A Few Stress Rules in English
The following are some stress rules. Go to Cambridge Pronouncing Dictionary, look up these words, and observe which syllables are stressed.
Rule 1: Verbs of two syllables ending in -ate and -ct usually take the stress on the ultimate (last) syllable.
/nəˈreɪt/ ‘narrate’/ləʊˈkeɪt/ ‘locate’
/maɪˈɡreɪt/ ‘migrate’
/vaɪˈbreɪt/ ‘vibrate’
/dɪˈbeɪt/ ‘debate’
/kənˈtækt/ ‘contact’
/əˈtrækt/ ‘attract’
/kəˈnekt/ ‘connect’
/dɪˈpɪkt/ ‘depict’
/ɪnˈfekt/ ‘infect’
Rule 2: Words ending in -ion have the primary stress on the penultimate syllable.
/ˈkwes.tʃən/ ‘question’
/ɪˌmædʒ.ɪˈneɪ.ʃən/ ‘imagination’
/ˌɪn.dɪˈdʒes.tʃən/ ‘indigestion’
/ˌɪn.trəˈdʌk.ʃən/ ‘introduction’
/səˈdʒes.tʃən/ ‘suggestion’
Rule 3: Words ending in -ic and -ian are stressed on the penultimate syllable.
/ɪˈlek.trɪk/ ‘electric’
/ˌsaɪ.ənˈtɪf.ɪk/ ‘scientific’
/ɑːˈtɪs.tɪk/ ‘artistic’
/ˌpeɪ.trɪˈɒt.ɪk/ ‘patriotic’
/ˌnæʃ.ən.əˈlɪs.tɪk/ ‘nationalistic’
/ɪˌlekˈtrɪʃ.ən/ ‘electrician’
/məˈdʒɪʃ.ən/ ‘magician’
/mjuːˈzɪʃ.ən/ ‘musician’
Rule 4: Words ending with -ical, -ial, and -ially have the stress on the ante-penultimate syllable.
/pəˈlɪt.ɪ.kəl/ ‘political’
/ˌsaɪ.kəˈlɒdʒ.ɪ.kəl/ ‘psychological’
/ˌtek.nəˈlɒdʒ.ɪ.kəl/ ‘technological’
/ˌiː.kəˈnɒm.ɪ.kəl/ ‘economical’
/iˈlek.trɪ.kəl/ ‘electrical’
/mɪˈmɔː.ri.əl/ ‘memorial’
/ɪnˈdʌs.tri.əl/ ‘industrial’
/ˌrez.ɪˈdenʃ.əl/ ‘residential’
/ɪˈsen.ʃəl/ ‘essential’
/ˈspeʃ.əl/ ‘special’
/ɪˈsen.ʃəl.i/ ‘essentially’
/əˈfɪʃ.əl.i/ ‘officially’
/ˈspeʃ.əl.i/ ‘specially’
/pəˈlɪt.ɪk.əl.i/ ‘politically
/ɪsˈpeʃ.əl.i/ ‘especially’
/vɪkˈtɔː.ri.ən/ ‘Victorian’
/laɪˈbreə.ri.ən/ ‘librarian’
Rule 5: Words ending with -ically take the primary stress on the pre-antepenultimate (fourth from the last) syllable.
/hɪsˈtɒr.ɪ.kəl.i/ ‘historically’
/ˈlɒdʒ.ɪ.kəl.i/ ‘logically’
/ˈkɒm.ɪ.kəl.i/ ‘comically’
/ˈmjuː.zɪ.kəl.i/ ‘musically’
/ˈtek.nɪ.kəl.i/ ‘technically’
Rule 6: Words ending in -eous are stressed on the syllable preceding the suffix.
/ˈraɪ.tʃəs/ ‘righteous’
/ˈɡɔː.dʒəs/ ‘gorgeous’
/spɒnˈteɪ.ni.əs/ ‘spontaneous’
/ˌæd.vənˈteɪ.dʒəs/ ‘advantageous’
/ˌsaɪ.məlˈteɪ.ni.əs/ ‘simultaneous’
Rule 7: Words of more than two syllables ending in -ate, -ise and -ify are stressed on the antepenultimate syllable.
/ˈkɒm.plɪ.keɪt/ ‘complicate’
/ˈed.jʊ.keɪt/ ‘educate’
/ˈkʌl.tɪ.veɪt/ ‘cultivate’
/ɑːˈtɪk.jʊ.leɪt/ ‘articulate’
/ˈsep.ə.reɪt/ ‘separate’
/ˈkɒl.ə.naɪz/ ‘colonise’
/ˈen.tə.praɪz/ ‘enterprise’
/ˈriː.ə.laɪz/ ‘realise’
/ˈrek.əɡ.naɪz/ ‘recognise’
/ˈæd.və.taɪz/ ‘advertise’
/ˈdʒʌs.tɪ.faɪ/ ‘justify’
/ˈklæs.ɪ.faɪ/ ‘classify’
/ˈbjuː.tɪ.faɪ/ ‘beautify’
/ˈsɜː.tɪ.faɪ/ ‘certify’
/ˈɡræt.ɪ.faɪ/ ‘gratify’
Rule 8: Words of more than two syllables ending in -ity are stressed on the antepenultimate syllable.
/əˈbɪl.ɪ.ti/ ‘ability’
/rɪˌspɒn.sɪˈbɪl.ɪ.ti/ ‘responsibility’
/ækˈtɪv.ɪ.ti/ ‘activity’
/ˌkjʊə.riˈɒs.ɪ.ti/ ‘curiosity’
/ˌprɒb.əˈbɪl.ɪ.ti/ ‘probability’
Rule 9: Words ending in -cracy and -crat are stressed on the antepenultimate syllable.
/ɔːˈtɒk.rə.si/ ‘autocracy’
/dɪˈmɒk.rə.si/ ‘democracy’
/tekˈnɒk.rə.si/ ‘technocracy’
/ær.ɪˈstɒk.rə.si/ ‘aristocracy’
/bjʊəˈrɒk.rə.si/ ‘bureaucracy’
/ˈɔː.tə.kræt/ ‘autocrat’
/ˈdem.ə.kræt/ ‘democrat’
/ˈtek.nə.kræt/ ‘technocrat’
/əˈrɪs.tə.kræt/ ‘aristocrat’
/ˈbjʊə.rə.kræt/ ‘bureaucrat’
Rule 10: Words ending in -graph, -graphy, -meter and -logy have the stress on the antepenultimate syllable.
/ˈɔː.tə.ɡrɑːf/ ‘autograph’
/ˈpær.ə.ɡrɑːf/ ‘paragraph’
/ˈfəʊ.tə.ɡrɑːf/ ‘photograph’
/baɪˈɒɡ.rə.fi/ ‘biography’
/ˌkɒr.iˈɒɡ.rə.fi/ ‘choreography’
/fəˈtɒɡ.rə.fi/ ‘photography’
/θəˈmɒm.ɪ.tə/ ‘thermometer’
/daɪˈæm.ɪ.tə/ ‘diameter’
/pəˈræm.ɪ.tə/ ‘parameter’
/saɪˈkɒl.ə.dʒi/ ‘psychology’
/fəˈnɒl.ə.dʒi/ ‘phonology’
/baɪˈɒl.ə.dʒi/ ‘biology’
Rule 11: Verbs ending with -ain are stressed on the ultimate (last) syllable.
/əˈteɪn/ ‘attain’
/ɪkˈspleɪn/ ‘explain’
/meɪnˈteɪn/ ‘maintain’
/rɪˈstreɪn/ ‘restrain’
/əbˈteɪn/ ‘obtain’
/səˈsteɪn/ ‘sustain’
Rule 12: Words ending with -ental and -ential are stressed on the penultimate syllable.
/ˌæk.sɪˈden.təl/ ‘accidental’
/məˈdʒɪʃ.ən/ ‘magician’
/mjuːˈzɪʃ.ən/ ‘musician’
Rule 4: Words ending with -ical, -ial, and -ially have the stress on the ante-penultimate syllable.
/pəˈlɪt.ɪ.kəl/ ‘political’
/ˌsaɪ.kəˈlɒdʒ.ɪ.kəl/ ‘psychological’
/ˌtek.nəˈlɒdʒ.ɪ.kəl/ ‘technological’
/ˌiː.kəˈnɒm.ɪ.kəl/ ‘economical’
/iˈlek.trɪ.kəl/ ‘electrical’
/mɪˈmɔː.ri.əl/ ‘memorial’
/ɪnˈdʌs.tri.əl/ ‘industrial’
/ˌrez.ɪˈdenʃ.əl/ ‘residential’
/ɪˈsen.ʃəl/ ‘essential’
/ˈspeʃ.əl/ ‘special’
/ɪˈsen.ʃəl.i/ ‘essentially’
/əˈfɪʃ.əl.i/ ‘officially’
/ˈspeʃ.əl.i/ ‘specially’
/pəˈlɪt.ɪk.əl.i/ ‘politically
/ɪsˈpeʃ.əl.i/ ‘especially’
/vɪkˈtɔː.ri.ən/ ‘Victorian’
/laɪˈbreə.ri.ən/ ‘librarian’
Rule 5: Words ending with -ically take the primary stress on the pre-antepenultimate (fourth from the last) syllable.
/hɪsˈtɒr.ɪ.kəl.i/ ‘historically’
/ˈlɒdʒ.ɪ.kəl.i/ ‘logically’
/ˈkɒm.ɪ.kəl.i/ ‘comically’
/ˈmjuː.zɪ.kəl.i/ ‘musically’
/ˈtek.nɪ.kəl.i/ ‘technically’
Rule 6: Words ending in -eous are stressed on the syllable preceding the suffix.
/ˈraɪ.tʃəs/ ‘righteous’
/ˈɡɔː.dʒəs/ ‘gorgeous’
/spɒnˈteɪ.ni.əs/ ‘spontaneous’
/ˌæd.vənˈteɪ.dʒəs/ ‘advantageous’
/ˌsaɪ.məlˈteɪ.ni.əs/ ‘simultaneous’
Rule 7: Words of more than two syllables ending in -ate, -ise and -ify are stressed on the antepenultimate syllable.
/ˈkɒm.plɪ.keɪt/ ‘complicate’
/ˈed.jʊ.keɪt/ ‘educate’
/ˈkʌl.tɪ.veɪt/ ‘cultivate’
/ɑːˈtɪk.jʊ.leɪt/ ‘articulate’
/ˈsep.ə.reɪt/ ‘separate’
/ˈkɒl.ə.naɪz/ ‘colonise’
/ˈen.tə.praɪz/ ‘enterprise’
/ˈriː.ə.laɪz/ ‘realise’
/ˈrek.əɡ.naɪz/ ‘recognise’
/ˈæd.və.taɪz/ ‘advertise’
/ˈdʒʌs.tɪ.faɪ/ ‘justify’
/ˈklæs.ɪ.faɪ/ ‘classify’
/ˈbjuː.tɪ.faɪ/ ‘beautify’
/ˈsɜː.tɪ.faɪ/ ‘certify’
/ˈɡræt.ɪ.faɪ/ ‘gratify’
Rule 8: Words of more than two syllables ending in -ity are stressed on the antepenultimate syllable.
/əˈbɪl.ɪ.ti/ ‘ability’
/rɪˌspɒn.sɪˈbɪl.ɪ.ti/ ‘responsibility’
/ækˈtɪv.ɪ.ti/ ‘activity’
/ˌkjʊə.riˈɒs.ɪ.ti/ ‘curiosity’
/ˌprɒb.əˈbɪl.ɪ.ti/ ‘probability’
Rule 9: Words ending in -cracy and -crat are stressed on the antepenultimate syllable.
/ɔːˈtɒk.rə.si/ ‘autocracy’
/dɪˈmɒk.rə.si/ ‘democracy’
/tekˈnɒk.rə.si/ ‘technocracy’
/ær.ɪˈstɒk.rə.si/ ‘aristocracy’
/bjʊəˈrɒk.rə.si/ ‘bureaucracy’
/ˈɔː.tə.kræt/ ‘autocrat’
/ˈdem.ə.kræt/ ‘democrat’
/ˈtek.nə.kræt/ ‘technocrat’
/əˈrɪs.tə.kræt/ ‘aristocrat’
/ˈbjʊə.rə.kræt/ ‘bureaucrat’
Rule 10: Words ending in -graph, -graphy, -meter and -logy have the stress on the antepenultimate syllable.
/ˈɔː.tə.ɡrɑːf/ ‘autograph’
/ˈpær.ə.ɡrɑːf/ ‘paragraph’
/ˈfəʊ.tə.ɡrɑːf/ ‘photograph’
/baɪˈɒɡ.rə.fi/ ‘biography’
/ˌkɒr.iˈɒɡ.rə.fi/ ‘choreography’
/fəˈtɒɡ.rə.fi/ ‘photography’
/θəˈmɒm.ɪ.tə/ ‘thermometer’
/daɪˈæm.ɪ.tə/ ‘diameter’
/pəˈræm.ɪ.tə/ ‘parameter’
/saɪˈkɒl.ə.dʒi/ ‘psychology’
/fəˈnɒl.ə.dʒi/ ‘phonology’
/baɪˈɒl.ə.dʒi/ ‘biology’
Rule 11: Verbs ending with -ain are stressed on the ultimate (last) syllable.
/əˈteɪn/ ‘attain’
/ɪkˈspleɪn/ ‘explain’
/meɪnˈteɪn/ ‘maintain’
/rɪˈstreɪn/ ‘restrain’
/əbˈteɪn/ ‘obtain’
/səˈsteɪn/ ‘sustain’
Rule 12: Words ending with -ental and -ential are stressed on the penultimate syllable.
/ˌæk.sɪˈden.təl/ ‘accidental’
/ˌɔː.riˈen.təl/ ‘oriental’
/ˌfʌn.dəˈmen.təl/ ‘fundamental’
/ˌmɒn.jʊˈmen.təl/ ‘monumental’
/ɪkˌspe.rɪˈmen.təl/ ‘experimental’
/ˌrez.ɪˈden.ʃəl/ ‘residential’
/ˌprez.ɪˈden.ʃəl/ ‘presidential’
/pəˈten.ʃəl/ ‘potential’
/ˌprɒv.ɪˈden.ʃəl/ ‘providential’
/ɪˈsen.ʃəl/ ‘essential’
Rule 13: Words ending with the suffixes -aire, -eer, -ese, -esce, -esque, -ique, -ee, and -ette are stressed on the ultimate (last) syllable.
/ˌmɪl.jəˈneə/ ‘millionaire’
/ˌkwes.tʃəˈneə/ ‘questionnaire’
/ˌen.dʒɪˈnɪə/ ‘engineer’
/ˌvɒl.ənˈtɪə/ ‘volunteer’
/ˌtʃaɪˈniːz/ ‘Chinese’
/ˌdʒæp.əˈniːz/ ‘Japanese’
/ˌkɒn.vəˈles/ ‘convalesce’
/ˌkəʊ.əˈles/ ‘coalesce’
/ˌpɪk.tʃəˈresk/ ‘picturesque’
/grəʊˈtesk/ ‘grotesque’
/juːˈniːk/ ‘unique’
/tekˈniːk/ ‘technique’
/ˌref.juˈdʒiː/ ‘refugee’
/peɪˈiː/ ‘payee’
/ˌsɪg.ərˈet/ ‘cigarette’
/gəˈzet/ ‘gazette’
Rule 14: Words ending with -itis, -escence and -escent are always stressed on the penultimate syllable.
/ˌtɒn.sɪˈlaɪ.təs/ ‘tonsillitis’
/ɑːˈθraɪ.tɪs/ ‘arthritis’
/ˌæd.əˈles.əns/ ‘adolescence’
/flɔːˈres.əns/ ‘fluorescence’
/ˌæd.əˈles.ənt/ ‘adolescent’
/flɔːˈres.ənt/ ‘fluorescent’
/ɪkˌspe.rɪˈmen.təl/ ‘experimental’
/ˌrez.ɪˈden.ʃəl/ ‘residential’
/ˌprez.ɪˈden.ʃəl/ ‘presidential’
/pəˈten.ʃəl/ ‘potential’
/ˌprɒv.ɪˈden.ʃəl/ ‘providential’
/ɪˈsen.ʃəl/ ‘essential’
Rule 13: Words ending with the suffixes -aire, -eer, -ese, -esce, -esque, -ique, -ee, and -ette are stressed on the ultimate (last) syllable.
/ˌmɪl.jəˈneə/ ‘millionaire’
/ˌkwes.tʃəˈneə/ ‘questionnaire’
/ˌen.dʒɪˈnɪə/ ‘engineer’
/ˌvɒl.ənˈtɪə/ ‘volunteer’
/ˌtʃaɪˈniːz/ ‘Chinese’
/ˌdʒæp.əˈniːz/ ‘Japanese’
/ˌkɒn.vəˈles/ ‘convalesce’
/ˌkəʊ.əˈles/ ‘coalesce’
/ˌpɪk.tʃəˈresk/ ‘picturesque’
/grəʊˈtesk/ ‘grotesque’
/juːˈniːk/ ‘unique’
/tekˈniːk/ ‘technique’
/ˌref.juˈdʒiː/ ‘refugee’
/peɪˈiː/ ‘payee’
/ˌsɪg.ərˈet/ ‘cigarette’
/gəˈzet/ ‘gazette’
Rule 14: Words ending with -itis, -escence and -escent are always stressed on the penultimate syllable.
/ˌtɒn.sɪˈlaɪ.təs/ ‘tonsillitis’
/ɑːˈθraɪ.tɪs/ ‘arthritis’
/ˌæd.əˈles.əns/ ‘adolescence’
/flɔːˈres.əns/ ‘fluorescence’
/ˌæd.əˈles.ənt/ ‘adolescent’
/flɔːˈres.ənt/ ‘fluorescent’
Rule 15: Initialisms take the stress on the ultimate syllable.
/ˌjuː.esˈeɪ/ ‘USA’
/ˌjuː.ˈkeɪ/ ‘UK’
Rule 16: Words having the suffixes -self and -selves are stressed on the ultimate syllable.
/jɔːˈself/ ‘yourself’
/ðəmˈselvz/ ‘themselves’
Initial-Stress Derivation: "There are several dozen pairs of two-syllable words with identical spelling which differ from each other in stress placement, apparently according to word class (noun, verb or adjective)." (Roach, English Phonetics and Phonology: A Practical Course)
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