Content
- Diphthong
- Accentuation of the diphthong
- Hiatus
- Word accentuation with hiatus
- Difference between diphthong and hiatus
- Examples of words with diphthong
- Examples of words with hiatus
The diphthong and the hiatus are sound chains that can occur within words. The diphthong is the union of vowels and the hiatus is the separation of these two vowels into different syllables.
Diphthong
Diphthong is called the union of two different vowels that are pronounced in the same syllable. The following combinations can form diphthongs:
- Open vowel (a, e, o) + closed vowel o (i, u). For example: peine, aplauSW.
- Unstressed closed vowel + open vowel. For example: viento, hEUvo.
- Closed vowel + different closed vowel. For example: ciudad, juicio.
If there is an intercalated H, it does not influence to classify a vowel sequence as diphthong or hiatus. For example: prorhibir.
Accentuation of the diphthong
- Diphthongs are stressed following the general rules of stress.
- In diphthongs with a stressed open vowel and an unstressed closed vowel, the tilde is placed over the open vowel. For example: nuTico or murcgolake.
- In diphthongs formed by two closed vowels, the tilde is placed over the second vowel: acuifero, casuistica.
When does a diphthong become a hiatus?
A diphthong becomes hiatus when the weak vowel (i, u) is stressed. In this case, the diphthong breaks and the hiatus forms.
Hiatus
Hiatuses can be formed by:
- Open vowel (a, e, o) + closed vowel (i, u). For example: btoúl
- Open vowel + open vowel. For example: tandorrow
- Unstressed vowel + same unstressed vowel. For example: chiita
- Closed vowel + closed vowel (some of them, accented). For example horígives.
Word accentuation with hiatus
- Words with a hiatus of two equal vowels or two different open vowels follow the general rules of stress.
- Words with hiatus of the stressed closed vowel and unstressed open vowel (or vice versa) always carry an accent on the closed vowel, regardless of the stress rules. For example: habíto.
Difference between diphthong and hiatus
The difference between the diphthong and the hiatus is that in the diphthong the weak vowel is never stressed. Due to this condition, the vowels do not separate. For example: violín.
What distinguishes the diphthong from the hiatus is that in the hiatus the vowels that are together separate, while in the diphthong they remain united. This separation occurs only when the stressed vowel is the closed one. For example: flight, geographía.
Examples of words with diphthong
| a-cei-tea. | ciu-da-des | mau-lli-do |
| a-cei-tuna | cui-dice | mons-truo |
| ai-re | cui-give | oi-go |
| ais-lan-te | cuo-ta | pa-ra-gua |
| A.Mai-nar | des-pei-nar | pau-sa |
| am-bi-guo | in-cau-za-two | pei-ne |
| a-plau-sos | eu-ca-lip-to | plei-to |
| au-llar | Eu-genius | rei-nar |
| au-ro-ra | Eu-clothing | rui-do |
| au-to | Eus-ta-quio | sai-ne-te |
| au-to-pis-ta | Feu-do | tiem-bla |
| au-tor | gau-cho | trei-nta |
| bai-you | gou-rmet | via-je |
| bEU-no | guar-give | vio-slow |
| cau-dal | hEU-SW | vio-le-ta |
| cau-sa | in-cau-to | vio-lin |
| ciu-da-de-la | Lau-ra | via-jar |
Examples of words with hiatus
| a-cen-tú–or | con-fí–and | mí–or |
| a-ctua-estuary | con-fi-te-rí–to | Mo-ne-rí–tos |
| to–hin-co | with-you-nú–and | na-ví–or |
| to–ho-ga-rí-a | de-sa-fí–and | or–í-do |
| to–ho-rrar | dí–to | or–ír |
| al-be-drí–or | d-fe-ctú–and | pto–ís |
| a-tto–úd | es-ca-lo-frí–or | plan-tí–or |
| au-to-bio-gra-fí–to | is-so-te-rí–to | psi-quia-trí–to |
| bal-dí–or | e-va-lú–or | pú–to |
| bto–úl | frí–or | Rto–úl |
| bio-gra-fí–to | ge-o-gra-fí–to | res-frí–or |
| bú-hor | geo-lo-gí–to | rí–or |
| cto–andr | heror–í-na | satí–to |
| car-dio-lo-gí–to | ho-meo-pa-tí–to | Sto–úl |
| ca-se-rí–or | hu-í-dto | so-cio-lo-gí–to |
| cer-rra-je-rí–to | lto–úd | vo-ce-rí–or |
| chi–i-ta | seaand–or | va-cí–or |
Follow with:
- Diphthong, tripthong and hiatus
- Sentences with hiatus
- Sharp words with hiatus
- Grave words with hiatus
- Esdrújulas with hiatus and diphthong
