Portuguese Year 3: Stressed syllable, accents and spelling
Portuguese, Year 3 (Portugal): In every word one syllable is said with more force; some words also show it with a written accent, and a few spelling rules keep words right.
One syllable is stronger
Say «sapato» (shoe) slowly: sa-PA-to. The syllable «pa» comes out with more force: it is the stressed syllable (sílaba tónica). The others, «sa» and «to», are unstressed (átonas). This force of the voice is the prosodic accent, and every word with more than one syllable has it. Some words also carry a written mark over a vowel, like the acute accent (´) in «avó» (grandmother) or the circumflex (^) in «avô» (grandfather): that is the graphic accent.
The mark changes the word
The accent matters. «Avó» and «avô» differ only by the mark, and «pais» (parents) is not read like «país» (country). Also, when you see an acute or circumflex accent you know at once where the voice must press: the mark sits on the stressed syllable. So knowing what the stressed syllable is helps you to read well and to spell well.
Analysing «sapato» and «avó»
Two words, step by step. Step 1: split «sapato» into syllables: sa-pa-to. Step 2: say it and notice where the voice presses: sa-PA-to. Step 3: the stressed syllable is «pa»; «sa» and «to» are unstressed. Step 4: look for a written mark: there is none, so it has a prosodic accent but no graphic accent. Step 5: now «avó»: a-VÓ. The stressed syllable is «vó», and the acute accent sits right on it: this word has both.
No written mark, still a strong syllable
Many people think that only words with a graphic accent have a stressed syllable. That is not true. «Sapato», «cadeira» (chair) and «janela» (window) carry no mark, and each has a stressed syllable: «pa», «dei» and «ne». The graphic accent is just a sign that spelling puts on some words. To find the stressed syllable, say the word aloud and hear where the voice presses.
Spelling rules that help
Some spelling rules save you from many mistakes. «rr» between vowels («carro», car) and «r» at the start («rato», mouse). «ss» between vowels for the sound of «s» («passo», step), because a single «s» between vowels sounds like «z» («casa», house). «ç» only before a, o, u («laço», bow). «m» before p and b («campo», field; «bombom», sweet). «gu» and «qu» before e, i («guerra», war; «queijo», cheese). If in doubt, check a dictionary.
Test what you learned
What is the stressed syllable (sílaba tónica) of a word?
- a) Always the first syllable
- b) The syllable said with more force
- c) The syllable said more softly
- d) Always the last syllable
Correct answer: b) The syllable said with more force — Yes: it is where the voice presses, like «pa» in sa-PA-to.
«Cadeira» (chair) is said ca-DEI-ra. Which sentence is true?
- a) The stressed syllable is «ca» and it has an accent mark
- b) The stressed syllable is «ra» and it has an acute accent
- c) The stressed syllable is «dei» and it has an accent mark
- d) The stressed syllable is «dei» and it has no accent mark
Correct answer: d) The stressed syllable is «dei» and it has no accent mark — Yes: the voice presses on «dei», and the spelling asks for no sign.
The word «sapato» (shoe) is written without an accent mark. What does that mean?
- a) It has a stressed syllable («pa»); spelling just does not ask for a sign
- b) It has no stressed syllable
- c) All its syllables are unstressed
Correct answer: a) It has a stressed syllable («pa»); spelling just does not ask for a sign — Yes: every word of two or more syllables has a stressed syllable, with or without a mark.
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