Word Stress In English

Every English word of two or more syllables has one syllable that is stronger than the others. It is louder, longer and higher in pitch. In IPA the stressed syllable comes after the mark ˈ. Getting the stress right matters as much as the sounds, because a word with the wrong stress is often not understood.

Common Stress Patterns

In these patterns O is the stressed syllable and o is an unstressed one. Counts come from the Transcription dictionary.

Oo3,281 words, for example able, abscess, abseil, absence, absent, absinth, abstract, accent
oO1,057 words, for example abate, abide, aboard, abode, abort, abound, about, above
Ooo1,254 words, for example abdicate, absolute, accident, accolade, accurate, acrobat, acronym, actual
oOo731 words, for example abandon, abnormal, abolish, abortion, abrasive, abundant, accession, according
ooO230 words, for example afternoon, alongside, arabesque, ascertain, barricade, buccaneer, cigarette, clarinet
Oooo125 words, for example actually, algorithm, alienate, allegory, alligator, amiable, antibody, anybody
oOoo363 words, for example abdominal, ability, absurdism, accompany, activity, agrarian, alleviate, alveolar
ooOo184 words, for example academic, affidavit, alleluia, analytic, anecdotal, animation, apostolic, apparatus

Words Where The Stress Changes (216)

Many two-syllable words are stressed on the first syllable as nouns and adjectives, and on the second as verbs, like /ˈrek.ɔːd/ a record and /rɪˈkɔːd/ to record. Some change their sounds as well.

absentAdjective /ˈæb.sənt/
Verb /æbˈsent/
abstractAdjective, noun /ˈæb.strækt/
Verb /æbˈstrækt/
abuseNoun /əˈbjuːs/
Verb /əˈbjuːz/
accentNoun /ˈæk.sənt/
Verb /ækˈsent/
addictNoun /ˈæd.ɪkt/
Verb /əˈdɪkt/
advocateNoun /ˈæd.və.kət/
Verb /ˈæd.və.keɪt/
affectVerb /əˈfekt/
Noun (psychology) /ˈæf.ekt/
agedAdjective /ˈeɪ.dʒɪd/
Past form of the verb, as in "aged ten" /eɪdʒd/
alternateAdjective /ɔːlˈtɜː.nət/
Verb /ˈɔːl.tə.neɪt/
appropriateAdjective /əˈprəʊ.pri.ət/
Verb /əˈprəʊ.pri.eɪt/
approximateAdjective /əˈprɒk.sɪ.mət/
Verb /əˈprɒk.sɪ.meɪt/
associateNoun, adjective /əˈsəʊ.si.ət/
Verb /əˈsəʊ.si.eɪt/
attributeNoun /ˈæt.rɪ.bjuːt/
Verb /əˈtrɪb.juːt/
augustMonth (August) /ˈɔː.ɡəst/
Adjective /ɔːˈɡʌst/
back upVerb /ˌbækˈʌp/
Noun (backup) /ˈbæk.ʌp/
belovedAdjective /bɪˈlʌv.ɪd/
Past form of the verb /bɪˈlʌvd/
blessedAdjective /ˈbles.ɪd/
Past form of the verb /blest/
break downVerb /ˌbreɪkˈdaʊn/
Noun (breakdown) /ˈbreɪk.daʊn/
break inVerb /ˌbreɪkˈɪn/
Noun (break-in) /ˈbreɪk.ɪn/
break outVerb /ˌbreɪkˈaʊt/
Noun (breakout) /ˈbreɪk.aʊt/
break upVerb /ˌbreɪkˈʌp/
Noun (breakup) /ˈbreɪk.ʌp/
buffetNoun (meal) /ˈbʊf.eɪ/
Verb /ˈbʌf.ɪt/
call backVerb /ˌkɔːlˈbæk/
Noun (callback) /ˈkɔːl.bæk/
call outVerb /ˌkɔːlˈaʊt/
Noun (callout) /ˈkɔːl.aʊt/
carry onVerb /ˌkær.iˈɒn/
Noun (carry-on) /ˈkær.i.ɒn/
carry outVerb /ˌkær.iˈaʊt/
Noun (carryout) /ˈkær.i.aʊt/
catch upVerb /ˌkætʃˈʌp/
Noun (catch-up) /ˈkætʃ.ʌp/
check inVerb /ˌtʃekˈɪn/
Noun (check-in) /ˈtʃek.ɪn/
check outVerb /ˌtʃekˈaʊt/
Noun (checkout) /ˈtʃek.aʊt/
check upVerb /ˌtʃekˈʌp/
Noun (checkup) /ˈtʃek.ʌp/
clean upVerb /ˌkliːnˈʌp/
Noun (cleanup) /ˈkliːn.ʌp/
closeVerb /kləʊz/
Adjective, adverb /kləʊs/
combineVerb /kəmˈbaɪn/
Noun (machine) /ˈkɒm.baɪn/
come backVerb /ˌkʌmˈbæk/
Noun (comeback) /ˈkʌm.bæk/
compactNoun /ˈkɒm.pækt/
Adjective /kəmˈpækt/
compoundNoun, adjective /ˈkɒm.paʊnd/
Verb /kəmˈpaʊnd/
compressVerb /kəmˈpres/
Noun /ˈkɒm.pres/
conductNoun /ˈkɒn.dʌkt/
Verb /kənˈdʌkt/
conflictNoun /ˈkɒn.flɪkt/
Verb /kənˈflɪkt/
conserveVerb /kənˈsɜːv/
Noun /ˈkɒn.sɜːv/
consoleNoun /ˈkɒn.səʊl/
Verb /kənˈsəʊl/
contentNoun /ˈkɒn.tent/
Adjective /kənˈtent/
contestNoun /ˈkɒn.test/
Verb /kənˈtest/
contractNoun /ˈkɒn.trækt/
Verb /kənˈtrækt/
contrastNoun /ˈkɒn.trɑːst/
Verb /kənˈtrɑːst/
convertNoun /ˈkɒn.vɜːt/
Verb /kənˈvɜːt/
convictNoun /ˈkɒn.vɪkt/
Verb /kənˈvɪkt/
coordinateNoun /kəʊˈɔː.dɪ.nət/
Verb /kəʊˈɔː.dɪ.neɪt/
crookedAdjective /ˈkrʊk.ɪd/
Past form of the verb /krʊkt/
cursedAdjective /ˈkɜː.sɪd/
Past form of the verb /kɜːst/
cut offVerb /ˌkʌtˈɒf/
Noun (cutoff) /ˈkʌt.ɒf/
cut outVerb /ˌkʌtˈaʊt/
Noun (cutout) /ˈkʌt.aʊt/
decreaseNoun /ˈdiː.kriːs/
Verb /dɪˈkriːs/
defectNoun /ˈdiː.fekt/
Verb /dɪˈfekt/
delegateNoun /ˈdel.ɪ.ɡət/
Verb /ˈdel.ɪ.ɡeɪt/
deliberateAdjective /dɪˈlɪb.ər.ət/
Verb /dɪˈlɪb.ə.reɪt/
desertNoun /ˈdez.ət/
Verb /dɪˈzɜːt/
digestNoun /ˈdaɪ.dʒest/
Verb /dɪˈdʒest/
discardNoun /ˈdɪs.kɑːd/
Verb /dɪˈskɑːd/
discountNoun /ˈdɪs.kaʊnt/
Verb /dɪˈskaʊnt/
doggedAdjective /ˈdɒɡ.ɪd/
Past form of the verb /dɒɡd/
drop outVerb /ˌdrɒpˈaʊt/
Noun (dropout) /ˈdrɒp.aʊt/
duplicateNoun, adjective /ˈdjuː.plɪ.kət/
Verb /ˈdjuː.plɪ.keɪt/
e.g.Spelt out /ˌiːˈdʒiː/
Read as "for example" /fɔː.ɪɡˈzɑːm.pəl/
elaborateAdjective /ɪˈlæb.ər.ət/
Verb /ɪˈlæb.ə.reɪt/
entranceNoun /ˈen.trəns/
Verb /ɪnˈtrɑːns/
escortNoun /ˈes.kɔːt/
Verb /ɪˈskɔːt/
estimateNoun /ˈes.tɪ.mət/
Verb /ˈes.tɪ.meɪt/
excuseNoun /ɪkˈskjuːs/
Verb /ɪkˈskjuːz/
exploitNoun /ˈek.splɔɪt/
Verb /ɪkˈsplɔɪt/
exportNoun /ˈek.spɔːt/
Verb /ɪkˈspɔːt/
extractNoun /ˈek.strækt/
Verb /ɪkˈstrækt/
fall outVerb /ˌfɔːlˈaʊt/
Noun (fallout) /ˈfɔːl.aʊt/
fill inVerb /ˌfɪlˈɪn/
Noun (fill-in) /ˈfɪl.ɪn/
frequentAdjective /ˈfriː.kwənt/
Verb /frɪˈkwent/
get awayVerb /ˌɡet.əˈweɪ/
Noun (getaway) /ˈɡet.əweɪ/
give awayVerb /ˌɡɪv.əˈweɪ/
Noun (giveaway) /ˈɡɪv.əweɪ/
graduateNoun /ˈɡrædʒ.u.ət/
Verb /ˈɡrædʒ.u.eɪt/
hand outVerb /ˌhændˈaʊt/
Noun (handout) /ˈhænd.aʊt/
hand overVerb /ˌhændˈəʊ.və/
Noun (handover) /ˈhænd.əʊ.və/
hang outVerb /ˌhæŋˈaʊt/
Noun (hangout) /ˈhæŋ.aʊt/
hang upVerb /ˌhæŋˈʌp/
Noun (hang-up) /ˈhæŋ.ʌp/
hold outVerb /ˌhəʊldˈaʊt/
Noun (holdout) /ˈhəʊld.aʊt/
hold upVerb /ˌhəʊldˈʌp/
Noun (holdup) /ˈhəʊld.ʌp/
houseNoun /haʊs/
Verb /haʊz/
i.e.Spelt out /ˌaɪˈiː/
Read as "that is" /ðæt.ɪz/
impactNoun /ˈɪm.pækt/
Verb /ɪmˈpækt/
implantNoun /ˈɪm.plɑːnt/
Verb /ɪmˈplɑːnt/
importNoun /ˈɪm.pɔːt/
Verb /ɪmˈpɔːt/
imprintNoun /ˈɪm.prɪnt/
Verb /ɪmˈprɪnt/
incenseNoun /ˈɪn.sens/
Verb /ɪnˈsens/
inclineVerb /ɪnˈklaɪn/
Noun /ˈɪŋ.klaɪn/
increaseNoun /ˈɪŋ.kriːs/
Verb /ɪnˈkriːs/
inlayNoun /ˈɪn.leɪ/
Verb /ˌɪnˈleɪ/
insertNoun /ˈɪn.sɜːt/
Verb /ɪnˈsɜːt/
insultNoun /ˈɪn.sʌlt/
Verb /ɪnˈsʌlt/
internNoun /ˈɪn.tɜːn/
Verb /ɪnˈtɜːn/
intimateAdjective /ˈɪn.tɪ.mət/
Verb /ˈɪn.tɪ.meɪt/
invalidNoun /ˈɪn.və.lɪd/
Adjective /ɪnˈvæl.ɪd/
inviteNoun /ˈɪn.vaɪt/
Verb /ɪnˈvaɪt/
knock downVerb /ˌnɒkˈdaʊn/
Noun (knockdown) /ˈnɒk.daʊn/
knock outVerb /ˌnɒkˈaʊt/
Noun (knockout) /ˈnɒk.aʊt/
lay offVerb /ˌleɪˈɒf/
Noun (layoff) /ˈleɪ.ɒf/
lay outVerb /ˌleɪˈaʊt/
Noun (layout) /ˈleɪ.aʊt/
leadVerb (guide) /liːd/
Noun (metal) /led/
learnedAdjective /ˈlɜː.nɪd/
Past form of the verb /lɜːnd/
let downVerb /ˌletˈdaʊn/
Noun (letdown) /ˈlet.daʊn/
liveVerb /lɪv/
Adjective, adverb /laɪv/
livesPlural of life /laɪvz/
He, she or it lives (verb) /lɪvz/
lock outVerb /ˌlɒkˈaʊt/
Noun (lockout) /ˈlɒk.aʊt/
lock upVerb /ˌlɒkˈʌp/
Noun (lockup) /ˈlɒk.ʌp/
log inVerb /ˌlɒɡˈɪn/
Noun (login) /ˈlɒɡ.ɪn/
log outVerb /ˌlɒɡˈaʊt/
Noun (logout) /ˈlɒɡ.aʊt/
look outVerb /ˌlʊkˈaʊt/
Noun (lookout) /ˈlʊk.aʊt/
make upVerb /ˌmeɪkˈʌp/
Noun (makeup) /ˈmeɪk.ʌp/
mess upVerb /ˌmesˈʌp/
Noun (mess-up) /ˈmes.ʌp/
minuteNoun /ˈmɪn.ɪt/
Adjective (tiny) /maɪˈnjuːt/
moderateAdjective /ˈmɒd.ər.ət/
Verb /ˈmɒd.ə.reɪt/
mouthNoun /maʊθ/
Verb /maʊð/
objectNoun /ˈɒb.dʒekt/
Verb /əbˈdʒekt/
overdoseVerb /ˌəʊ.vəˈdəʊs/
Noun /ˈəʊ.və.dəʊs/
overflowVerb /ˌəʊ.vəˈfləʊ/
Noun /ˈəʊ.və.fləʊ/
overhangVerb /ˌəʊ.vəˈhæŋ/
Noun /ˈəʊ.və.hæŋ/
overhaulVerb /ˌəʊ.vəˈhɔːl/
Noun /ˈəʊ.və.hɔːl/
overlapVerb /ˌəʊ.vəˈlæp/
Noun /ˈəʊ.və.læp/
overlayVerb /ˌəʊ.vəˈleɪ/
Noun /ˈəʊ.və.leɪ/
overloadVerb /ˌəʊ.vəˈləʊd/
Noun /ˈəʊ.və.ləʊd/
overlookNoun /ˈəʊ.və.lʊk/
Verb /ˌəʊ.vəˈlʊk/
Verb /ˌəʊ.vəˈlʊk/
Noun /ˈəʊ.və.lʊk/
overrunVerb /ˌəʊ.vəˈrʌn/
Noun /ˈəʊ.və.rʌn/
overthrowVerb /ˌəʊ.vəˈθrəʊ/
Noun /ˈəʊ.və.θrəʊ/
overturnVerb /ˌəʊ.vəˈtɜːn/
Noun /ˈəʊ.və.tɜːn/
pay backVerb /ˌpeɪˈbæk/
Noun (payback) /ˈpeɪ.bæk/
pay offVerb /ˌpeɪˈɒf/
Noun (payoff) /ˈpeɪ.ɒf/
perfectAdjective /ˈpɜː.fekt/
Verb /pəˈfekt/
permitNoun /ˈpɜː.mɪt/
Verb /pəˈmɪt/
pervertNoun /ˈpɜː.vɜːt/
Verb /pəˈvɜːt/
pick upVerb /ˌpɪkˈʌp/
Noun (pickup) /ˈpɪk.ʌp/
polishVerb, noun /ˈpɒl.ɪʃ/
Nationality (Polish) /ˈpəʊ.lɪʃ/
prayerNoun (someone who prays) /ˈpreɪ.ə/
Noun (an act of praying, or a request) /preə/
premiseNoun /ˈprem.ɪs/
Verb /prɪˈmaɪz/
presentNoun, adjective /ˈprez.ənt/
Verb /prɪˈzent/
produceNoun /ˈprɒdʒ.uːs/
Verb /prəˈdjuːs/
progressNoun /ˈprəʊ.ɡres/
Verb /prəˈɡres/
projectNoun /ˈprɒdʒ.ekt/
Verb /prəˈdʒekt/
prospectNoun /ˈprɒs.pekt/
Verb /prəˈspekt/
protestNoun /ˈprəʊ.test/
Verb /prəˈtest/
pull backVerb /ˌpʊlˈbæk/
Noun (pullback) /ˈpʊl.bæk/
pull outVerb /ˌpʊlˈaʊt/
Noun (pull-out) /ˈpʊl.aʊt/
pull overVerb /ˌpʊlˈəʊ.və/
Noun (pullover) /ˈpʊl.əʊ.və/
pull upVerb /ˌpʊlˈʌp/
Noun (pull-up) /ˈpʊl.ʌp/
put downVerb /ˌpʊtˈdaʊn/
Noun (put-down) /ˈpʊt.daʊn/
put onVerb /ˌpʊtˈɒn/
Noun (put-on) /ˈpʊt.ɒn/
raggedAdjective /ˈræɡ.ɪd/
Past form of the verb /ræɡd/
readPresent form /riːd/
Past form /red/
readingVerb form, noun /ˈriː.dɪŋ/
Place name (Reading) /ˈred.ɪŋ/
rebelNoun /ˈreb.əl/
Verb /rɪˈbel/
reboundNoun /ˈriː.baʊnd/
Verb /rɪˈbaʊnd/
recallNoun /ˈriː.kɔːl/
Verb /rɪˈkɔːl/
recoilVerb /rɪˈkɔɪl/
Noun /ˈriː.kɔɪl/
recordNoun /ˈrek.ɔːd/
Verb /rɪˈkɔːd/
recountVerb (to tell) /rɪˈkaʊnt/
Verb (to count again) /ˌriːˈkaʊnt/
Noun (a second count) /ˈriː.kaʊnt/
refuseNoun /ˈref.juːs/
Verb /rɪˈfjuːz/
rejectNoun /ˈriː.dʒekt/
Verb /rɪˈdʒekt/
relapseVerb /rɪˈlæps/
Noun /ˈriː.læps/
researchNoun /ˈriː.sɜːtʃ/
Verb /rɪˈsɜːtʃ/
resumeVerb (to start again) /rɪˈzjuːm/
Noun (résumé) /ˈrez.ju.meɪ/
rowLine, or to paddle (rhymes with go) /rəʊ/
Argument (rhymes with cow) /raʊ/
run downVerb /ˌrʌnˈdaʊn/
Noun (rundown) /ˈrʌn.daʊn/
segmentNoun /ˈseɡ.mənt/
Verb /seɡˈment/
separateAdjective /ˈsep.ər.ət/
Verb /ˈsep.ə.reɪt/
set backVerb /ˌsetˈbæk/
Noun (setback) /ˈset.bæk/
set offVerb /ˌsetˈɒf/
Noun (set-off) /ˈset.ɒf/
set upVerb /ˌsetˈʌp/
Noun (setup) /ˈset.ʌp/
sewerNoun (a drain) /ˈsuː.ə/
Noun (someone who sews) /ˈsəʊ.ə/
show offVerb /ˌʃəʊˈɒf/
Noun (show-off) /ˈʃəʊ.ɒf/
shut downVerb /ˌʃʌtˈdaʊn/
Noun (shutdown) /ˈʃʌt.daʊn/
sign inVerb /ˌsaɪnˈɪn/
Noun (sign-in) /ˈsaɪn.ɪn/
sign outVerb /ˌsaɪnˈaʊt/
Noun (sign-out) /ˈsaɪn.aʊt/
sign upVerb /ˌsaɪnˈʌp/
Noun (sign-up) /ˈsaɪn.ʌp/
sit upVerb /ˌsɪtˈʌp/
Noun (sit-up) /ˈsɪt.ʌp/
slow downVerb /ˌsləʊˈdaʊn/
Noun (slowdown) /ˈsləʊ.daʊn/
sowVerb (to plant seeds) /səʊ/
Noun (a female pig) /saʊ/
split upVerb /ˌsplɪtˈʌp/
Noun (split-up) /ˈsplɪt.ʌp/
St.Saint /sənt/
Street /striːt/
stand outVerb /ˌstændˈaʊt/
Noun (standout) /ˈstænd.aʊt/
stand upVerb /ˌstændˈʌp/
Noun (stand-up) /ˈstænd.ʌp/
subjectNoun, adjective /ˈsʌb.dʒekt/
Verb /səbˈdʒekt/
subordinateAdjective /səˈbɔː.dɪ.nət/
Verb /səˈbɔː.dɪ.neɪt/
supplementNoun /ˈsʌp.lɪ.mənt/
Verb /ˈsʌp.lɪ.ment/
supposedAdjective, meaning "so-called" /səˈpəʊ.zɪd/
"Supposed to" /səˈpəʊst/
Past form of the verb /səˈpəʊzd/
surveyNoun /ˈsɜː.veɪ/
Verb /səˈveɪ/
suspectNoun /ˈsʌs.pekt/
Verb /səˈspekt/
take offVerb /ˌteɪkˈɒf/
Noun (takeoff) /ˈteɪk.ɒf/
take outVerb /ˌteɪkˈaʊt/
Noun (takeout) /ˈteɪk.aʊt/
take overVerb /ˌteɪkˈəʊ.və/
Noun (takeover) /ˈteɪk.əʊ.və/
tearVerb (rip) /teə/
Noun (from the eye) /tɪə/
throw awayVerb /ˌθrəʊ.əˈweɪ/
Noun (throwaway) /ˈθrəʊ.əweɪ/
tormentNoun /ˈtɔː.ment/
Verb /tɔːˈment/
transferNoun /ˈtræns.fɜː/
Verb /trænsˈfɜː/
transportNoun /ˈtræn.spɔːt/
Verb /trænˈspɔːt/
turn aroundVerb /ˌtɜːn.əˈraʊnd/
Noun (turnaround) /ˈtɜːn.əraʊnd/
turn offVerb /ˌtɜːnˈɒf/
Noun (turn-off) /ˈtɜːn.ɒf/
turn onVerb /ˌtɜːnˈɒn/
Noun (turn-on) /ˈtɜːn.ɒn/
turn outVerb /ˌtɜːnˈaʊt/
Noun (turnout) /ˈtɜːn.aʊt/
turn overVerb /ˌtɜːnˈəʊ.və/
Noun (turnover) /ˈtɜːn.əʊ.və/
turn upVerb /ˌtɜːnˈʌp/
Noun (turn-up) /ˈtɜːn.ʌp/
underlineNoun /ˈʌn.də.laɪn/
Verb /ˌʌn.dəˈlaɪn/
upgradeNoun /ˈʌp.ɡreɪd/
Verb /ʌpˈɡreɪd/
upsetVerb, adjective /ʌpˈset/
Noun /ˈʌp.set/
useNoun /juːs/
Verb /juːz/
usedAdjective, as in "used to it" /juːst/
Past form of the verb /juːzd/
warm upVerb /ˌwɔːmˈʌp/
Noun (warm-up) /ˈwɔːm.ʌp/
windNoun (moving air) /wɪnd/
To wind (turn, past form wound) /waɪnd/
wipe outVerb /ˌwaɪpˈaʊt/
Noun (wipeout) /ˈwaɪp.aʊt/
work outVerb /ˌwɜːkˈaʊt/
Noun (workout) /ˈwɜːk.aʊt/
woundNoun (an injury) /wuːnd/
Past form of wind /waʊnd/

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