Simple rules for syllable stressing

What is Word Stress? The stress placed on syllables within words is called word stress. In one word, we place emphasis on one syllable, while the other syllables are given less emphasis. English words only have one stressed syllable. Whilst longer words can have a secondary stress, it is always a much lighter stress. It is also worth noting that we stress vowel sounds and not consonants.

Where you place stress or emphasis within a word can affect the way in which it is pronounced and therefore its meaning. As a result, knowing which syllable within a word should be emphasised or stressed is very important for correct pronunciation. The reason for this is that placing stress on the wrong syllable within a word can completely change the meaning of a word.

1. Word Stress For Two-Syllable Words Two-Syllable Nouns If the word is a two-syllable noun, we usually place the stress on the FIRST syllable. Example: MONkey, TEAcher, DIStance, INsect, TAble,

Two-Syllable Adjectives If the word is a two-syllable adjective, as with two-syllable nouns, we usually place the stress on the FIRST syllable. Examples: SIlent, BORing, LIttle, PURple, STUpid, CLEver, FRIEndly

Two Syllable Verbs Conversely, if the word is a two-syllable verb we generally stress the SECOND syllable. Examples: beGIN, surVIVE, aTTEND, coLLECT, preVENT

Two Syllable Prepositions The SECOND syllable is also stressed if the word is a preposition. Examples: aROUND, beFORE, beLOW, inSIDE, toWARDS

2. Word Stress For Words That Are Both Nouns & Verbs When a word can be both a noun and a verb, we stress the FIRST syllable for the noun and the SECOND syllable for the verb. Examples: 1) The violent CONflict between the couple conFLICTS with their pacifistic beliefs. 2) The PREsents he preSENTS his wife never fail to disappoint her. 3) They will no doubt disCOUNT my suggestion for DIScounts on Chinese courses for the elderly.

3. Word Stress For Words Ending in ‘er’ & ‘ly’. If a word ends in either ‘er’ or ‘ly’, whether it’s a noun, an adjective or an adverb, the general rules is that the stress is placed on the first syllable. Example: ANgrily, PERfectly, SUddenly, HAppily, FOReigner, GARdener, BARtender, MANager BIogger, BEtter, FAtter

4. Words That Use The Suffix ade, ee, ese, ique, ette & oon Stress the actual suffix of words (including the first consonant before the suffix) ending in -ade, -ee, -ese, -ique and -ette and -oon Examples: decADE, inVADE, ampuTEE, guaranTEE, aGREE, ChiNESE, oBESE, legaLESE, vinaigRETTE, kitcheNETTE, laundeRETTE, anTIQUE, obLIQUE, carTOON, baBOON

5. Simple Word Stress Rules For Suffixes The rule changes for words with a number of other suffixes such as -ery, -ian, -ible, -able, i-al, -cian, -ic, -ish, -ics, -ion, -ious, -ia, and -ient. Instead of placing the emphasis on the actual suffix as illustrated in the examples above, we stress the syllable just before the suffix. Examples: -ery: CELery, SURgery, reCOVery -ian: boHEMian, coMEdian, ciVILian, beauTICian -ible: AUDible, adMISSible, SENSible -able: aDAPTable, SUITable, CHANGEable -ial: fiNANcial, artiFICial, oFFICial -cian: maGIcian, opTIcian, beauTIcian -ic: BAsic, draMAtic, characteRIStic -ish: GARish, ENglish, unSELfish -ics: dyNAMics, aeRObics, hypNOtics -ion: VERsion, classifiCAtion, CAUtion -ious: harMONious, PREvious, VARious, FURious -ia: TRIVia, maLARia, multiMEdia -ient: ANcient, NUtrient, suFICient -osis: thromBOsis, psyCHOsis, osMOsis

A good way to remember some of the suffixes above is to use the rule for nearly all suffixes that start with an ‘i’ or a ‘u’. For example, the suffixes -ion, -ual, -uous, -ial, -ient, -ious, -iuor, ior, -ic, -ity. Notice again how we stress the syllable immediately before the suffix in the following examples: diVERsion, unUSual, conTINuous, amBIGuous, FATuous, SPAtial, TRANSient, LUSCious, suPERior, behaviour, JUNior, STOic, linGUIStic, photoGRAPHic Note, some exceptions to this rule include words ending in -ism, -ist and -ize.

f you are unsure about where to place the stress in a word, you can always refer to an English dictionary. All good dictionaries give the phonetic spelling of a word. You can learn which syllable of a word is stressed by looking at the phonetic spelling. The stressed syllable is commonly shown with an apostrophe (‘) just before or just after the stressed syllable.