How to Use the Accent Correctly in Spanish

Step-by-Step Guide

1. 1

   Step 1: If you know how the word sounds

   The accented syllable is the one that gets the most emphasis or that you dwell on a bit longer.
   
   For example: comida, teléfono, chocolate.
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   Step 2: find the accented syllable.

   For example: teléfono, sólo. , These are words that have the accented syllable second from the end: fácil, césped, mártir, álbum. ,, For example, Aún podemos hacerlo. (We can still do it.), Aún hay esperanzas. (There is still hope).
   
   On the other hand, aun has no accent if it means "even".
   
   For instance, Aun cuando quisiera, no podría hacerlo (Even when I want to, I couldn't do it.) Aun él tendrá que escucharme. (Even he will have to listen to me.) , If it means "alone," no accent is needed.
   
   Sólo sé que no sé nada. (I only know that I know nothing.) Luís vive solo. (Luís lives alone.) , Sí, puedo ir si mi mamá me permite. (Yes, I can go if my mom lets me.) , For example rápidamente (quickly, rapidly) has an accent because rápida has an accent.
   
   Thus, "rápida"+"mente" has an accent.
   
   By contrast, posiblemente doesn't have an accent, since posible, originally, doesn't either.
   
   Hence, "posible"+"mente" has no accent. , In general, use the accent if the pronoun is a subject or object.
   
   Do not use the accent if the pronoun is possessive.
   
   The words "conmigo" and "contigo" have no accents.
   
   Me dió el libro a mí. (He gave the book to me.) Mi libro está en el escritorio. (My book is on the desk.) ¿Dónde está tu llave? (Where is your key?) ¿Me llamaste tú? (Did you call me?) ¿Quieres ir al cine conmigo? (Would you like to go to the movies with me?)
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   Step 3: If a word has an accent in it

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   Step 4: the syllable containing the accent is the one that is stressed or emphasised.

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   Step 5: All "flat" words have an accent if they end in a consonant other than "n" or "s" (the letter "y" is considered a consonant).

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   Step 6: All "high-pitched" words have an accent if they end in a vowel

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   Step 7: or s. These are words that have the accent on the last syllable: caerá

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   Step 8: alhelí

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   Step 9: camión

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    Step 10: jamás.

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    Step 11: The word "aun" is written with an accent only when it can be substituted for the word "todavía"

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    Step 12: for instance to mean "still".

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    Step 13: This word "sólo" (meaning "only") has an accent in case of ambiguity about its adverbial form

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    Step 14: in other words when it means "solamente".

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    Step 15: Place an accent in the word "sí" when it means "yes;" omit the accent if it means "if."

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    Step 16: For adverbs ending in -mente

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    Step 17: use the accent if the word that forms the stem originally had an accent.

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    Step 18: Learn the accent rules for pronouns.

Detailed Guide

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