One of the trickiest things about Spanish for English speakers is the use of accent marks. These little lines can completely change the meaning of a word. A great example of this is the difference between como and cómo.
Without an accent, como often means “like” or “as.” For example:
Cocino como mi abuela. – I cook like my grandmother.
But with an accent, cómo becomes a question word that means “how”:
¿Cómo estás? – How are you?
There are other words that follow a similar pattern. Here are a few examples:
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Que vs. Qué
Que – that: El libro que compré.
Qué – what: ¿Qué haces?
Cuando vs. Cuándo
Cuando – when (not a question): Cuando llegues, llámame.
Cuándo – when (in a question): ¿Cuándo es tu cumpleaños?
Donde vs. Dónde
Donde – where (non-interrogative): La casa donde vivo.
Dónde – where (in a question): ¿Dónde está el baño?
Paying attention to accents will not only improve your writing but also help your reading and listening skills. It’s one of those small details that make a big difference.
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