la esdrújula

The Spanish word "esdrújula" refers to a specific type of word in the context of Spanish linguistics and phonetics.

Meaning:

An esdrújula word is one where the stress (accent) falls on the third-to-last syllable of the word. In Spanish, words are classified based on which syllable holds the emphasis when pronounced:

• Aguda: stress on the last syllable.
• Llana or grave: stress on the second-to-last syllable.
• Esdrújula: stress on the third-to-last syllable.
• Sobreesdrújula: stress even earlier than the third-to-last syllable.

Unlike aguda and grave words, esdrújulas always carry a written accent mark (tilde) to indicate the stressed syllable.

Parts:

• The word "esdrújula" itself is an example of this type, with the stress on "es-drú-ju-la" → stressed syllable being "drú", the third from the end.
• Typically, in such words, the accent mark is placed over the vowel of the stressed syllable.

Usage example:

• esdrújula (stress on "drú")
• música (mú-si-ca, stress on "mú," the third from last)
• pájaro (pá-ja-ro)
• teléfono (te-lé-fo-no)

Synonyms:

• There is no direct synonym for "esdrújula", but it may be referred to as "proparoxytone" in English linguistic terms.

Antonyms:

• Words with stress on the last or penultimate syllable, such as:
  • Aguda (last syllable stressed)
  • Llana or grave (penultimate syllable stressed)

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Summary:

An esdrújula word in Spanish is one stressed on the third-to-last syllable, and these words always carry a written accent to indicate that stress. They're a distinct category in Spanish pronunciation and accentuation rules.