Basic pronunciation: syllables and stress
Count syllables and put the stress on the right part of a word.
In this lesson you will
- Count the syllables in a word
- Say which syllable is stressed
- Use common stress patterns
Learn
A syllable is a part of a word with one vowel sound: cat (1), ta-ble (2), ba-na-na (3), tel-e-vi-sion (4).
In words with two or more syllables, one syllable is stressed: it is louder, longer and higher. TAble, baNAna, hoTEL. Stress on the wrong syllable can make a word hard to understand, even if every sound is right.
Useful patterns:
- Most two-syllable nouns and adjectives stress the first syllable: TEAcher, HAPpy, WAter, MOther.
- Most two-syllable verbs stress the second syllable: beGIN, reLAX, deCIDE.
- Words ending -tion or -sion stress the syllable before it: inforMAtion, teleVIsion.
- Numbers: thirTEEN but THIRty, fifTEEN but FIFty.
Unstressed syllables are often weak, with the schwa /ə/ sound: TEAch-ər, ba-NA-nə.
| Pattern | Examples |
|---|---|
| Oo | TEAcher, HAPpy, WINdow, MONday |
| oO | hoTEL, beGIN, toDAY, aGAIN |
| oOo | baNAna, comPUter, toMAto |
| Ooo | CAMera, FAmily, HOSpital |
Examples
- TEA-cher2 syllables, stress on 1st
- ho-TELstress on 2nd
- ba-NA-na3 syllables
- thir-TEEN / THIR-ty
- in-for-MA-tion
Vocabulary
syllable
a part of a word with one vowel sound
““Happy” has two syllables.”
stress
saying a syllable stronger
“The stress is on the first syllable.”
hotel
a place to stay when travelling
banana
a long yellow fruit
computer
an electronic machine for work and the internet
family
parents, children and relatives
Practice
How many syllables are in “banana”?
Listening: Thirteen or thirty?
Audio isn’t available in this browser — read the transcript instead.
Customer: How much is this bag?
Assistant: It’s fifteen pounds.
Customer: Fifteen or fifty?
Assistant: Fifteen. One-five.
1.How much is the bag?
2.The customer checks the number.
Speaking
Say these words and tap the table on the stressed syllable: TEAcher, hoTEL, baNAna, FAmily, comPUter, thirTEEN, THIRty.
- Make stressed syllables longer and louder; make the others short.
Writing
Write eight words you use often and mark the stressed syllable with capital letters (e.g. COFfee, reLAX).
Lesson quiz
How many syllables are in “family”?
Review
Key points
- A syllable has one vowel sound.
- Stressed syllables are longer, louder and higher.
- Nouns/adjectives: often Oo. Verbs: often oO. -tion: stress just before.
- -teen numbers stress -TEEN; -ty numbers stress the first syllable.
What you learned
- ✓ I can count syllables.
- ✓ I can put stress on the right syllable.
- ✓ I can say thirteen and thirty clearly.