apóstrofo
/aˈpostɾofo/masculine
The English word 'apostrophe' is apóstrofo in Spanish. Wiktionary also lists apóstrofe.
Meaning: the character ’ (noun)
Ways to say it
| Spanish | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| apóstrofo | /aˈpostɾofo/ | masculine |
| apóstrofe | /aˈpostɾofe/ | masculine |
apóstrofo is used to refer to the character ’.
Which one should you use?
The form apóstrofo refers specifically to the punctuation mark, whereas apóstrofe refers to the rhetorical figure of speech where a speaker addresses an absent person or personified object.
How do you pronounce it?
/aˈpostɾofo/
Did you know?
- The Spanish Royal Academy (RAE) strictly forbids using the apóstrofo to indicate the omission of a letter in native Spanish words, which is a common practice in English.
- The term apóstrofe stems from the Greek apostrophḗ, which refers to a 'turning back' or a 'departure', mirroring how the rhetorical device 'turns away' from the audience to address an absent entity.
- Because Spanish uses acute accents like á instead of the apostrophe for many phonetic needs, the word apóstrofo is much less common in daily Spanish writing than in English.
Examples in context
- Olvidaste poner un apóstrofo en esa palabra.You forgot to put an apostrophe in that word.
- ¿Dónde va el apóstrofo en este nombre?Where does the apostrophe go in this name?
- El apóstrofo es un signo de puntuación.The apostrophe is a punctuation mark.
Example conversation
María is helping Mateo correct a typing error in a document.
- MaríaMateo, te falta un apóstrofo aquí.Mateo, you are missing an apostrophe here.
- Mateo¿En qué parte del texto?In which part of the text?
- MaríaJusto antes de la letra 's'.Just before the letter 's'.
- MateoAh, ya lo puse.Ah, I already put it.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “apostrophe” translations and entries apóstrofo, apóstrofe, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries apóstrofe, apóstrofo, CC BY-SA 4.0.
