Stress

1. A word can only have one stress. In a very long word, you can have a secondary stress, but it
is always a much smaller stress.
2. Only vowels are stressed, not consonants. The vowels in English are a, e, i, o, and u. The
consonants are all the other letters.

Stress Rule
Rule
Two-Syllable nouns and adjectives: In most two
syllable nouns and adjectives, the first syllable takes
on the stress.
Two-Syllable verbs: In most two syllable verbs, the
stress is on the second syllable.
Two-Syllable prepositions: In most two syllable
prepositions, the stress is on the second syllable.
Example
MONkey, TEAcher, DIStance, INsect, Table, SIlent,
BORing, LIttle, PURple, STUpid, CLEver,
FRIEndly, CARton, PURple, RAIny, CHIna, HAPpy
relax, reCEIVE, direct, beGIN, surVIVE, aTTEND,
coLLECT, preVENT
aMONG, aSIDE, between, deCIDE, aROUND,
beFORE, beLOW, inSIDE, toWARDS

Stress Rule
Rule
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.
Words ending in consonants and in yː
If there is a word that ends in a consonant or in a y,
then the first syllable usually gets the stress.
Example
ORderly, SIlently, LOvingly, MAnager, GARdener,
Easier, ANgrily, PERfectly, SUddenly, HAppily,
FOReigner, GARdener, BARtender, MANager,
BIgger, BEtter, FAtter
RARity, OPtimal, GRAdient, GEnorous

The stress on the syllable right before the suffix

Suffixes that start with an ‘i’ or a ‘u’. For example, the suffixes -ion, -ual, -uous, -ial, -ient, -ious, -iuor, ior, -
ic, -ity.
Suffix Example
able ADDable, DURable, LAUGHable, aDAPTable, SUITable, CHANGEable
ia MEdia, vicTOria, criTEria, multiMEdia, deMENtia, bacTEria, miLItia, nosTALgia,
leuKAEmia, schizoPHREnia, pneuMOnia,
ial differENTial, SOcial, fiNANcial, maTErial, SPEcial, ofFIcial, potENtial, esSENtial,
resiDENtial, presiDENtial, influENtial, diffeRENtial, confiDENtial, seQUENtial,
prefeRENtial, expoNENtial
ible reSIstible, imPOSsible, TERRible, POSsible, resPONsible, imPOSsible, TERRible,
VISible, SENsible, FLExible, HORrible, acCESsible, inVIsible, eLIgible, inCREdible,
comPAtible, PLAUsible, FEAsible, susCEPtible, conVERtible, reSIstible, imPOSsible,
TERRible, AUDible, adMISSible, SENSible
ics diaBEtics, paediAtrics, Topics, characteRIStics, staTISTics, ecoNOmics, CRItics,
GRAphics, matheMAtics, PHYsics, rePUblic, TOpic, elecTROnics, meCHAnics
ian boHEMian, coMEdian, ciVILian, beauTICian
ient PATient, sufFIcient, efFIcient, ANcient, inGREdient, conVEnient, reCIpient, insufFIcient,
GRAdient, coefFIcient, NUtrient, Orient, imPAtient, outPAtient, inconVEnient, ANcient
ious mySTERious, reLIgious, VArious, SErious, PREvious, Obvious, reLIgious, Curious,
CONScious, Anxious, PREcious, amBItious, susPIcious, unCONScious, Furious,
mysTErious
cian muSIcian, phySIcian, clinician, techNIcian, poliTIcian, muSIcian, phySIcian, techNIcian,
mathemaTIcian, elecTRIcian, maGIcian, cliNIcian, statisTIcian, paTRIcian, opTIcian,
obsteTRIcian, theoreTIcian
ish SELfish, Punish, ENglish, esTAblish, FInish, PUBlish, PArish, disTINguish, RUBbish,
POlish, aBOlish, diMInish, VAnish, FLOUrish, PUnish, acCOMplish, FURnish, GARish,
ENglish, unSELfish
osis diagNOsis, osmosis, fiBROsis, tubercuLOsis, progNOsis, hypNOsis, osMOsis
sion deCIsion, comMIssion, proVIsion, diVIsion, teleVIsion, disCUssion, VERsion, ocCAsion,
conCLUsion, SESsion, exPRESsion, imPRESsion, PENSion, hyperTENsion, teleVIsion
tion ɪnformAtion, educAtion, situAtion, populAtion, applicAtion, operAtion, associAtion,
organizAtion, legislAtion, administrAtion, conversAtion, nuTRItion, reveLAtion
ery BAkery, SCEnery, CELery, SURgery, reCOVery
ic arCHAic, plaTOnic, characteristic, iCONic, GRAPHic, BAsic, draMAtic, characteRIStic
ion classifiCAtion, repoSItion, vegetation
 Word Stress: The primary stress actually placed on the suffix
Stress the actual suffix of words (including the first consonant before the suffix) ending in -ade, - ee, -ese, -
ique and -ette and -oon
Suffix Example
ade lemoNADE, cruSADE, arCADE, arcADE, balusTRADE, blockADE, brigADE, cascADE,
crusADE, parADE, serenADE, deCADE, inVADE
-aire astAIRE, doctrinAIRE, legionnAIRE, millionAIRE, questionnAIRE, solitAIRE
ee aGREE, jamborEE, guaranTEE, absentEE, addressEE, adoptEE, advisEE, referEE, refugEE
ese SiamESE, JapanESE, chEESE, BurmESE, ChinESE, JapanESE, JournalESE, LebanESE,
PortuguESE, VietnamESE
eer sightSEER, puppeTEER, mountainEER, auctionEER, commandEER, enginEER,
marketEER, voluntEER
que unIQUE, physIQUE, antIQUE, arabESQUE, burlESQUE, opAQUE, grotESQUE,
picturESQUE, romanESQUE, unIQUE
ette cassETTE, CorvETTE, towelETTE, cigarETTE, cassETTE, silhouETTE, gazETTE,
etiquETTE, brunETTE, roulETTE, kitchnETTE
OO bambOO, kangarOO, shampOO, tattOO
oon baLOON, afterNOON, carTOON, afterNOON, balLOON, carTOON, saLOON, laGOON,
coCOON, monSOON, tyPHOON
sce acquiESCE, convalESCE, reminISCE

Word Stress: The primary stress actually placed on the third syllable from the end
Suffix Example
ate (more than INdicate, Operate, SEparate, apPROpriate, CANdidate, EStimate, asSOciate,
ɜ syllables) CONcentrate, DEmonstrate, inVEStigate, GEnerate, ILlustrate, apPREciate
cy deMOcracy, Policy, Agency, deMOcracy, eMERgency, CURrency, efFIciency,
TENdency, FREquency, PREgnancy, acCUracy, reDUNdancy, buREAUcracy,
consPIracy, LEgacy
ity CLArity, comMUnity, auTHOrity, uniVERsity, QUAlity, acTIvity, seCUrity,
 opporTUnity, responsiBIlity, maJORity, aBIlity, possiBIlity, reAlity, capAcity
phy geOgraphy, phiLOsophy, biOgraphy, phoTOgraphy, bibliOgraphy, autobiOgraphy,
porNOgraphy, toPOgraphy, ethNOgraphy, calLIgraphy, choreOgraphy, icoNOgraphy,
chromaTOgraphy, tyPOgraphy
ogy/ɡy Allergy, techNOlogy, STRAtegy, psyCHOlogy, ideOlogy, sociOlogy, theOlogy, biOlogy,
methoDOlogy, aNAlogy, aPOlogy, termiNOlogy, geOlogy, anthroPOlogy
ical CRItical, NAUtical, poLItical, PHYsical, MEdical, PRActical, CHEmical, TEChnical,
CRItical, hisTOrical, RAdical, TYpical, CLASsical, MUsical, theoREtical, CLInical,
eLECtrical
inal oRIginal, CRIminal, TERminal, MARginal, CARdinal, NOminal, inTEStinal,
abDOminal, gastroinTEStinal, meDIcinal, longiTUdinal, VAginal, aboRIginal, SEminal,
Urinal
ify iDENtify, JUSTify, SPEcify, QUAlify, MOdify, CLARify, CLASsify, NOTify, SIGnify,
SIMPlify, inTENsify, TESTify, VErify
itive POsitive, comPEtitive, SENsitive, PRImitive, inFInitive, COGnitive, deFInitive,
rePEtitive, inTUitive, FUGitive, ADditive, PUnitive, inSENsitive, inQUIsitive,
TRANsitive
ize REalize, REcognize, ORganize, EMphasize, CRIticize, chaRACterize, SUMmarize,
MInimize, aPOlogize, AUthorize, SPEcialize, MAximize, MOdernize, PRIvatize
-eous sponTANeous, ouTRAGeous, simulTAneous, GORGeous, homoGEneous,
advanTAgeous, couRAgeous, HIDeous, heteroGEneous, COURTeous, miscelLAneous,
instanTAneous, RIGHTeous

Word Stress: Suffixes that do not affect stress patterns

The following suffixes do not influence the placement of the word stress: -al, -ally, -ess, -ful, -ish, -less, -ly, -
hood, -ship
Similarly, grammatical suffixes (-ed, -s, -es, -ing, -en, -est,) do not influence the placement of the word
stress.
Suffix Example
-al PERson -→ PERsonal, fiNANce-→ fiNANcial
-ally ACtual -→ ACtually, eVENT -→ eVENTually
-ess aWARE -→ aWAREness, HAppy -→ HAppiness
-less reGARD -→ reGARDless, MEAning -→ MEAningless
-hood BROther -→ BROtherhood, LIkely -→ LIkelyhood

Suffixes with a Schwa sound (uh)

able, -age, -al, -ary, -ate, -er, -or, -ful, -hood, -ible, -ice, -ile, -ish, -ism, -ist, -ize, -less, -ment, -most, -old,
-ship, -some, -th, -ward, -wise, -y
Suffix Example ipa Suffix Example ipa
-al animal ˈænəməl ance appearance əˈpɪrəns

-an human ˈhjumən ant important ɪmˈpɔrtənt

-ar lunar ˈlunər ard wizard ˈwɪzərd

-ate accurate ˈækjərət cian musician mjuˈzɪʃən

-ious delicious dɪˈlɪʃəs dom freedom ˈfridəm

-ed added ˈædəd en wooden ˈwʊdən

ence licence ˈlaɪsəns ent student ˈstudənt

er writer ˈraɪtər es buses ˈbʌsɪz

est biggest ˈbɪgəst ful joyful ˈʤɔɪfəl

-ial initial ɪˈnɪʃəl in raisin ˈreɪzɪn

le little ˈlɪtəl less pointless ˈpɔɪntləs

on cotton ˈkɑtən ment entertainment ˌɛntərˈteɪnmənt

or doctor ˈdɑktər ness happiness ˈhæpinəs

our colour colour ous famous ˈfeɪməs

le apple ˈæpəl ra zebra ˈzibrə

en children ˈʧɪldrən sion explosion ɪkˈsploʊʒən

ion position pəˈzɪʃə ule schedule ˈskɛʤʊl

um album ˈælbəm ure measure ˈmɛʒər

us focus ˈfoʊkəs ward forward ˈfɔrwərd

 Suffixes with an i sound
Suffix Example ipa Suffix Example ipa
-age bandage bændɪʤ -ic basic ˈbeɪsɪk

-im maxim ˈmæksəm ing meeting ˈmitɪŋ

-is tennis ˈtɛnəs ish finish ˈfɪnɪʃ

-ism racism ˈreɪˌsɪzəm ist pianist piˈænəst

-it prohibit proʊˈhɪbət ive passive ˈpæsɪv

-ship worship ˈwɜrʃəp

Suffixes with an ii sound

Suffix Example ipa Suffix Example ipa
-cy fancy -ie cookie

-ey trolley ies ladies

-ly quickly ry very

-ty party y windy

Suffixes with uh / ii sound

Suffix Example ipa Suffix Example ipa
ably comfortably -acy democracy
amy monogamy archy monarchy

ary dictionary ery pottery

ity purity ogy technology

omy astronomy raphy geography

Suffix with i/uh sound

-ible responsible -ical economical

Suffix with uh/uh sound

-able available

Suffix with uh/i sound

-ative talkative

Suffixes with other sounds: iy -eous, -ia, -ian, -ier, -iour, -ious, -ium eu -o, -ow, -phobe ai -fy, -
ise a -gram o -logue oy -oid

i-vowel suffixes

i-vowel suffixes
Many words contain suffixes beginning with -i-, especially in combination with other suffixes, like -ious,
ion, i-an, in these cases, the main word stress shifts to the syllable immediately preceding the
i-vowel suffix. Sometimes the stressed vowel before the i-vowel suffix may be shortened
suffix word word+ suffix suffix word word+ suffix
-ian statistíc statistician/ stætə -iana Indián/ ˈɪndiən  Indiána/
ˈstɪʃən
-ial space spatial/ ˈspeɪʃəl -iance luxury/ ˈlʌgʒəri luxuriance/

-iary benefít benefíciary/ -ient, - de+fic- dèfícient, dèfícience,

ˌbɛnəˈfɪʃiˌɛri ience, - dèfíciency
iency
-ion cohére cohésion/ koʊ ious luxury luxúrious
ˈhiʒən
 i-vowel suffix Rule
IVS = i-vowel suffix, V = vowel, C = consonant

Rule VC + IVS -→ VC Pattern VC Example

The stressed vowel in the preceding syllable is á = [eI / ey / ɛi ] spátial
always stressed, and tends to be long if the base é=[i:] secrétion
ends in a single consonant (VC), ó=["u] locomótion
ú=[u:] electrocútion
Rule iC + IVS -→ VC Pattern iC Example
The stressed vowel in the preceding syllable is the í = [I] partítion
short í = [I]

Rule VCC + IVS -→ VVC Pattern VCC Example

The stressed vowel in the preceding syllable if it is
followed by two consonants (VCC),
á = [æ] contráction
é = [ ɛ] detéction
í = [I] jurisdíction
ó = [a: ~ "] concóction
ú = [U] condúction

I-Vowel and Pronunciation

The i-vowel suffixes can cause a change in the pronunciation of certain final consonant of the root

(base) word. These consonants are usually {t, c, s}, and change to {ʃ, ʧ, ʒ }.
Consonant Pattern Example

-t- = ʃ -tion resignátion

-tian Mártian
(T between 2 vowel or vowel -tial pártial
before t) -tient pátient
-tiate inítiate
-tious fictítious

-Ct- = ʧ, certain consonants + - -tion depíction, deténtion

t-, e.g., -ct-, -nt- -tian reáction
-tial experiéntial
(Consonant before ‘t’) -tient séntient
 -tiate poténtiate
-tious conténtious

-c- = ʃ -cian mortícian

-cial fináncial
(Vowel before ‘t’) -cier glácier

-s- = ʒ -ian Eurásian

-ial ambrósial
(Vowel before ‘s’) -sion derísion

-Cs- = ʃ -ion ascénsion

(Consonant before ‘s’)

Also, e-vowel suffixes usually display similar stress and pronunciation patterns as the i-vowel suffixes:
spontáneous, advantágeous, carbonáceous, crustácean

Neutral suffixes
Neutral suffixes do not affect the main word stress, and don’t cause the stress to shift when they are
added. These include the grammatical (“weak”) endings. Most word-building suffixes in English are
neutral suffixes.
Note: The neutral suffixes usually contain the weak vowel schwa and short ‘e’.
grammatical word word + Suffix grammatical word word + Suffix
suffixes suffixes
-ed defíbrolàte defíbrolated -ing réify réifying
-s, -es, -’s, -s’ bátch batches/ˈbæʧəz -er (ADJ) prétty préttier

-est (ADJ) píthy pithiest/ ˈpɪθɪɪst

word-building word word + Suffix word-building word word + Suffix

suffixes suffixes
-able acknówledge acknówledgeable -age cóver cóverage
-al pórt pórtal -ary vísion vísionary
-ate afféction afféctionate -er, -or óperate óperator
(NOUN)
ful wonder wónderful hood chíld chíldhood

-ible corróde corródible -ice préjude préjudice

-ish coquétte coquéttish -ism fúnctional fúnctionalism
-ist génerative génerativist -ize rátional rátionalist

-less agénda agéndaless -ly abtrúse abtrúsely

ment acknówledge acknówledgement -most ínner ínnermost

ship assístant assístantship ward héaven héavenward

-wise contráry contráriwise -y cheese chéesy

A syllable is long if it consists of a long vowel (V:), a double vowel (VV), a vowel and two or
more consonants (VCC). A syllable is short if it contains a short vowel (V) or a vowel +
consonant (VC).

V: [ey, i:, u, u:] = long abatement

VV au, ea, oi, etc. = long encounter
VCC = long enactment
V [æ, ɛ, i, u] = short leviathan
VC = short annihilate