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).
Ex. _Abre^una^eternidad_, p. 178, XXXVI I, l. 22. _¿Á qué me lo
decís? lo sé^:^es mudable_, p. 179, XXXIX, l. 1. [Synalepha.]
Ex. _Como la onda^azul, en cuya cresta_, p. 173, XXVII, l. 16.
[Hiatus.]
The vowels contracted by synalepha are each pronounced, except when
the same vowel is repeated, when only a prolonged sound is heard, as
in _onda^azul_ or _sé^es_ above.
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.
A pause due to a break in sense does not prevent synalepha. Mute h is
disregarded in the verse and does not prevent synalepha.
Ex. _Capaz de encerrarlo, y apénas ¡oh^hermosa!_ p. 164, I, l. 10.