What about words like llamáis?

Question

Why does the word "llamáis" (or a lot of other verb forms for vosotros) have an accent on the penultimate syllable even though it ends with the letter s?

Accepted Answer

Hola Sanjana
The word "llamáis" has two syllables: lla - máis 
The second syllable has a dyphtong formed by a+i (belonging to the same syllable) 
As it ends in -s and the stress is on the last syllable, you need the accent. The present conjugations of vosotros often end in -ais / -eis and they are all accentuated, unless the word is monosyllabic (vais, veis, dais...):
tenéis, ponéis, queréis, habláis, llamáis... 
This is a very comprehensive article about accents and includes diphthongs and triphthongs. Have a look here.
Saludos

Answer

Hi inma, thank you for the answer. I would like to know where the stress is if it is written Without accent mark ("llamais"). Thank you.

Answer

Hola Inb
If you saw this written as "llamais" then the stress would be in the first "a", first syllable. This happens with other conjugations in the vosotros form in the past tense (imperfect), for example:

Vosotros trabajabais en un bar.
You worked in a bar.

"trabajabais" has the stress on the penultimate syllable, and it also ends in -ais, like llamáis.
There is no written accent in trabajais.
Saludos

Answer

Hi inmaThank you very much. Another question: are these pronounced differently or the same?- áis (accent mark on "a", is it [a]-[is] or [ais]?)- aís (accent mark on "i")- ais (no accent mark)Thank you.

Answer

Hola Inb- áis is pronounced as one only syllable: [ais] (e.g. bailáis, cenáis, trabajáis)- aís would be pronounced as two separate syllables: [a] [ís]  (e.g. yo aíslo, tú aíslas...= present conjugation of verb aislar = to isolate)- ais would be pronouned as one only syllable: [ais]  (e.g. paisaje, paisano)Saludos

Answer

Thank you, inma 🙏