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In this Spanish Wikipedia: about Guion ortográfico I found mentioned

Separar algunas palabras compuestas.

but there are no examples given.

Are these foreign words or are there proper examples in Spanish?

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Yes, there are proper examples in Spanish. They are usually two adjectives that describe a very specific quality of the object (in most cases).

For example:

Franco-alemán

Lógico-matemático

Físico-químico

Histórico-artístico

Cirujano-anestesista

anti-Mussolini

These words are not foreign, as said they describe something specific.

There are some rules as to the usage of the hyphen:

  • The compound words with Spanish lexemes are usually written with a hyphen when they maintain their tonic syllable or maintain certain independence: teórico-práctico
  • It is also used when there are deleted prepositions between words in apposition and when the second word is a noun with a upper case letter: anti-Otan
  • Words with a prefix that are constructed in apposition are written without the hyphen: coche bomba
  • To separate a prefix from its base: re-presentación
  • To represent various words with a desire of a Unitarian presentation, usually used in philosophical texts: Sartre ser-para-sí, ser-para-otro
  • Code numbers, prefixes or letters: DC-10, Barcelona-92

Source for a more complete explanation, (or search for guión in the DPD)

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This is the RAE article in the Diccionario panhispánico de dudas.

There are plenty of examples and all the rules to use the hyphen. Hope it helps.

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  • Thank you @hippietrail I edited but I could not get a valid link that's why I explained how to go there. If someone can get a valid link please edit. Thank you.
    – Laura
    Nov 21 '11 at 9:29
  • Hmm there didn't seem to be anything tricky. I followed your instructions which led to the URL buscon.rae.es/dpdI/SrvltConsulta?lema=gui%F3n which I'll edit into your answer for you.
    – hippietrail
    Nov 21 '11 at 9:57
  • The other answer already has the information, thank you very much for your help I don't know why i couldn't get the link as usual. Thanks again :D
    – Laura
    Nov 21 '11 at 10:04
  • @hippietrail I think the link refers to another question guion vs guión and not to the question of hyphenating.
    – bernd_k
    Nov 21 '11 at 11:49
  • @bernd_k not at all, if you read the 2nd entry you'll find the information about the use of hyphen.
    – Laura
    Nov 21 '11 at 11:56

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