Stress Placement in English

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What Are the Rules for Stressing Words?

In English grammar, the word "stress" refers to the emphasis given to a specific syllable in a word. The stressed syllable is usually louder, longer, and pronounced with a higher pitch than the other syllables. Knowing a word's stress is important because a misplaced stress can change the meaning of a word or confuse listeners.

The best way to learn the stress of a new word is to keep repeating it until the stress comes naturally and a different stress sounds wrong. Remember "repetition is the mother of learning." However, this method is only possible if you are able to hear the new word being pronounced correctly. If you are learning from a book, how do you know where to stress a word? Fortunately, there are some rules about stress placement in English. Like most rules, there are exceptions, but below are 10 rules that will help you stress most English words correctly. (We have also provided a "speaking tool" for you, so you can hear how any word is stressed.)

Two Fundamental Rules for Stress Placement

The first two rules we will cover are the fundamentals of stress placement.

(Rule 1) One stress per word

There is only one stress in a word. In other words, a word cannot have two stresses. (As you learn more about stress, you will notice that some long words have a secondary stress, but a secondary stress is much smaller than a primary stress.)

(Rule 2) Always a vowel

Only vowels can be stressed. Consonants cannot be stressed. This is true because the stress in any word falls on a single syllable, and there is a vowel sound at the heart of every syllable.

Stress Placement Based on Word Type

The next six rules we will cover are related to word type. In other words, the stress depends on whether the word is a noun, an adjective, or a verb. When a word has two syllables (and thousands do), the stress often depends on the word type.

(Rule 3) Stress the first syllable of a two-syllable noun

Most 2-syllable nouns are stressed on the first syllable. For example:

• WINdow, PENcil, BUCKet, SUNset, CAStle, RIVer, BASket, BUTton, FORest, TUNnel

(Rule 4) Stress the first syllable of a two-syllable adjective

Most 2-syllable adjectives are stressed on the first syllable. For example:

• HAPpy, QUIet, MODern, YELlow, ANcient, HOLlow, RIGid, SHIny, MELlow

(Rule 5) Stress the last syllable of a two-syllable verb

Most 2-syllable verbs are stressed on the last syllable. For example:

• to reLATE, to reTURN, to inSIST, to beCOME, to deNY, to preSENT, to exPORT, to deCIDE, to incLUDE, to arRIVE

Stress Placement with Compound Words

A compound word is a word made of two of more words. For example, "snowman" is a compound word made of "snow" and "man." The stress placement of a compound word often depends on its word type.

(Rule 6) Stress compound nouns on the first part

Most compound nouns are stressed on the first part. For example:

• BOOKstore, FIREfly, GREENhouse, TOOTHbrush, HAIRbrush

(Rule 7) Stress compound adjectives on the second part

Most compound adjectives are stressed on the second part. For example:

• old-FASHioned. long-LASTing, high-PITCHED, short-TEMPered

(Rule 8) Stress compound verbs on the second part

Most compound verbs are stressed on the second part. For example:

• to breakDOWN, to cutBACK, to log IN, to give UP, to overFLOW, to underSTAND

Stress Placement Based on Word Endings

(Rule 9) Stress the penultimate syllable of words ending "-ic," "-sion," and "-tion"

Most words that end "-ic," "-sion," and "-tion" are stressed on the penultimate syllable (i.e., the second to last one). If the word is a two-syllable word, then the penultimate syllable is also the first syllable. For example:

Words ending "-ic"

• athLETic, BAsic, cerAMic, geoGRAPHic, GRAPHic, metALlic, MYStic, orGAnic, STAtic, TROpic

Words ending "-sion"

• comPRESsion, conFESsion, deCISion, erOsion, PASsion, teleVIsion, TENsion

Words ending "-tion"

• ACtion, atTENtion, creAtion, eduCAtion, MOtion, NAtion, reveLAtion, situAtion, solUtion, tradItion

(Rule 10) Stress the ante-penultimate syllable of words ending "-cy," "-ty," "-phy," "-gy," and "al"

Provided they have at least three syllables, most words that end "-cy," "-ty," "-phy," and "-gy" are stressed on the ante-penultimate syllable (i.e., the third from the end). If the word is a three-syllable word, then the ante-penultimate syllable is also the first syllable. For example:

Words ending "-cy"

• BurEAUcracy, deMOcracy, LEGacy, diplOMacy

Words ending "-ty"

• dependaBILity, opporTUnity, simPLICity, uniVERsity

Words ending "-phy"

• biOGraphy, calLIGraphy, phoTOGraphy, toPOGraphy

Words ending "-gy"

• ALlergy, biOLogy, geOLogy, radiOLogy, STRATegy

Words ending "-al"

• ANimal, CRItical, DIGital, FESTival, geoLOGical, HOSpital

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