1. What is a syllable

All words, in Spanish and English can be divided in little chunks called “syllables.” In Spanish all syllables must contain at least one vowel. Vowels are the nucleus of the syllable which usually contain vowels and consonants. 

The vowels in Spanish are  A, E, I, O, U.

The consonants in Spanish are all the letters that are not vowels! 

Knowing where to cut the word to form the syllables is usually easy. Let the rhythm take you through it and for the most part you will get it right. In moments of doubt it helps to know what letters can form a syllable.

2. What letters can go together in a syllable

A syllable has to have, at minimum, a vowel and more often they also have consonants. 

1. Pe-rro
2. A-mi-go
3. Cua-der-no
4. Pie-dra
5. In-glés
6. A-é-re-o / Dia-rio

You might notice a few things from these examples already.

1. Most syllables end in vowels
2. When there is a consonant between two vowels it forms the beginning of the next syllable. 
3. If there are two consonants in a row in word, they usually get separated
4. Some consonants don’t separate (br, ch, bl, cl, cr, dr, gr, gl, fl, fr, ll, pl, pr, qu, rr, and tr)
5. When there are three consonants in a row the first one attaches to the first syllable and the next two begin the next one
6. When there are two vowels in a row in a word sometimes they separate and sometimes they don’t  (more on that bellow)

3. Which vowels stay together and which separate

There are two types of vowels: 

Strong vowels: A, E, O 

Weak vowels: I, U

Strong vowels are never together in one syllable 

Ex.    a-é-re-o,    to-a-lla

Weak vowels attach themselves to a strong vowel or another weak one and stay in a syllable

Ex.  Dia-rio,   puer-co

When two vowels are in the same syllable we call it “diptongo” and if there are three, “triptongo”

*Need to look up a word to see how to divide it? Click here