1.4: Syllable Stress
Syllable Stress: Which syllable is the strongest?
Rules to Remember
In words with two or more syllables, one syllable is stronger than the others. The strongest syllable has the most stress or emphasis.
Listen
Listen to the speaker read the words in the figure below. Syllable Stress Recording.m4a
Notice:
- The stressed syllable is long and the vowel sound of the stressed syllable is clear.
- The other syllables are short and unclear.
- There is only one syllable with primary stress in each word. The other syllables usually take the schwa sound /ə/.
Watch the Video
Rachel's English - Word Stress in Two-Syllable Words
Practice
Underline the stressed syllable in each of the words below.
Example: re peat
- about
- daughter
- sleepy
- unreal
- question
- relax
- rely
- quiet
- perfect
- allow
- standard
- delete
Check your Answers
Use the interactive quiz to check your answers. Select the correct answer, click "check" to see if your answer is correct, and then click the arrow to move to the next question. When you have answered all of the questions, click "Finished."
Watch the Video
Rachel's English - Word Stress in Three-Syllable Words
Practice
Underline the stressed syllable in each of the words below.
Example: com pu ter
- rational
- popular
- decided
- example
- everyday
- eighty-one
- sensation
Check your Answers
Use the interactive quiz to check your answers. Select the correct answer, click "check" to see if your answer is correct, and then click the arrow to move to the next question. When you have answered all of the questions, click "Finished."
Quiz
You will hear each word two times. Underline the strongest (or stressed) syllable. Click here for the audio: Syllable Stress Quiz.m4a You can listen to the recording as many time as you need.
- bursting
- excited
- memorial
- dangle
- escape
- graffiti
- dividing
- covered
- infamously
- kilometer
- explain
- concoction
- curry
- powder
- popular
- delicious
- present (noun)
- present (verb)
Check your Answers
Use the interactive quiz to check your answers. Select the correct answer, click "check" to see if your answer is correct, and then click the arrow to move to the next question. When you have answered all of the questions, click "Finished."
Resources
Dictionaries: Finding the Stressed Syllable
Most dictionaries put a ['] before the syllable with the main stress. Sometimes one word can have more than one stress pattern.
- 'pre-sent (noun) - People usually give a present for birthdays and weddings.
- pre-'sent (verb) - The scientists will present their research.
Click on the link to use the website The Merriam-Webster's Learner's Dictionary: https://learnersdictionary.com/
Watch the video to learn how to use The Merriam-Webster's Learner's Dictionary: Merriam-Webster Learner Dictionary.mp4
How to use howmanysyllables.com
You can use the website https://www.howmanysyllables.com/ to help you count the number of syllables. This website can also help you determine which syllable is stressed.
To use the website How Many Syllables:
- Type the word into the search bar
- Find the number of syllables
- Find the stress
- Play the recording and practice saying the word
Watch the video to learn how to use the website: How Many Syllables.mp4
Click on the link to use the website: https://www.howmanysyllables.com/
Recording: Syllables and Syllable Stress
- Listen to the recording. Syllable Stress Recording Task.m4a Then say the following words.
- Use the correct stress. Remember that the vowel for the stressed syllable should be long and clear. The vowels in the other syllables are not stressed. They are quick and usually have a schwa sound.
- Submit your video recording to your teacher.
- You will receive one point for each correctly pronounced word.
Total Points: _____/16
- burst ing
- ex ci ted
- me mo ri al
- dan gle
- es cape
- gra fi ti
- di vid ing
- cov ered
- in fa mous ly
- kil o me ter
- ex plain
- con coc tion
- cur ry
- pow der
- pop u lar
- de li cious