# Statement intonation: the falling line

> id: pronunciation.intonation-statements · category: pronunciation · depth: standard · levels: B1 · review: internally_reviewed

**Summary.** Declaratives ride a fairly flat line and fall at the end: Mañana viajo a Tarija ↘. Less pitch swing than English — exaggerated highs sound theatrical.

Pattern: slight rise to the first stressed syllable, plateau, clear fall on the last: Trabajo-en-el-centro↘. Lists rise on each item, fall on the last: pan↗, queso↗ y vino↘.

Unfinished thoughts stay suspended (level or light rise): si querés... The flat-then-fall contour plus even syllable timing is most of 'sounding Spanish'.

The contour is slight rise to the first stressed syllable, a plateau, then a clear fall on the last: Trabajo en el centro↘. Lists rise on each item and fall on the final one (pan↗, queso↗ y vino↘), while an unfinished thought stays suspended (si querés…). That flat-then-fall line plus even syllable timing is most of what 'sounding Spanish' is.

## Examples
- Llegamos el viernes por la noche. ↘ — We arrive Friday night.
- Compré tomate, cebolla y ají. ↘ — I bought tomatoes, onion, and chili.
- Mañana viajo a Tarija. ↘ — Tomorrow I'm traveling to Tarija. (falling)

Related: pronunciation.intonation-questions, pronunciation.linking-sinalefa

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