The document explains the pronunciation of vowel combinations in Spanish, distinguishing between 'strong' vowels (a, e, o) and 'weak' vowels (i, u). It covers concepts such as hiatus (two separate syllables) and diphthong (single syllable combinations) with examples. The document also addresses exceptions where written accents indicate syllable separation.

1. Pronouncing Vowel Combinations One syllable or two…? www.professorjason.com © jason r. jolley

2. Vowels in Spanish ‘ Strong’ Vowels A E O ‘ Weak’ Vowels I U www.professorjason.com © jason r. jolley

3. Hiatus – As 2 Separate Syllables Two consecutive ‘strong’ vowels A E O P OE MA PO-E-MA EMPL EA DO EM-PLE-A-DO TR AE R TRA-ER EUROP EO EU-RO-PE-O www.professorjason.com © jason r. jolley

4. Diphthong – As single syllable Combination of a ‘strong’ and ‘weak’ vowel or two consecutive ‘weak’ vowels ID IO MA I-DIO-MA FARMAC IA FAR-MA-CIA C IU DAD CIU-DAD C UI DADO CUI-DA-DO P AU TA PAU-TA G UA PO GUA-PO B UE NO BUE-NO www.professorjason.com © jason r. jolley

5. Exceptions A written accent is used to indicate that a ‘weak’ vowel is separated in certain words T ÍO TÍ-O POLIC ÍA PO-LI-CÍ-A C AÍ DA CA-Í-DA R EÍ R RE-ÍR M IÉ RCOLES MI-ÉR-CO-LES CONTINÚO CON-TI-NÚ-O www.professorjason.com © jason r. jolley

6. One Syllable or Two…? Try to pronounce the vowel combinations in the following words correctly: V IA JE V UE LVO AG UA AI RE TUT EA R D ÍA J UE GO CONTR AE R HER OÍ NA D EU DA P IE NSO BARBAC OA P EO R C AU SA AÚ N AU NQUE www.professorjason.com © jason r. jolley