Acentúas

Acentúas is a term used in Spanish grammar to refer to words that carry a stress or emphasis on a particular syllable. This stress is often indicated by an accent mark (tilde) above a vowel, although it can also be present in words without a written accent if the pronunciation rules dictate it. The placement of the accent mark is crucial for correct pronunciation and can sometimes differentiate between words that are otherwise spelled identically.

Spanish accentuation follows a set of rules based on the position of the stressed syllable and the ending of the word. Words are categorized as agudas, graves (or llanas), esdrújulas, and sobresdrújulas, each with specific rules for accentuation. For example, agudas words are stressed on the last syllable and are accented if they end in a vowel, 'n', or 's'. Graves words are stressed on the penultimate syllable and are accented if they do not end in a vowel, 'n', or 's'. Esdrújulas and sobresdrújulas words, stressed on the antepenultimate or preceding syllables respectively, are always accented.

Understanding and correctly applying these accentuation rules is fundamental for both written and spoken Spanish. Incorrect accentuation can lead to mispronunciation and, in some cases, alter the meaning of a word. The tilde serves as a visual cue to guide speakers and readers in correctly identifying the stressed syllable.