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The diaeresis ( ¨ )

In the clusters gue and gui, the u is not pronounced; it serves simply to give the g a hard-g sound, like in the English word gut (gue ? [ge]; gui ? [gi]).

However, if the u has a the diaeresis mark (¨), it is pronounced like an English w (güe ? [gwe]; güi ? [gwi]). This mark is rather rare.

Examples:

• pedigüeño = beggar
• agüéis (2nd person plural, present subjunctive of the verb aguar). Here, the diaeresis preserves the u (or [w]) sound in all the verb tenses of aguar.
• argüir (to deduce)
• pingüino = penguin

¡Aprovéchalo! Learn the Spanish language Contents ? Introduction Lesson one ? Lesson two ? Lesson three Lesson four ? Lesson five ? Lesson six Lesson seven ? Lesson eight ? Lesson nine Pronunciation ? Contributors