Word Stress

RULES OF WORD STRESS

RULE # 1:  stress in two-syllable words:

Except for verbs, two-syllable words are usually stressed on the first syllable.

Examples: 1. answer

                       2. conduit

                       3. dealer

RULE # 2:  stress in words that end in –tion, -sion, and –cian:

For words that end in –tion, -sion, or –cian, the stressed syllable comes just before the –tion, -sion, or –cian.

Examples:  1. articulation

                        2. celebration

                        3. commission

RULE # 3: Stress in words that end in –ic and  –ical:

*For words that end in -ic, the stressed syllable comes just before the –ic.

* For words that end in –ical, the stressed syllable comes just before the –ical.

Examples: 1. analytic                    1. classical

                       2. anesthetic               2. ecumenical

                       3. energetic                 3. vertical

RULE # 4: Pronouncing two clear vowels together:

When two vowels are next to each other in a word, but in separate syllables, they are both clear. Usually, the second clear vowel has the stress, so it is longer.

Examples: 1. real

                       2. realign

                       3. society

RULE # 5: Stress in two-syllable nouns and verbs

When a two-syllable word can be used as a noun or a verb, the verb form is usually stressed on the second syllable.

Examples:     Noun                             Verb

                         1. confine                     confine        

                         2. conscript                 conscript

                         3. contact                     contact

RULE # 6: Stress in two-word verbs

Some verbs are made up of two words. These two-word verbs are commonly stressed on the second syllable.

Examples:     Noun                           Verb

                        1. letdown                     let down

                        2. shutout                    shut out

                        3. takeover                  take over

RULE # 7: Stress in compound nouns

English often combines two nouns to make a new word, called a compound noun. For example, the words “house” and “boat” can be combined to form a new noun. Compound nouns are pronounced as a single word, whit the stress on the first part.

Examples: 1.overpass

                       2.longtime

                       3. output

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