exámenes vs. examenes

Question

I usually write "exámenes" with an accent, but lately I have noticed that a lot of people (even web sites) do not use an accent. Which one is correct?

exámenes or examenes

Answer 1

Examen = No tilde: It is a "palabra grave" Every palabra grave that ends in a vowel, n or s does not have a tilde.

• Exámenes = Yes tilde. Exámenes is a "palabra esdrújula" The rule says that every "palabra esdrújula and sobreesdrújula" must have a tilde on the the strongest syllable's vowel.
• Agudas = A word that has the strongest accent on the last syllable
• Graves = A word that has the strongest accent on the first to the last syllable
• Esdrújulas = A word that has the strongest accent on the second to the last syllable
• Sobreesdrújula = A word that has the strongest accent on the third to the last syllable

awesome, thanks for the detail clarification- I was a little confused. - kclu787, Jan 31, 2012

My pleasure! Thanks! - farallon7, Jan 31, 2012

Answer 2

Because an additional syllable is created for the plural form, the tilde is necessary - just as you write it. The singular "examen" does not require the tilde.

ok, thanks for the clarification...I just asked that question above. - kclu787, Jan 31, 2012

Answer 3

It's an "esdrújula" word (antepenultimate -third to last- syllable is stressed), therefore it must be written with an accent.

Will the same apply to "examen"? - kclu787, Jan 31, 2012

No, examen is a "grave" word, not an "esdrúlula, nor sobreesdrújula" - farallon7, Jan 31, 2012

esdrújula - a new Spanish word. Interesting. - Xocoyote, Jan 31, 2012