Word Stress
In long English words, one part (syllable) is always LOUDER, longer, and higher pitch than the others!
Rule 1: -tion / -sion
Rule 2: -ic
Rule 3: -ity
Stress Shift 🔄
Do not pronounce every vowel clearly!
Listen Closely 👂
Mission 🎯
Mission 🎯
Mission 🎯
Rhythm & Stress
Watch & Listen: English is a "stress-timed" language. Notice how Teacher Sopheak moves her hands or nods her head on the stressed syllables. Body movement helps your pronunciation!
Ask a Question 🙋♂️
Recent Questions
Great question, Sovan! Native speakers rarely get stress wrong on common words, but they *do* sometimes struggle with long, unfamiliar academic or scientific words! However, stress is VERY important. If you get the stress wrong, a native speaker might not understand you, even if your vowel sounds are perfect! 🗣️
Why does "photograph" change stress when it becomes "photography"? It's so confusing!
I know it's tricky, Vireak! English is a "stress-timed" language. It likes a specific rhythm. When we add suffixes (like -y or -ic), it often "pulls" the stress towards the end of the word to keep that bouncy rhythm going. That's why learning the suffix rules (like -tion, -ic, -ity) is a great shortcut! 🎵
Teacher, do native speakers ever get word stress wrong?