span><span class="study_conjugations_pronoun conjugation_pronoun">
ellos
</span>hablan
</span>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="conjugation_explanation_title">Irregular Stress Patterns</div>
<p>For some verbs, you must be careful with apparent "rules." The verb
<a class="conjugation_explanation_link_intext verb_link" href="/study/conjugations/esp/estar/" title="Click to see conjugations for estar" target="_blank">estar</a>
has irregular stress marks in the present tense. Although forms like <span style="font-style: italic;">estás</span> and <span style="font-style: italic;">están</span> end in <strong>s</strong> or <strong>n</strong>, the stress falls on the last syllable. Because this breaks Rule 1, accent marks are required on the <strong>a</strong>. See<a class="conjugation_explanation_link_intext" href="/conjugationExplanation/spanish_estar_stress_marks/" target="_blank">estar stress marks</a>
for more details.</p><div class="study_conjugations_tense_container">
<a class="study_conjugations_tense_label box_label tense_box no_dark_mode " href="/study/tenseGuideForTense/14/" target="_blank" title="Open tense guide">Presente</a>
<div class="study_conjugations_conjugation conjugations_table two_columns">
<div class="study_conjugations_forms conjugation_forms">
<div class="conjugation_form">
<span><span class="study_conjugations_pronoun conjugation_pronoun">
yo
</span><span class="irregular_conjugation" title="irregular conjugation">estoy<span class="irregularity_circle">●</span></span></span>
</div>
</div>
<div class="study_conjugations_forms conjugation_forms highlighted_conjugation">
<div class="conjugation_form">
<span><span class="study_conjugations_pronoun conjugation_pronoun">
tú
</span><span class="irregular_conjugation" title="irregular conjugation">estás<span class="irregularity_circle">●</span></span></span>
</div>
</div>
<div class="study_conjugations_forms conjugation_forms highlighted_conjugation">
<div class="conjugation_form">
<span><span class="study_conjugations_pronoun conjugation_pronoun">
él
</span><span class="irregular_conjugation" title="irregular conjugation">está<span class="irregularity_circle">●</span></span></span>
</div>
</div>
<div class="study_conjugations_forms conjugation_forms">
<div class="conjugation_form">
<span><span class="study_conjugations_pronoun conjugation_pronoun">
nosotros
</span>estamos
</span>
</div>
</div>
<div class="study_conjugations_forms conjugation_forms">
<div class="conjugation_form">
<span><span class="study_conjugations_pronoun conjugation_pronoun">
vosotros
</span>estáis
</span>
</div>
</div>
<div class="study_conjugations_forms conjugation_forms highlighted_conjugation">
<div class="conjugation_form">
<span><span class="study_conjugations_pronoun conjugation_pronoun">
ellos
</span><span class="irregular_conjugation" title="irregular conjugation">están<span class="irregularity_circle">●</span></span></span>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<p>For specific rules regarding accents used to break diphthongs (such as in <span style="font-style: italic;">día</span>, <span style="font-style: italic;">país</span>, or the verb
<a class="conjugation_explanation_link_intext verb_link" href="/study/conjugations/esp/realojar/" title="Click to see conjugations for realojar" target="_blank">reír</a>
), see the explanation on<a class="conjugation_explanation_link_intext" href="/conjugationExplanation/spanish_stress_mark_on_i/" target="_blank">stress marks due to hiatus</a>
.</p>






