Word Stress in the English Language

Word Stress in the English Language

What is word stress?

Word stress is the emphasis we place in a specific syllable of a word when pronouncing it. In English words that have more than one syllable, we usually don’t pronounce every syllable with the same weight, so each syllable in a word can be stressed or unstressed.

 

In English we stress just one syllable in every word. We say that one syllable more loudly, we say it higher and we make it last longer.

 

Word stress is like a magic key to clear English. As you talk to people, listen to the news, watch movies, you must listen for and practice word stress. It will help you to understand what you hear and it will let others understand you.

 

Use an audio dictionary to listen to each of the words and mark which syllable gets the stress. Listen for the syllable that's a little louder and longer. You should practice to get it right.

 

Although English stress varies considerably, there are a few rules that will help you predict stress.

 

Stress Rules

STRESS RULE 1

Stress One and Two Word Compound Nouns on the 1st Word

 

bedroom

earrings

  keyboard

    reality show


birthday

earthquake

  toenail

    redhead


bookstore

eyebrows

  laptop

    restroom


boyfriend

eyelashes 

  layoff

    rock concert


breakdown  

toothpaste 

  lipstick  

    sailboat


 

STRESS RULE 2

Stress Proper Nouns (Names) of Two+ Words on the Last Word

- I’m leaving for New York tomorrow.

- I’m leaving for New York City tomorrow.

- Professor Jones is a popular teacher.

- Georgia Tech is a tough university to get into.

- Los Angeles is larger than San Diego.

- Arabic is a common language in the Middle East.

 

STRESS RULE 3

Stress similar nouns and verbs differently. Stress Nouns on the First syllable and Verbs on the Second syllable.

Nouns - Verbs

CONduct - conDUCT

PROduce - proDUCE

CONtract - conTRACT

PROgress - proGRESS

DEsert - deSERT

PROject - proJECT

OBject - obJECT

PERmit – permit

 

Many nouns/adjectives and verbs look almost alike, but nouns are one word and verbs are two words. Stress Two-Word Verbs (Compound Verbs) on the 2nd Word.

 

Nouns - Verbs

BREAKdown - break DOWN

MAKEup - make UP

BREAKup - break UP

PICKup - pick UP

HANDout - hand OUT

 

STRESS IN NUMBERS

It is important to pronounce numbers with accurate stress. One main difference is between numbers ending in –teen and –ty, such as 14 and 40. We stress teens on the second syllable, and stress words end with ty on the first syllable.

f o u r t e e n         f o r ty

 

 

 

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