In Spanish, vowels play a key role in how syllables and words are formed, especially when multiple vowels appear together. Today, we will explore three key concepts related to vowel interaction: diphthongs, triphthongs, and hiatuses.
A diphthong occurs when two vowels are combined within the same syllable. In Spanish, these vowels can either be both closed vowels (i.e., "i" and "u"), or one open vowel (like "a," "e," or "o") paired with a closed vowel.
"Cuando fuimos a Italia nos quedamos una semana en Florencia".
"When we went to Italy, we stayed for a week in Florence."
Caption 21, Aprendiendo con Silvia Significados, usos y expresiones con "quedar" - Part 3
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Both Italia and Florencia end with a diphthong, combining the closed vowel "i" and the open vowel "a" in the last syllable.
Popayán es una ciudad que está ubicada en el sudoeste de Colombia,
Popayan is a city that is located in the southwest of Colombia,
Caption 3, Viajando con Carlos Popayán - Colombia - Part 1
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In the word ciudad, the diphthong is found in the second-to-last syllable, formed by the two closed vowels "i" and "u."
These vowel combinations create fluid sounds within a single syllable, a common feature in many Spanish words.
A triphthong is when three vowels are pronounced together in a single syllable. For a triphthong to occur, there must be an open vowel (like "a," "e," or "o") sandwiched between two closed vowels (like "i" and "u").
como por ejemplo, en "vosotros estudiáis".
like for example, in "vosotros estudiáis" ["you guys study"].
Caption 24, Carlos explica Acentuación Cap. 5: Diptongo, triptongo, hiato
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This word is a great example of a triphthong. The open vowel "a" is surrounded by the two closed vowels "i," creating a single syllable where all three vowels are pronounced together.
Fermín también me preguntaba quién toma más mate, si Uruguay o Argentina.
Fermín was also asking me who drinks more mate, whether Uruguay or Argentina.
Captions 49-50, Viajando con Fermín La Feria Internacional de los Países de Fuengirola - Part 2
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The "y" at the end of Uruguay acts like the vowel "i," forming a triphthong along with the "u" and the "a" earlier in the word.
Triphthongs are less common than diphthongs but are often found in verbs conjugated for the second-person plural form in Spain.
A hiatus occurs when two vowels appear together but belong to different syllables. This can happen when the two vowels are both open or when there is an emphasis on a closed vowel next to an open vowel.
Sobre todo para aprender idiomas es fundamental leer.
Especially to learn languages, it's essential to read.
Caption 5, Adriana La lectura - Part 2
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In leer, the two "e"s are pronounced separately, each belonging to a different syllable: le-er. This breaks up what could have been a diphthong.
Es que ahí está pintado el egoísta ese.
It's just that that's exactly like that selfish guy.
Caption 55, Confidencial: Broma pesada Capítulo 2 - Part 10
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In the word egoísta, we see a hiatus between the vowels "o" and "í." The closed vowel "í" is stressed, creating a break between "o" and "í" and making them part of separate syllables: e-go-ís-ta.
Es decir, estás teniendo un buen día,
In other words, you're having a good day,
Caption 20, Soledad Personas tóxicas
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In the word día, the closed vowel "i" is emphasized, creating a break between the "i" and the open vowel "a," resulting in two syllables.
"¿Quién eres tú?", preguntó Ada al ver a un búho que bajaba volando.
"Who are you?" Ada asked when she saw an owl that was flying down.
Captions 4-6, Silvia nos cuenta El bosque encantado y las emociones mágicas - Part 3
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Even though the "h" is silent in Spanish, it doesn’t interfere with the vowel interaction. In búho, the two vowels "u" and "o" are part of different syllables, forming a hiatus.
Understanding diphthongs, triphthongs, and hiatuses is essential for mastering Spanish pronunciation and accentuation. Diphthongs and triphthongs allow vowels to merge into smooth sounds within syllables, while hiatuses create a clear division between syllables, even when vowels are side by side.
By recognizing these patterns, learners can improve their fluency and pronunciation accuracy in Spanish. This concludes our lesson on vowel interaction in Spanish. Hopefully, this has helped clarify how vowels work together in different ways, and don't forget to write us with your questions and suggestions.
Want to know how to say "this" or "that" in Spanish? You might be surprised to learn that Spanish has twelve different ways to express these concepts! In this lesson, we'll explore how to use este, ese, and aquel along with their variations to accurately point out people, objects, and things in Spanish.
Demonstrative adjectives help us identify which specific person or object we're talking about based on distance. In English, we use "this" and "these" for things near us, and "that" and "those" for things farther away. Spanish works similarly, but with more precision.
While English has four demonstrative adjectives (this, that, these, those), Spanish has twelve! Here's why: First, Spanish nouns have gender (masculine or feminine), so the words for "this" and "that" must match. Second, Spanish distinguishes between three levels of distance rather than just two:
• Things near the speaker
• Things near the listener
• Things far from both the speaker and listener
Let's break down all twelve demonstrative adjectives in Spanish, using M for "masculine" and F for "feminine":
este (M), esta (F) = this
estos (M), estas (F) = these
ese (M), esa (F) = that
esos (M), esas (F) = those
aquel (M), aquella (F) = that (over there)
aquellos (M), aquellas (F) = those (over there)
📌 Note: The aquel forms can also refer to metaphorical distance, like events far in the past or future.
Let's see este, esta, estos, and estas in action:
Me gusta mucho este parque.
I really like this park.
Caption 9, Conversaciones en el parque - Cap. 5: Me gusta mucho este parque.
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Esta mochila es de Lucas.
This backpack is Lucas'.
Caption 59, Conversaciones en el parque - Cap. 3: ¿De quién es esta mochila?
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En la noche, utilizaremos estos vasos bajos para servir licor.
At night, we'll use these short glasses to serve liquor.
Caption 20, Ana Carolina - El comedor
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Estas cintas son las que estamos sacando recientemente;
These ribbons are the ones that we are coming out with recently;
son nuevos diseños.
they are new designs.
Caption 19, Comercio - Camisas tradicionales
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Now let's look at ese, esa, esos, and esas:
Oiga y ese carro, esa belleza ¿de dónde la sacó, hermano, ah?
Hey and that car, that beauty, where did you get it, brother, huh?
Caption 43, Confidencial: El rey de la estafa - Capítulo 1
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¿Y esos otros tatuajes que tienes aquí, de qué son?
And those other tattoos you have here, what are they of?
Caption 67, Adícora, Venezuela - El tatuaje de Rosana
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Mire, Rubio, yo necesito que usted
Look, Rubio, I need you
le ponga vigilancia inmediata a esas dos mujeres, hermano.
to put those two women under immediate surveillance, brother.
Caption 52, Confidencial: El rey de la estafa - Capítulo 4
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Finally, here are examples of aquel, aquella, aquellos, and aquellas:
La terminación del piso sería, en el futuro, de roca...
The last part of the floor would be, in the future, made out of rock...
de roca rústrica [sic] a propósito traída de aquel cerro que está allá.
out of rustic rock brought specifically from that hill over there.
Captions 22-23, Edificio en Construcción - Hablando con los trabajadores
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por qué todo parecía distinto en aquella parte del bosque.
why everything seemed different in that part of the forest.
Caption 76, Silvia nos cuenta El bosque encantado y las emociones mágicas - Part 3
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Esas cifras ya nos dicen
Those numbers tell us
que aquellas civilizaciones prehistóricas
that those prehistoric civilizations
ya sabían mucho de cálculo.
already knew a lot about calculus.
Captions 27-29, Rosa - Los dólmenes de Antequera
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Sería, "Aquellos coches son de mi padre"
Would be, "Those cars are my father's"
o "Aquellas casas son de mi madre".
or "Those houses are my mother's."
Captions 35-36, Lecciones con Carolina - Adjetivos demostrativos
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Now you know how to say "this," "that," "these," and "those" in Spanish! While Spanish has more options than English, the system is logical once you understand the three distance levels and remember to match gender and number. Start with este and ese for everyday situations, and you'll be pointing things out in Spanish like a native speaker.
That's all for today. Although there are many more demonstrative adjectives in Spanish than in English, learning to use them is relatively simple. We hope you enjoyed this lesson, and don't forget to send us your comments and suggestions. ¡Hasta la próxima!
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