Is it ábrela or abréla ?

Question

How would I say "Open it (la puerta)." I'm not sure of where to put the accent:

ábrela

or

abréla?

Does the accent mark always fall on the first vowel after attaching pronouns?

The answer is; ábrela, because the word is categorized as esdrújula, which means that it has the strength of the word on the "pre-before-last" syllable. All esdrújulas are ALWAYS accented. The word, esdrújula, itself is esdrújula. - ro_millan, Oct 4, 2013

Answer 1

The word you have asked about is pronounced AH-bray-lah and it is spelled ábrela.

Here are the rules for figuring out accents: There are 4 types of words. 1) "Agudas" are words that have the emphasis on the last syllable. For example, "comer", "caducó", and "hablaré".

An "aguda" takes an accent if the last letter of the word is "s", "n", or any vowel (a,e,i,o,u). For example, "quizás", "cantará", and montón". An "aguda" does NOT take an accent if the last letter of the word is any consonant OTHER than "n" or "s". For example, "coronar".

2) "Llanas" (also called "graves") are words that have the emphasis on the penultimate (second to last) syllable. For example, "hombre", "lápiz," and "piensa".

A "llana" / "grave" takes an accent if the last letter of the word is any consonant OTHER than "n" or "s". For example, "móvil", "césped", and "débil". A "llana" / "grave" does NOT take an accent if the last letter of the word is "s", "n", or any vowel (a,e,i,o,u). For example, "cisne", "fuisteis", and "pararon".

3) "Esdrújulas" are words that have the emphasis on any syllable other than the last or second to last syllable. For example, "otorinolaringólogo", "póntelo", "Méjico"

All esdrújulas take accents.

4) The fourth type of word is the monosyllabic word. As suggested by the name, they consist of only one syllable. For example, "ven", "vé", "ve", "id", "el", "sin", etc. In general, monosyllables do not take accents. However, some do, if there are two words that are spelled the same. The accent is used to differentiate between the words. For example: Aun = even Aún = still

te = to / for you té = tea

ve = he/she sees vé = go ("tú" command)

el = the él = he

there are several more, but I am sure they can be found online without my having to wrack my brain for all of them. Good luck in your spanish adventures!

Thanks a lot! This is quite an explanation! - thaibean06, Feb 20, 2010

Answer 2

Does the accent mark always fall on the first vowel after attaching pronouns?

No.

The accent remains on the word where it was before you appended the pronoun(s).

abre (the accent is on the "a" since the word is "grave", ends in a vowel, n or s)

To preserve the stress on the "a" in the word abrela (the stress would fall on the "e", as the word is "grave", you need to put an accent mark on the "a".

If the original command had the stress on any syllable other than the first one it would remain there after appending the pronouns.

escribe - formal, imperative. (being "grave", the stress is on the "i")

escríbelo (the stress is maintained on the "i", but adding an accent mark, else the stress would shift to the 2nd "e")

escríbemelo (same reasoning-to keep the stress on the "i" rather than the 3nd "e")

Wow! Thanks for the explanation! :) - thaibean06, Feb 20, 2010

Answer 3

¡ábrela!

But it does not always fall on the first vowel. You could also say ¡Abríla! in some countries.

That's right, but I don't think the second option uses accent on the "i". - axolos, Feb 13, 2010

thank you! - thaibean06, Feb 13, 2010

"Abrila" is grammatically incorrect. In Old Spanish it is correct; however, in modern Spanish one would have to say "la abrí". - asdfghjkl4, Feb 13, 2010

"abríla" (open it) is the command form using vos. It is not the same as "la abrí" (I opened it) - hyrumt, Feb 14, 2010

Answer 4

¡Ábrela!...

Although "Por favor, ábrela", should be more polite...

Thanks! - thaibean06, Feb 13, 2010

A gentleman!! ... - Janice, Feb 13, 2010