Plain words

Content

• How are they accentuated?
• Examples of plain words

The plain words (or grave words) are those in which the stressed syllable is the penultimate. For example: facil, sapo.

How are they accentuated?

Grave words carry an accent when they do not end in N, S or a vowel. For example: sugar (it has a tilde because it ends in R), knows (does not have an accent because it ends in a vowel)

Exceptions

• Hiatus. Since the union of a strong vowel (a, e, o) with a weak vowel (i, u) tonic determines the presence of a hiatus, Certain words have an accent in the penultimate syllable, even though they are words ending in N, S or vowel. For example: advocacy.
• Tilde diacritical. Plain words that have two possible functions in the sentence, since in these the tilde is a diacritical element that allows distinguishing the function and even when they end in N, S or vowel, tilde is placed. For example: when when.
• Words ending in consonant + S. In that case, a tilde is placed. For example: totems.

In Spanish, depending on where the emphasis is placed on pronunciation, words are divided into four groups:

• Sharp words. The stressed syllable is the last. For example: tvsor.
• Plain words (or serious). The tonic syllable is the penultimate. For example: aleyelledto.
• Words esdrújulas. The tonic syllable is the penultimate. For example: teayouphone.
• Words sobreesdrújulas. The stressed syllable is the third-to-last, or fourth starting from the end. For example: effecyouvaly.

Examples of plain words

See also:

• Plain words without accent
• Grave words with hiatus