acentuar
“acentuar” means “to accent” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:
to accent
Also: to emphasize
📝 In Action
Tienes que acentuar la última sílaba en la palabra 'café'.
A2You have to put an accent on the last syllable of the word 'café'.
Aprender a acentuar correctamente toma tiempo.
B1Learning how to use accent marks correctly takes time.
Él suele acentuar mucho las palabras cuando está enojado.
B2He usually emphasizes his words a lot when he is angry.
to accentuate
Also: to highlight
📝 In Action
Las luces de la ciudad sirven para acentuar la belleza de la plaza.
B2The city lights serve to accentuate the beauty of the square.
Sus palabras solo lograron acentuar la tensión en la sala.
C1His words only managed to heighten the tension in the room.
Este color acentúa tus ojos.
B1This color makes your eyes pop (accentuates your eyes).
🔄 Conjugations
subjunctive
imperfect
present
indicative
preterite
imperfect
present
Translate to Spanish
✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: acentuar
Question 1 of 3
Which form of 'acentuar' is correct for 'I accent' in the present tense?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
📚 Etymology▼
From Latin 'accentuare', derived from 'accentus', which referred to the melody or tone of a song.
First recorded: 15th century
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
Does 'acentuar' always mean writing a mark?
No. It can also mean stressing a sound when you speak, or figuratively making a situation or feature stand out more.
Why does 'acentúo' have an accent mark on the 'u'?
Because without it, the 'u' and 'o' would blend together into one sound. The accent tells you to pronounce the 'u' separately and strongly.
Is it 'acentuar' or 'enfatizar'?
Both are fine! Use 'acentuar' for grammar, writing, and highlighting features. 'Enfatizar' is more common when emphasizing an idea or a specific point in a speech.