If two or more contiguous vowels belonging to two or more words are pronounced in a single syllable, they form synalepha.

Since Spanish verse depends upon a determined number of syllables per line, diphthongization and synalepha are important factors in versification.

Other combinations of three vowels may be analyzed in a similar way, as may also combinations of more than three vowels, e.g. creíais, etc. B. SYNALEPHA Between the contiguous vowels of separate words there may occur synalepha (which corresponds to diphthongization within a word), or hiatus (which is similar to diaeresis within a word).

Other combinations of three vowels may be analyzed in a similar way, as may also combinations of more than three vowels, e.g. creíais, etc. B. SYNALEPHA Between the contiguous vowels of separate words there may occur synalepha (which corresponds to diphthongization within a word), or hiatus (which is similar to diaeresis within a word).

[Synalepha.] Ex.

Synalepha may join into a single syllable two, three, four, and even five vowels.

The union of two vowels (diphthongal synalepha) and the union of three vowels (triphthongal synalepha) are the most common.

The union of two vowels (diphthongal synalepha) and the union of three vowels (triphthongal synalepha) are the most common.

A pause due to a break in sense does not prevent synalepha.

Mute h is disregarded in the verse and does not prevent synalepha.

DIPHTHONGAL SYNALEPHA Synalepha takes place between two contiguous unaccented vowels belonging to separate words.

Synalepha usually occurs when the initial vowel of the second word is accented, especially when the first word ends in a weak vowel, and also in the combinations aá, oá, oa, eá, eó, eé. Ex.

Synalepha is possible with the other combinations, but hiatus is preferable even with the above combinations, in a syllable on which the rhythmical accent falls (see under Rhythmic Accent).

Como la ola que á la playa viene, p. 178, XXXVII, l. 19. TRIPHTHONGAL SYNALEPHA There is always triphthongal synalepha when a is the middle vowel; or when o or e is the middle vowel, except in the following combinations, aoa, aoo, ooo, aea, aeo, oea, oeo.

Como la ola que á la playa viene, p. 178, XXXVII, l. 19. TRIPHTHONGAL SYNALEPHA There is always triphthongal synalepha when a is the middle vowel; or when o or e is the middle vowel, except in the following combinations, aoa, aoo, ooo, aea, aeo, oea, oeo.

There is never triphthongal synalepha when an accented weak vowel stands between two strong vowels.

Therefore the conjunctions y and ú prevent triphthongal synalepha.

There may be triphthongal synalepha when í (y) is the middle vowel, if u precedes it, or i follows it.

When u is the middle vowel there may be synalepha if i follows it.

There is no synalepha with a word beginning with hue. Ex. Mucho nuestro huesped tarda.

If the accented vowel is not in a constituent syllable synalepha may occur.

SYNALEPHA BETWEEN FOUR OR MORE VOWELS

In the above-mentioned case, the phrase de^oro is usually joined by synalepha.

When both vowels are accented hiatus is more common than synalepha, even though there is no close syntactical relation, although the vowels may be joined by synalepha if they do not come in a constituent syllable.

The caesura requires a strong accent on the syllable preceding it, and does not prevent synalepha.