Word Stress Basics

Stress one syllable in each word.

Examples

• PHOtograph, phoTOgraphy

Key rules

• Each English word with more than one syllable has one main stressed syllable
• The stressed syllable is longer, louder and higher in pitch
• Stress is often marked in dictionaries with a stress mark

Common mistakes

• PHOtograph (stress on first) vs photoGRAPHic → Learn the stress with each word
• phoTOgraphy (stress on second) → Say the stress on the middle syllable

Use cases

• Improving speaking clarity
• Pronouncing new words
• Presentations and interviews