9. Word stress & reduced vowels
Stress is a crucial part of English pronunciation. Without the right word stress, words may be completely unintelligible to English speakers. Watch the video to learn more...
The most important qualities in English stress are:
1. Length: stressed syllables are longer
2. Pitch: stressed syllables are higher pitched
3. Vowel quality of unstressed syllables: they are reduced vowels.
⠀For speakers of East Asian languages and Romance languages, stressed syllable length may be the most difficult part of learning English stress. However, this is also highly important, so let's work on it.
Word lists
2 syllable words - stress pattern: laLA be-: before, because, befall, belie, behind, benign, bereft, behold de-: deny, denote, delay, design, decide, deploy, devour, deface, demote, deride, demand ex-: exhaust, exact, exclude, expel, excite, explore, extent, expect, exist, exam
Three syllables - stress pattern: laLAla 🔊Listen: ~computer~, ~president~ be-: beguiling, betrothal, belabor, belongings, besotted, bedazzling, beforehand de-: destructive, detractor, determine, description, demolish, descending, demanding, demeaning ex-: exactly, examine, example, explorer, excitement, exhaustion, exciting
Phrases
phrases in the pattern: LA laLA go abroad, straight ahead, start anew, long ago, they arrived, think again, still asleep
Phrases in the pattern: laLA laLA be- Because of you, at your behest, bemoan the loss, it’s just begun, betray your friend, bereft of stuff, I don’t believe (it), beneath it all, do not betray (me)
Phrases in the pattern: laLA laLA ex- & en- Except for that, enjoy the food, extract the gold, ensure he lives, enrich the poor, enforce the law, engage the kids, encourage life, empower truth, encourage Matt
Sentences
Short sentences in the pattern: laLA laLA laLA
I want to go abroad.
I’m going straight ahead.
He wants to start anew.
It happened long ago.
Just wait til they arrive.
You need to think again.
The baby’s still asleep. (stress short_sentences_laLA_laLA_laLA.mp3)