"Sobrio": grave or esdrújula?

Question

(Yes, this is for homework, but we got to pick the passages to analyze so it's kinda a special-case situation.)

I'm trying to figure out: is the word "sobrio" a grave (having a voiced accent on the second-to-last syllable) or an esdrújula (accent on the third-to-last syllable).

• The case for it being an esdrújula: I've listened to the dictionary-word-readers a few times, and it sounds like they're pronouncing it with three syllables, so-bri-o, with a voiced accent on the "so" (the third-to-last syllable).
• The case for it being a grave: The rule is that all esdrújulas have written accents over the third-to-last syllable, which "sobrio" does not, seeming to indicate that the "io" is a diphthong (two vowels pronounced together, as one).
• My confusion: So, following the rules of grammar, sobrio seems to be a grave. But every time I've heard it spoken it sounds like an esdrújula. It it a special-case esdrújula without an accent? Or is the "io" technically a diphthong, just not usually pronounced that way?

Answer 1

All esdrújulas have always a stress mark. The division of syllables when it comes to writing accents is done according to some fixed rules that sometimes do not totally agree with the pronunciation of the words. The combination "io" is regarded as one syllable (unless you use an accent, making it two "ío" = "í" + "o"), whether it sounds like that or not, so the only two syllables are "so" and "brio".

Any combination of two vowels with a/e/o and i/u in any order, plus "iu" and "ui", form a single syllable when deciding about stressing. How some people say it, that's another story.

Answer 2

HI, if it were esdrújula, it would have to have three syllables at least. this word only has two:

so - brio

So the separation of the bri-o I'm hearing isn't accurate, then? Makes sense. Thanks! - Soninmyeyes, Aug 22, 2010

Answer 3

This is a grave word. Grave words have only written accents when they end in something other than n, s, or a vowel. Since "sobrio" ends in a vowel, there is no written accent.

So-brio.

The accent is in the penultimate syllable, the last syllable is a diphthong so it counts as one, and also as it is mentioned above, absolutely all of the esdrújulas have the written accent.

I hope this helps.