This instructional video will teach you where to put stress in a word. This is called syllable stress. Putting the correct stress on a word is a very important part to speaking English clearly and fluently. The video will demonstrate where to put the stress and review the rules. One way to feel the stress is to use a rubber band. Begin by watching the video. Keep a rubber band near you so you can practice the stress with the speaker in the video. After the video, review the rules listed below.

WATCH THE VIDEO

PRACTICE

Important Points to Remember:

A syllable is a beat in a word. For example, ser-vice has two syllables (or two beats), and work has only one syllable (or beat).

• “Customer” has three syllables: cus-tom-er

“Syllable stress” is the emphasis on the syllable. We create stress by making the syllable a little louder, longer, and higher pitch. One way to “feel” the stress on a syllable is to take a rubber band and pull it apart when you are stressing the sound.

• cus-tom-er / ser-vice

“object” is a noun. Do you see the object on the table?
“object” is a verb. Do you object to the way she treated you?

In English, every word has at least one syllable that is stressed. Stressed syllables are higher, longer, and louder than the other syllables.

• “SER-VICE”

Words with only one syllable of course are stressed on the only vowel sound.

• please (the final “e” is silent)
• call

Review

1. A one-syllable word can have only one stress.
2. The syllable that is stressed must contain a vowel.
3. The stressed syllable is longer, higher, and louder than the other syllables.
4. These rules are not true 100% of the time. When we take words from other languages, we sometimes use the stress pattern of the original word.
5. The best way to find out which syllable is stressed is to look in the dictionary. You can also clap out the syllables while saying the word to help you.

More Practice
Try these related pages to help you practice syllable stress:
Syllable Stress Overview Practice
Syllable Stress

If you are a MyOvient PLUS or PRO member, you can ask questions or leave comments about this page. Click here to learn more about MyOvient Membership.

LISTEN

Listen to the audio recording below.

PRACTICE

The number of syllables is given after each word. In words with two or more syllables,
the stressed syllable is in bold.

job (1)
work (1)
home (1)
skill (1)
tech (1)
office (2)
station (2)
quickly (2)
propose (2)
business (2)
cubicle (3)
understand (3)
computer (3)
Internet (3)
calendar (3)

WATCH THE VIDEO

PRACTICE

Important Points to Remember:

Nouns and adjectives with two syllables usually have stress on the first syllable.

Example nouns:

• meeting
• promise

Example adjectives:

• busy
• helpful
• extra

Verbs and prepositions with two syllables usually have stress on the second syllable.

Example verbs:

• observe
• complain
• become

Example prepositions:

• about
• above
• without

Words that end in “ate” or “ize,” “ive” & “ical” have stress on the third syllable from the end. It doesn’t matter how many syllables the words have, and it doesn’t matter if they are verbs, nouns or adjectives.

• mer-chan-dise
• pub-li-cize
• a-ppre-ci-ate
• tech-no-log-i-cal

Words that end in “shun” and “ic” are stressed on the syllable second from the end. It doesn’t matter how many syllables the words have, and it doesn’t matter if they are verbs, nouns or adjectives.

• sit-u-a-tion
• im-pres-sion
• com-mis-sion
• ques-tion

Remember, we don’t follow these rules all of the time, but it’s good to practice them because they are very common patterns.

This lesson will help you to help practice stress patterns for nouns and adjectives. Begin by listening to the audio and repeat the phrases after the speaker. Then, go through each of the phrases again on your own and read them aloud. Use a rubber band to stress the bold syllables. For added practice, record yourself reading the phrases and listen to see if your pronunciation sounds like the audio.

LISTEN

Listen to the audio recording below.

PRACTICE

Nouns and Adjectives: Most of the time, nouns and adjectives with two syllables have
stress on the first syllable.

For example:
’gor-geous (adjective)
’meet-ing (noun)

PRACTICE

Listen to these nouns and adjectives. Compound nouns and adjectives also have stress
on the first word/syllable.

dinner
bossy
culture
brutal
busy
overhead
well trained
product
address
update
background
board room
conference call
gas station

More Practice
Try these related pages to help you practice stress patterns:
Stress Patterns for Verbs and Prepositions Practice
Stress Patterns for Word Endings Practice

If you are a MyOvient PLUS or PRO member, you can ask questions or leave comments about this page. Click here to learn more about MyOvient Membership.

LISTEN

Listen to the audio recording below.

PRACTICE

Most of the time, verbs and prepositions with two syllables have stress on the second syllable.

For example:
Oppose (verb)
Relate (verb)

Listen to these verbs and record yourself reading them. Compare your recording to the teacher’s.

1. control
2. increase
3. promote
4. direct
5. agree
6. collapse
7. decide
8. project
9. discuss
10. decline
11. devour
12. obsess

1. about
2. above
3. across
4. against
5. among
6. around
7. before
8. behind
9. below
10. beneath
11. beside
12. between
13. without

LISTEN

Listen to the audio recording below.

PRACTICE

Words that end in “ate” or “ize,” “ive” & “ical” have stress on the third syllable from the
end. It doesn’t matter if they are verbs, nouns or adjectives.

ap-pre-ci-ate
me-di-ate
con-glo-mer-ate
op-er-ate
com-mer-cia-lize
or-ga-nize
pub-li-cize
ad-ver-tise
e-xe-cu-tive
po-li-ti-cal
tech-no-lo-gi-cal

Words that end in “tion”,“sion” and “ic” are stressed on the second syllable from the end.

e-du-ca-tion
si-tu-a-tion
im-pres-sion
com-mis-sion
ag-gre-ga-tion
pre-dic-tion
in-vi-ta-tion
do-mes-tic
sta-tis-tic
ro-bo-tic
e-co-no-mic
ter-rif-ic

WATCH THE VIDEO

PRACTICE

Important Points to Remember:

Unstressed syllables must be lower pitched, shorter and weaker than the stressed syllables. Even if you stress the correct syllable, but you put too much stress on the unstressed syllable, people will have a hard time understand you.

It is very common for the vowels in unstressed syllables to be so weak that they lose their original sound and become the /ə/ sound.

• The “a” in company sounds like /ə/.
• The “i” in president sounds like /ə/.
• The “io” in relationship sounds like /ə/.

There are also some 1-syllable words in English that are stressed when spoken alone, but when they are in a sentence they are not stressed.

• The “e” in “the” is usually pronounced /ə/.
• The letter “a” is usually pronounced /ə/.
• The “o” in “of” is pronounced /ə/.
• The “a” in “and” and the “o” in “or” are usually pronounced pronounced /ə/.
• The “a” in “can” is pronounced /ə/.

Some unstressed vowels become the /I/ sound, as in the words lid and bit.

For example:

• The “i” in habit sounds like /I/.
• The “i” in service sounds like /I/.
• The “e” in business sounds like /I/.

Syllables that contain /ər/ are also NEVER stressed. It is very common to see the /ə/ before r’s. This makes the sound like “ur”.

For example:

• Never
• underestimate
• power

It’s really hard to hear the unstressed vowels in words because they are spoken so quickly. But with practice, you’ll be able to hear them and pronounce them correctly.

This lesson will help you improve your pronunciation of unstressed syllables. Begin by listening to the audio and repeat the phrases after the speaker. Then, go through each of the phrases again on your own and read them aloud. The unstressed syllables are underlined. For added practice, record yourself reading the phrases and listen to see if your pronunciation sounds like the audio.

LISTEN

Listen to the audio recording below.

PRACTICE

Introduction
It is important not to stress the unstressed syllables in a word.
Listen to and record examples of the unstressed /ə/ in the words below.
The unstressed syllable is underlined. Compare your recording to the teacher’s.

1. amend
2. president
3. company
4. message
5. economy
6. motivate
7. opposite
8. ago
9. amount
10. television
11. banana
12. arrive
13. question

More Practice
Try these related pages to help you practice unstressed syllables:
Unstressed Syllables Practice B
Unstressed Syllables Practice C

If you are a MyOvient PLUS or PRO member, you can ask questions or leave comments about this page. Click here to learn more about MyOvient Membership.

LISTEN

Listen to the audio recording below.

PRACTICE

The indefinite article "a" often sounds like /ə/.
Listen to the following sentences with "a" pronounced as /ə/.

1. I got a new boss.
2. Do you need a hand?
3. I need a new computer.
4. She has a sister.
5. I scheduled a meeting today.

The word "of" becomes /əv/ in many cases.
Listen to the following sentences with of pronounced as /əv/.

1. A pile of papers.
2. A stack of documents.
3. A pound of bananas.
4. A bunch of people.
5. A lot of work.

In addition, when listing items, the word "and" is often reduced to ən.
Listen to the following sentences with "and" pronounced as /ən/.

1. Coffee and tea.
2. Reports and more reports.
3. Boys and girls.
4. I want this and that.
5. Burger and fries.

"Can" is usually unstressed when another words follows it.
Listen to the following sentences with can pronounced as cən.

1. I can do it.
2. She can play the guitar.
3. Can you go?

LISTEN

Listen to the audio recording below.

PRACTICE

Please listen to and record examples of the unstressed /ɪ/ in the words below.
The unstressed syllable is underlined and the stressed syllable is bolded. Practice pronouncing the words.

1. Comic
2. icicle
3. fantastic
4. visit
5. instead
6. cigar
7. dispose
8. budget
9. closet
10. millimeter

Syllables that contain /ər/ are also NEVER stressed when they’re in the middle or end of a word. It is very common to see the /ə/ before r’s. This makes the sound like “ur”.

For example:
Never
understand

PRACTICE

Please listen to and record examples of the unstressed /ər/ in the words below.
The unstressed syllable is underlined and the stressed syllable is bolded. Compare your recording to the teacher’s.

1. Reference:
2. offer
3. reader
4. however
5. comprehend
6. manager
7. advertise
8. doctor
9. internet
10. anger

PRACTICE

When you are giving a choice between two things, the word or is reduced to /ər/.
Listen to and record the phrases below. Practice or as ər.

1. Should I turn right ər left?
2. Coffee ər tea?
3. Are you married ər single?
4. One ər two?
5. Is he tall ər short?

WATCH THE VIDEO

PRACTICE

Important Points to Remember:

Syllable stress is often determined by the prefixes and suffixes that have been added to the basic form of the word. These are added at the beginning and end of words and they change the meaning of the original word.

Common prefixes are a, un, be, in, pro, ex, ob, & dis. Prefixes are usually not stressed. Instead, the first syllable of the base form of the word is stressed.

For example:

• undo
• restate
• inside

Suffixes are like prefixes, but they are added to the ends of words. They often change the grammar of the word. Common suffixes are s, ed, ing, ish, ly, ee, & ic.

Some suffixes do not change the stress pattern of the word they were added to.

For example:

• -less (effort → effortless)
• -ing (open → opening)
• -er (develop → developer)

Other suffixes actually take the stress, leaving the other syllables receiving either light or no stress.

For example:

• -eer (engine → engineer)
• -ique (tech → technique)
• -aire (question → questionnaire)

Suffixes can also cause a the placement of stress to move to the syllable immediately before the suffix.

For example:

• -eous (advantage → advantageous)
• -ion (situate → situation)
• -graphy (photograph → photography)

You don’t have to memorize all of these rules; however, it’s a good idea to practice these words so that they start to sound natural to you. If you practice them enough, you’ll be able to apply these patterns to new words that you learn.

This lesson will help you practice pronouncing words with certain prefixes. In most cases the prefix is not stressed however, there are some exceptions. Begin by listening to the audio and repeat the phrases after the speaker. Then, go through the first section of phrases and read them aloud. Notice that the prefixes are not stressed. Next, go through the second section of phrases. In this section, the prefixes are stressed. For added practice, record yourself reading the phrases and listen to see if your pronunciation sounds like the audio.

LISTEN

Listen to the audio recording below.

PRACTICE

A prefix is an element of a word that is added to change its meaning. Prefixes are letters
like this: a, un, be, in, pro, ex, ob, dis, ex. Prefixes are not usually stressed. The first
syllable of the base word is stressed, no matter if the word is a noun, verb or adjective.

award
proposal
progressive
unaltered
obtained
unsocial
discuss
expand

However, the prefix rule changes when a word has a prefix such as ex, fore, out, over,
under, or up and functions as a noun.

expert
forecast
outcry
overlook
underdog
update

More Practice
Try these related pages to help you practice syllable stress for Prefixes and Suffixes:
Syllable Stress for Prefixes and Suffixes Practice B
Syllable Stress for Prefixes and Suffixes Practice C
Syllable Stress for Prefixes and Suffixes Practice D

If you are a MyOvient PLUS or PRO member, you can ask questions or leave comments about this page. You can also download the audio file. Click here to learn more about MyOvient Membership.

LISTEN

Listen to the audio recording below.

PRACTICE

Some suffixes are neutral, meaning they do not affect the stress pattern of the word they
were added to.

Below are some suffixes that don’t change the stress pattern. Listen and then record the
word without the suffix, and then with the suffix. Notice there is no change in the stress
pattern.

-hood (adult – adulthood)
-less (effort – effortless)
-ship (Friend – friendship)
-ful (event – eventful)
-ing (open – opening)
-ish (self – selfish)
-ly (sudden – suddenly)
-ness (happy – happiness)
-ment (accomplish – accomplishment)
-al (addition – additional)
-er (develop – developer)

PRACTICE

Listen and record the pairs of sentences that contain words with the same stress pattern.

1. I love fine wine and chocolate.
2. I am a lover of fine wine and chocolate.
    
3. I wonder how many people will come to the meeting.
4. The wonderful meeting included the whole staff.
    
5. They will develop a new system.
6. The developer will create a new system.

LISTEN

Listen to the audio recording below.

PRACTICE

Below are some suffixes that that cause the final syllable of a word to receive strong
stress, with other syllables receiving either light or no stress. These suffixes have often
come to English from the French language.

Listen and practice pronouncing the word with and without the suffix. Notice how the stress changes with the suffix.

-aire (question – questionnaire)
-aire (million – millionaire)

-ee (employ – employee)
-ee (refuge – refugee)

-eer (engine – engineer)
-eer (mountain – mountaineer)

-ese (China – Chinese)
-ese (Japan – Japanese)

-ique (tech – technique)
-ique (ant – antique)

-esque (picture – picturesque)

-ette (case – casette)
-ette (kitchen – kitchenette)

PRACTICE

Listen to the sentences and practice saying them.

1. He made millions last year.
2. He became a millionaire last year.
    
3. I want to travel to Portugal.
4. My friend is Portuguese.
    
5. I am employed at the company.
6. I am a new employee at the company.

This lesson will help you practice pronouncing words with suffixes that change the stress pattern of the root word. These suffixes cause the syllable before the last syllable to receive strong stress. Begin by listening to the audio and repeat the words after the speaker. Then, go through the first section and read the words aloud. Notice that the stress pattern changes for the words with and without the suffix. Next, go through the second section of sentences. Again, the stress pattern changes for the words with or without the suffix. For added practice, record yourself reading the phrases and listen to see if your pronunciation sounds like the audio.

LISTEN

Listen to the audio recording below.

PRACTICE

Suffixes can also cause a change of stress in the root of the word- meaning they cause the stress to shift to the syllable immediately preceding the suffix. Below are some suffixes that cause the stress in the root to shift to the syllable preceding the suffix.

Listen and then practice saying the word with and with out the suffix. Notice the change of stress.

-eous (advantage – advantageous)

-graphy (photo – photography)

-ial (proverb – proverbial)

-cian (music – musician)

-ic (drama – dramatic)

-ical (ecology – ecological)

-ious (labor – laborious)

-ity (reciprocate – reciprocity)

-tion (situate – situation)

PRACTICE

Listen and then record the sentences. Focus on the shift of syllable stress.

1. He is a musician who makes music.
2. The politician is in politics because he is very political.
3. The trainer trained the trainee.

More Practice
Try these related pages to help you practice syllable stress for Prefixes and Suffixes:
Syllable Stress for Prefixes and Suffixes Practice A
Syllable Stress for Prefixes and Suffixes Practice B
Syllable Stress for Prefixes and Suffixes Practice C

If you are a MyOvient PLUS or PRO member, you can ask questions or leave comments about this page. You can also download the audio file. Click here to learn more about MyOvient Membership.