STRESSING WORDS

'THE IMPORTANCE OF WORD STREES'

• Stressing the wrong syllable in a word can make the word very difficult to hear and understand.

• Stressing a word differently can change the meaning or type of word. 

• Even if the speaker can be understood, mistakes with word strees can make the listener feel irritated, or perhaps even amused, and could prevent good communication from taking place.

When we stress syllables in words, we use a combination of different features.

A stressed syllable ...

• is l-o-n-g-e-r 
• is LOUDER 
• has a change in pitch 
• is said more clearly 
• uses larger facial movements 

TENDENCIES

Many common two syllable nouns and adjectives have stress on the first syllable:
WAter - FINGer - PEOple - UGly


Two syllable words acting as a noun have the stress on the first syllable. however, if they act as verbs, the stress falls on the second syllable.
DEsert - deSERT

Generally prefixes and suffixes aren't stressed in English. However, the following suffixes are stressed:
-ee => employEE, payEE,
-ese => BurmESE, VietnamESE
-eer => enginEER, voluntEER

If a word has the following suffixes, the stress is usually on the syllable before the syllable with the suffix, no matter what the stress of the base word is.
-ive => deCIsive, exCLUsive
-ity => disaBIlity, QUALity
-graphy => phoTOGraphy, geOGraphy
-logy => techNOlogy, geOlogy
-ious/-eous => PREcious, simulTAneous


The same is also true for the following suffixes:
-ient, -iant, -ial, -ion, -ic, -ian, -ical, -iate, -iary, -iable, -ish, -ify, -ium, -ior, -io, -iar, -ible

Easy & important word stress rules for better pronunciation

Stress in long words + activities