What Is Word Stress?
Word stress is the emphasis given to one syllable in a word. In English, each word with more than one syllable has one main stressed syllable. This affects:
pronunciation
meaning
comprehension
Example:
🔹 phoTOgraph ➝ stress on TO
🔹 phoTOgraphic ➝ stress on TO
⭐ Why Stress Matters
Proper stress helps: ✔ listeners understand you
✔ you avoid sounding unclear
✔ correct pronunciation in exams
📌 Rules of Stress Patterns in BE
🟡 1. Two-Syllable Nouns & Adjectives
Most two-syllable nouns and adjectives are stressed on the first syllable.
Word Stress
TAble ✔ first
DOCtor ✔ first
HAPpy ✔ first
👉 If you see a 2-syllable noun/adjective, try first syllable first!
🟢 2. Two-Syllable Verbs & Prepositions
Most 2-syllable verbs have stress on the second syllable.
Word Stress
to reTURN ✔ second
to exPLAIN ✔ second
to beGIN ✔ second
🔵 3. Compound Words
Compound nouns usually have stress on the first part:
Word Stress
BLACKboard ✔ first
NOTEbook ✔ first
SUNlight ✔ first
Compound adjectives and verbs vary — learn individually.
🟠 4. Words Ending in –ic, –sion, –tion
Words ending in these usually get stress on the penultimate (second from last) syllable:
Ending Stress Pattern Example
–ic second from last geoLOGic
–tion second from last comPLEtion
–sion second from last exPANsion
🟣 5. Words Ending in –cy, –ty, –phy
These endings stress the antepenultimate (third from last) syllable:
Ending Example
–cy deMOcracy
–ty uniVERsity
–phy geoPHYsics
🔶 6. Prefixes and Suffixes
Many prefixes do not change stress location.
Example: ✔ UNhappy → stress stays on HAPPY
✖ UnHAPpy (wrong)
Suffixes can shift stress:
Suffix Effect
–ee stress on the suffix
–eer stress on the suffix
–ous stress before suffix
🔻 7. Minimal Pairs (Same Spelling, Different Meaning)
Stress can change meaning.
Word Meaning
PREsent (noun) a gift
preSENT (verb) to show
📍 General Tips for UTME
🌟 Learn common stress patterns by ending
🌟 Use a dictionary showing stress (’ before stressed syllable)
🌟 Practice with recordings
🌟 Mark new vocabulary with stress marks
📚 Example Words to Practice
Word Correct Stress
phoTOgraph phoTOgraph
interVIEW interVIEW
opPOsition opPOsi*tion
bioGRAPHic bioGRAPHic
✔ Quick Practice Drill
Identify the stressed syllable:
1️⃣ UNderstand
2️⃣ comPUter
3️⃣ aCCI-dent
4️⃣ inforMAtion
🎯 Final Summary
Group Stress Pattern
Nouns/Adjectives (2 syll.) first syllable
Verbs (2 syll.) second syllable
–ic, –tion, –sion words penultimate
–cy, –ty, –phy words antepenultimate
EduTimes Africa, a product of Education Times Africa, is a magazine publication that aims to lend its support to close the yawning gap in Africa's educational development.