Spanish words are divided into syllables according to fairly simple rules.
 

Number of syllables

Spanish words have the same number of syllables as they have diphthongs + vowels, with the exception of the silent U. Here are some examples:

 
Word Division

The syllables are divided according to the following rules:

1. Between two consecutive strong vowels: fe-o

2. Between two consecutive vowels when one is accented: dí-a

3. Between two consecutive consonants: es-tar

a) except when the second one is L or R, in which case the syllable breaks before them: a-trás

4. When there are three consecutive consonants, the syllable usually breaks betwen the first and second: in-glés
 

Please note that this lesson is only a guideline for the Spanish that I know, which is Castilian Spanish. There are many regional variations in Spanish pronunciation.

Spanish Pronunciation     Spanish for Beginners

©   Laura K. Lawless  All rights reserved.
About Me ~ About This Site