Does the accent change the vowel?

It marks stress. The vowel quality stays the same.

What if there is no mark?

Words ending in a vowel, n, or s usually stress the next-to-last syllable. A consonant ending usually stresses the last one. The mark is there when the word breaks that pattern.

Pronunciation

The written accent is the stress

A written accent tells you which syllable is loud. Miss it and you have said a different word, or a form the listener did not expect.

Typical mistake

English stress habits take over. papá gets the English “PA-pa”, and habló sounds like hablo.

How to make the sound

01Find the mark and put the weight there.
02papá is not papa. cantó is not canto.
03Say the marked syllable a little longer and louder, then stop.

Practice words

papá
dad — stress at the end
papa
potato — stress at the start
cantó
he/she sang
canto
I sing

Questions

Does the accent change the vowel?: It marks stress. The vowel quality stays the same.
What if there is no mark?: Words ending in a vowel, n, or s usually stress the next-to-last syllable. A consonant ending usually stresses the last one. The mark is there when the word breaks that pattern.

Check á out loud

Record a phrase with this sound — the teacher will tell you if you landed it.

Open Practice