After mastering Spanish accent marks, exploring punctuation is a great next step. English doesn’t have the same accent marks found in Spanish, and it also lacks some of its unique punctuation. A prime example is the distinctive Spanish exclamation point (¡).
The upside-down exclamation point is found in only a few languages and instantly sets the emotional tone of a sentence. Once you understand how it works, you can use it for interjections, exclamations, and urgent commands confidently when writing in Spanish.
Table of Contents
How are signos de exclamación (exclamation points) written in Spanish?
English speakers face various challenges when translating between English and Spanish, and punctuation is no exception. While both languages use familiar marks like periods and commas, Spanish has some differences that can be tricky, such as the use of inverted exclamation marks.
In English, a single exclamation point is used at the end of a sentence to emphasize a point or express a strong emotion. In Spanish, every exclamatory sentence or phrase needs to begin with an inverted exclamation point (¡) and end with a regular one (!). For example:
- ¡Cuidado con el perro! = Watch out for the dog!
- ¡Gané la lotería! = I won the lottery!
Why does Spanish have an upside-down exclamation mark?
Just like how the Spanish upside-down question mark signals an upcoming question, the upside-down exclamation point (¡) indicates a strong emotion. Since the word order is often the same in a statement and an exclamation, this mark allows the reader to immediately identify the intended emotional tone. To prevent confusion, the Real Academia Española (RAE) officially established the rule of adding it at the start of an exclamation in 1754.
Look at how the following examples change the intent behind the statement.
- Siempre rompes algo. = You always break something.
- ¡Siempre rompes algo! = You always break something!
In the first example, you’re just stating an observation, but in the second example, you’re exclaiming in a way that conveys a sense of anger. By using the inverted exclamation point at the beginning of the sentence, the reader knows right away that the situation is getting emotional!
Where to put the upside-down exclamation point in Spanish?
When figuring out how to learn Spanish, proper punctuation is the perfect finishing touch. Spanish is the easiest language to learn for English speakers, but that doesn’t mean it’s without its unique challenges, like mastering the placement of the upside-down exclamation point in sentences.
The upside-down exclamation point is typically placed at the very beginning of a sentence to indicate that the entire sentence is an exclamation. For example:
- ¡Llegó tarde otra vez! = She arrived late again!
The upside-down exclamation point can also be used to emphasize a specific portion of a sentence by putting it right before the information you’re highlighting. For example:
- Carmen dijo que iba a llegar temprano, pero ¡llegó tarde otra vez! = Carmen said she was going to arrive early, but she arrived late again!
When to use the upside-down exclamation point?
The Spanish upside-down exclamation point conveys a wide range of emotions, from joy and excitement to fear and sadness. Since it’s not used in many other languages, Spanish learners may find it challenging to remember to use it.
To get used to the Spanish exclamation point and make it second nature, actively incorporate it into your sentences using the chat feature during a Rosetta Stone Live Lesson. While chatting with other users, you’ll use this Spanish punctuation mark to emphasize a point, express excitement, and more.
To add emphasis
The primary purpose of the inverted exclamation point is to add emphasis to written text. But for even more emphasis, multiple exclamation points are acceptable in informal writing like texts or casual emails, but it’s best to limit them to three.
For example:
- La película superó mis expectativas. ¡Me encantó! = The movie exceeded my expectations. I loved it!
- ¡¡Eso fue increíble!! = That was incredible!!
For interjections and exclamations
Spanish exclamations and interjections are short words or phrases used in everyday conversation to express an emotion. When learning Spanish, you’ll quickly discover how these exclamations add personality to everyday conversations, like when you say ¡Anda! (Wow!) when you’re surprised or ¡Guácala! (Yuck!) when you’re grossed out.
Imagine texting your friend about an exciting trip you took. They’ll probably respond with various expressions of surprise and amazement.
- ¡Guau! ¿En serio viste leopardos de las nieves? = Wow! Did you really see snow leopards?
- ¡Cielos! ¡Parece que fue una experiencia inolvidable! = Heavens! That sounds like an unforgettable experience!
In expressions using qué
Spanish upside-down exclamation points are commonly used with exclamatory sentences that start with qué (how) followed by an adjective in Spanish.
For example, in the comment section of an influencer’s travel post, you might see expressions alongside the Spanish exclamation point commenting on how stunning the destinations are, how delicious the food looks, or how exciting the experiences seem.
- ¡Qué deliciosa se ve la paella! = How delicious the paella looks!
- ¡Qué impresionante es la vista! = How impressive the view is!
To give urgent commands
You’ll often see upside-down exclamation points alongside verbs in the Spanish imperative mood, especially when giving warnings or demands.
For example, a movie shows a mother and child at a park in an opening scene. The closed captions might show various commands with exclamation points, emphasizing urgency or warning about danger.
- ¡Ven aquí ahora mismo! = Come here right now!
- ¡No te subas ahí! = Don’t climb up there!
How do you type an upside-down exclamation point?
When communicating online with Spanish speakers, whether via email, messaging apps, or social media, knowing how to type the upside-down exclamation mark is a useful skill. However, it’s best to use it sparingly in academic writing.
Once you’ve learned the keyboard shortcuts for your specific phone or computer, knowing how to type the upside-down exclamation point will be a breeze. If you prefer not to use keyboard shortcuts, copying and pasting is also an option. You can search for it online or copy and paste it here: ¡
On a Mac
To type the Spanish exclamation mark on a Mac, type the keyboard shortcut Option + 1.
If you struggle to remember keyboard shortcuts, you can use the Character Viewer to search for and insert the upside-down exclamation point.
On a PC
To type the upside-down exclamation point on a keyboard when using Windows on a PC, press and hold the following keys: Control + Shift + Alt + !
If that doesn’t work, try this shortcut: Alt + 0161
On a Chromebook
To type an upside-down exclamation point on a Chromebook, press Ctrl + Shift + u00a1. Since this code is lengthy, you may want to consider adding an international keyboard if you’ll use it often.
Here’s how to add an international keyboard on a Chromebook and use it to type an upside-down exclamation mark:
- Click on the time in the bottom-right corner of your screen.
- Click on the Settings icon.
- Click on “Advanced.”
- Under “Languages and Inputs,” click on “Inputs and Keyboards.”
- Click “Add Input Method.”
- Check the box next to “English (US) with International keyboard”, then click Add.
- Change your keyboard language to US International.
- With the international keyboard active, you can type the upside-down exclamation point by pressing AltGr + 1.
On an iPhone
Whether you’re tweeting or sending a message to a friend in Spanish, the following is a quick way to get the inverted exclamation mark on an iPhone:
- Tap the “123” icon in the lower left corner to bring up the number and symbol keyboard.
- Press the “#+=” button.
- Press and keep your finger on the standard exclamation mark key. A row of symbols will pop up.
- Slide your finger to the right to select the inverted exclamation mark, and then lift your finger to select it.
On an Android
Android users can type the upside-down exclamation point in two easy steps:
- Press and hold the exclamation mark key until a pop-up menu appears.
- Slide your finger to the inverted exclamation mark to select it, then release.
0 Commentaires