Reading and Pronunciation

Stres marker: reading and writing > How to break a diphthong

If a diphthong has to be read as two vowels, each of them producing a syllable, the diphthong-forming vowel (i or u) is marked with an accent mark. Compare:

secretaria – [se-kre-´ta-rja]
secretaría – [se-kre-ta-´ri-a]

Remember that the accent can be placed on the strong vowel of a diphthong (a, e or o), in this case the diphthong remains:

entráis – [ent-´rais]