Acentuação gráfica (as regras de acento)
Acentuação gráfica (as regras de acento) means “the written-accent rules — when a word takes ´ ^ ` ~”. Written accents show which syllable is stressed and often the vowel's quality. Formation: oxítona -a/-e/-o(s), -em/-ens → acento; proparoxítona → sempre acento; ´ = vogal aberta, ^ = vogal fechada
the written-accent rules — when a word takes ´ ^ ` ~
C1Formation
oxítona -a/-e/-o(s), -em/-ens → acento; proparoxítona → sempre acento; ´ = vogal aberta, ^ = vogal fechada
Explanation
Written accents show which syllable is stressed and often the vowel's quality. Oxytones (stress on the last syllable) are accented when they end in -a(s), -e(s), -o(s) or -em/-ens: café, você, avó, também, parabéns. Paroxytones (stress on the next-to-last, the default) take an accent only when they end in a less usual way — -i/-is, -us, -um/-uns, -l, -n, -r, -x, -ã, -ão or a diphthong: táxi, vírus, álbum, fácil, hífen, caráter, órfã, órgão. Every proparoxytone (stress three syllables back) is accented, with no exceptions: médico, rápido, sílaba, música — so if you hear stress three syllables back, write the accent. The acute marks an open vowel (café, avó) and the circumflex a closed one (você, avô); a lone í or ú in a hiatus also takes an accent (saída, país, baú). Since the Spelling Agreement, Brazil no longer accents ideia, voo or feiura.
Examples
Note
Spanish has similar-spirited rules (agudas/llanas/esdrújulas), but the triggering endings differ and Spanish has no circumflex and no open/closed vowel distinction. Handy trick: a proparoxytone always takes an accent.
FAQ
Acentuação gráfica (as regras de acento) — what does it mean and how is it used?
the written-accent rules — when a word takes ´ ^ ` ~. Written accents show which syllable is stressed and often the vowel's quality. Oxytones (stress on the last syllable) are accented when they end in -a(s), -e(s), -o(s) or -em/-ens: café, você, avó, também, parabéns. Paroxytones (stress on the next-to-last, the default) take an accent only when they end in a less usual way — -i/-is, -us, -um/-uns, -l, -n, -r, -x, -ã, -ão or a diphthong: táxi, vírus, álbum, fácil, hífen, caráter, órfã, órgão. Every proparoxytone (stress three syllables back) is accented, with no exceptions: médico, rápido, sílaba, música — so if you hear stress three syllables back, write the accent. The acute marks an open vowel (café, avó) and the circumflex a closed one (você, avô); a lone í or ú in a hiatus also takes an accent (saída, país, baú). Since the Spelling Agreement, Brazil no longer accents ideia, voo or feiura.
Acentuação gráfica (as regras de acento) — how do you form it?
oxítona -a/-e/-o(s), -em/-ens → acento; proparoxítona → sempre acento; ´ = vogal aberta, ^ = vogal fechada
Acentuação gráfica (as regras de acento) — any usage notes?
Spanish has similar-spirited rules (agudas/llanas/esdrújulas), but the triggering endings differ and Spanish has no circumflex and no open/closed vowel distinction. Handy trick: a proparoxytone always takes an accent.