Spanish Accents - e Learn Spanish Language

e Learn Spanish Language Free Spanish Lessons Online language learning with Laura K. Lawless

e Learn Spanish Language > Spanish Lessons > Pronunciation > Spanish Accents

Menu

Spanish Accents

The Spanish acute accent (la tilde) has two main uses:

1. To indicate that the normal rules of word stress are being overridden - learn more.

2. To distinguish between otherwise identical words.

aun	even, including	adverb	vs	aún	still	adverb
de	of, about	preposition		dé	he gave	from dar (subjunctive)
el	the	definite article		él	he	subject pronoun
mas	but	conjunction		más	more	quantity
mi	my	possessive adjective		mí	me	pronoun
o	or	conjunction		ó	or	(when used with numbers: 2 ó 3)
se	oneself	reflexive pronoun		sé	I know be	from saber from ser (imperative)
si	if	conjunction		sí	yes oneself	adverb pronoun
te	you, yourself	pronoun		té	tea	noun
tu	your	possessive adjective		tú	you	subject pronoun

In addition to the above are all interrogative words. When they are used in a question, they have an accent. When used to answer a question or make a statement, they don't. Compare the following:

¿Dónde estás?		Where are you?
Estoy donde quiero estar.		I'm where I want to be.

¿Cuándo vas a hacerlo?		When are you going to do it?
Cuando tenga tiempo.		When I have time.

como	how	cómo	how?
cual	which	cuál	which?
cuando	when	cuándo	when?
cuanto	how much/many	cuánto	how much/many?
donde	where	dónde	where?
que	what	qué	what?
quien	who	quién	who?

Interrogative Pronouns Typing Accents

Spanish Grammar

Subscribe to the free
e Learn Spanish Language
weekly newsletter

Advertise on
e Learn Spanish Language
Options & Rates

LKL's sites
	Learn English
	Learn French
	Veggie Table
	LKL homepage