How do you know if a word has a prefix?

Question

I am confused regarding some pronunciation.

According to my dictionary,

"sublimado" is sub-li-MA-do

"sublime" is su-BLI-me

Another example:

"suburbano" is su-bur-BA-no

"subsuelo" is sub-SUE-lo

(note both seeming to use "sub" as a prefix to "urbano"/"suelo")

When I read a word starting with the letters "sub",
how do I know to pronounce "su" or "sub"?

Thanks

Welcome to the forum , we want to help you so fill out your profile If you have a problem PM a mod Bienvenido al foro. Queremos ayudarle, entonces hay que llenar su perfil. Si hay un problema, envíe un mensaje personal (PM) - ray76, Aug 28, 2016

Answer 1

Hi, elJim.

Can you please complete your profile, at least regarding your Spanish and English proficiency?

The question of whether a word includes a prefix, and the question of how to pronounce a word that begins with sub, are very different. So you have me a bit confused. Can you clarify, please?

I am pronouncing in my head made-up words like subretata and subarama, and I can't hear a difference between, for example, su-bre-TA-ta and sub-re-TA-ta.

I know that this isn't an answer for you, but I posted it as an answer because it's far too long to be a comment.

Thank you for making that request it helps the mods and all of us no end. - ray76, Aug 28, 2016