HIATOS
A hiato (hiatus) is the separation of two adjacent vowels into two separate syllables.
The vowels a/e/o when together are pronounced as distinct syllables if one is stressed.
- poeta → (po-e–ta)
- feo → (fe-o)
Excepción: alcohol → (al-cól)
If none of these vowels (a/e/o) is stressed, then they are almost always pronounced together.
- realidad → (rea-li-dad)
Compare the way syllables are separated.
- idea → (i-de-a)
- idealista (i-dea-lis-ta)
The vowels i and u when stressed are also pronounced as two syllables when combined with a/e/o.
| tía → (tí-a) | río → (rí-o) |
| Raúl → (Ra-úl | freír → (fre-ír) |
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La vocal i/u siempre tiene tilde en estos hiatos. |
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Escucha y repite las siguientes frases separando las sílabas. Fíjate en el ritmo (se marca en negrita la sílaba con acento). |
| ⬜⬛ ⬜ ⬛⬜ ⬛⬜ | |
| Raúl se ríe mucho. |
Now record your voice in an audio note and check your intonation.
| ⬜ ⬛⬜ ⬛⬜ ⬛⬜ | |
| Mi tía fríe carne. |
Now record your voice in an audio note and check your intonation.
| ⬜⬛⬜ ⬜⬛⬜ ⬜⬛⬜ | |
| El agua tan fría del río. |
Now record your voice in an audio note and check your intonation.
| ⬜⬜⬛⬜ ⬜ ⬜⬛⬜ ⬜ ⬜⬛⬜ | |
| Todavía no conocen a María. |
Now record your voice in an audio note and check your intonation.
Actividades / Exercises