Speaking: Pronunciation B1 - Lesson 3: Word Stress in Longer Words (3+ syllables)

Speaking: Pronunciation B1 - Lesson 3

Word Stress in Longer Words (3+ syllables)

By the end of this lesson, you will be able to use common word endings (suffixes) to predict and pronounce the stress in longer English words correctly.


Decoding Stress with Word Endings

For longer words, the stress is not random. It often follows predictable patterns based on the word's ending, which is called a suffix1. Learning these patterns is like having a "secret code" to unlock English pronunciation.

Let's look at three of the most common patterns.

Word Ending (Suffix) Stress Pattern Rule Examples (Stressed syllable is in CAPITALS)
-tion, -sion, -ic Stress is on the syllable2 BEFORE the suffix. inforMAtion, deciSIon, ecoNOmic
-ee, -eer, -ese Stress is ON the suffix itself. employEE, engiNEER, JapanESE
-ty, -phy, -gy, -al Stress is on the syllable TWO BEFORE the suffix (ante-penultimate). aBIlity, phoTOgraphy, biOlogy, CRItical

Key Pronunciation Terms

  1. Suffix: A group of letters added to the end of a word: បច្ច័យ
  2. Syllable: A single unit of speech, usually with one vowel sound: ព្យាង្គ
  3. Information: Facts or details about a subject: ព័ត៌មាន
  4. Ability: The power or skill to do something: សមត្ថភាព
  5. Engineer: A person who designs and builds machines, engines, or structures: វិស្វករ
  6. Photography: The art and process of taking photographs: ការថតរូប

record_voice_over Pronunciation Focus: The Schwa Sound /ə/

Why do we need to know where the stress is? Because in English, the unstressed syllables are usually weak, quick, and unclear. The vowel sound in these weak syllables often becomes the "schwa" sound, which sounds like a soft "uh".

  • Listen to "pho-TO-gra-phy". The stressed 'o' in 'TO' is clear. The other vowels ('o', 'a', 'y') are weak and sound like /ə/. It sounds like "phə-TO-grə-phy".
  • Listen to "in-for-MA-tion". It sounds like "in-fər-MA-tion".

Stressing the correct syllable and weakening the others is essential for natural-sounding English.

lightbulb How to Count Syllables from the End

To use these rules, you need to count syllables from the end of the word.

Let's use the word a-BI-li-ty.

  • The last syllable is -ty.
  • The second-to-last syllable is -li-.
  • The third-to-last syllable is -BI-.

The rule for the "-ty" suffix is to stress the third-to-last syllable. So, the stress is on -BI-. This technique will help you apply the patterns to new words you discover.

sports_esports Practice Word Stress Patterns

Activity 1: Where's the Stress?

Read these words. Based on the suffix rules, which syllable should be stressed? Say the word aloud.

  1. politician (Stress on: -TI-)
  2. communication (Stress on: -CA-)
  3. Chinese (Stress on: -NESE)
  4. geography (Stress on: -O-)
  5. practical (Stress on: -TI-)

Activity 2: Read the Sentences

Practice reading these sentences aloud. Pay close attention to the stress on the long words.

  • The engiNEER gave a presenTAtion.
  • The JapaNESE tourEE had a great personAlity.
  • His poLItical deCIsion was very controVERsial.

task Your Pronunciation Mission

This week in Siem Reap, your mission is to be a word stress detective for longer words.

Listen to English news or a podcast. When you hear a long word (3+ syllables), try to identify the stressed syllable. Write down two or three of the words you hear. Do they follow the patterns you learned in this lesson?

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