Welcome to Vol. 5 of the Spanish Online Newsletter! Spanish lessons with audio links, as well as travel phrases and more. I hope you enjoy this week's lesson - if so please support our efforts by recommending our website to a friend or consider buying the book and CD-rom that these excerpts are taken from. (learning through songs does make it all more fun!) ¡Muchas Gracias!

Lesson of the Week: Spanish Accent Marks

From the La Bamba Grammar Chapter

Artificial Stress

When a word goes against the rule of natural stress, it needs an accent mark.

The stress of capitán would fall on the “i ”(ka-PEE-tahn) but since this is not how the word is pronounced, you need an accent mark.

Click to hear an mp3 that includes the word "seré"

Here are some more examples of words that contain artificial stress, or accent marks - practice SAYING these words out loud.

Bogotá	fácil	fórmula
estás	útil	teléfono
inglés	cárcel	tímida
ningún	lápiz	incómodo

Adding Accent Marks to Differentiate Between Words

Some words can be used to mean different things, so an accent mark is used to show which meaning applies. Look at the following words:

sí	yes	si	if
porqué	why?	porque	because
sólo	only	solo	alone
estás	you are	estas	these (feminine)

For words with just 1 syllable, accent marks are only used when a word has multiple meanings. Look at the word "sí" above.

Worksheet/Activity: Accent Marks

Quiz: Accent Marks

Travel Phrases of the Week:

what time is it?
it is 1 pm
it is 2:00
morning
daytime
noon
the afternoon
night
before
later, after
yesterday
today
tomorrow
later

¿qué hora es?
es la una de la tarde
son las dos
la mañana
el día
mediodía
la tarde
noche
antes
después
ayer
hoy
mañana
más tarde

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Travel Spot of the Week

visit Segovia and practice your Spanish!

Segovia, Spain

This medieval town North of Madrid is one of the most picturesque around, with a huge aqueduct as well as the famous Alcázar castle. Explore the history of Segovia by clicking on the picture or link above.

Learning Product of the Week

save on the easy and fun all audio program from Musical Spanish

Learn in your Car with Lessons for the Road - from Musical Spanish

Exciting new audio program with over 50 Spanish lessons based on the lyrics to songs like La Bamba and Guantanamera. Learn the basics of Spanish while on the go - no need for a book. Fun and easy - plus a great buy at $19.99, usually $24.99. Check it out!