How to use the apostrophe in Spanish
Guide to the Spanish apostrophe (')
Although the apostrophe (apóstrofo) is widely used in other languages, its use is limited in Spanish. It is mainly used to indicate the omission of a sound in spoken language.
Read on to learn more about the apostrophe in Spanish with Lingolia.
When to use an apostrophe in Spanish
Spanish uses an apostrophe to show that a word or a syllable is missing. Typical words include muy, nada and para as well as many past participles.
Note: this is reserved for spoken language and very informal contexts.
- Examples:
- Tanta escalera me ha deja'o destroza'o.There were so many stairs, I was wrecked.
- ¿Pa'qué has vení'o? Why’d you come?
- ¿Pa'cuándo es eso?When’s that for?
- No he dormí'o na'. Estoy mu' cansa'o.I haven’t slept a wink. I’m so tired.
When not to use an apostrophe in Spanish
Do not use an apostrophe in Spanish:
- to contract years
- Example:
- En los 80, todos llevaban pantalones de campana.In the 80s, everyone wore flared trousers.
- not:
En los '80…
- when telling the time; use a colon instead
- Example:
- Son las 14:10 h.It's 2010 pm.
- Not: Son las 14'10 h.
- to express acronyms in plural; they do not change.
- Example:
- Todas las ONG presentaron un proyecto para combatir la situación de crisis.All the NGOs submitted a proposal to tackle the crisis situation.
- not:
Todas las ONG's…
Info
Do not confuse the Spanish punctuation mark apostrophe (apóstrofo) with the Spanish rhetorical device apóstrofe.
An apóstrofe (also apostrophe in English) is a figure of speech in which the speaker directly addresses a person who is absent or dead, an abstract idea or an inanimate object as if they were able to respond.
- Example:
- ¡Oh, Dios! ¿Por qué me has abandonado?Oh, God! Why have you forsaken me?
