Pronunciation
Word and sentence stress
In English, we don't say every part of a word or sentence the same way. Some parts are stronger. This is called stress, and it is the secret to clear, natural English.
What is stress?
A stressed syllable is:
- louder
- longer
- higher in pitch
A syllable is one beat of sound in a word. Code has 1 syllable. Hap·py has 2. Com·pu·ter has 3.
In this guide, the stressed syllable is written in CAPITAL LETTERS: HAP·py, com·PU·ter.
Thai and English are different
Thai uses tones to change meaning. English uses stress. Thai speakers often say every syllable with the same strength. When you add stress, native speakers understand you much more easily.
Two kinds of stress
| Kind | What is stronger? | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Word stress | One syllable in a word | HAP·py, be·GIN |
| Sentence stress | The important words in a sentence | I WANT a RED CAR. |
Stress can change the meaning
Some words have the same spelling, but the stress changes the word type and the meaning:
| Word | Stress | Type | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| present | PRE·sent | noun | a gift |
| present | pre·SENT | verb | to show something to a group |
| record | RE·cord | noun | saved information |
| record | re·CORD | verb | to save sound, video or information |
See more on the Noun and verb pairs page.
Why it matters
People understand you
Native speakers listen for stressed syllables and stressed words to catch the main idea. If the stress is in the wrong place, they may not understand a word, even when every sound is correct.
Your English gets its rhythm
English is a stress-timed language. The stressed syllables come at a regular beat, and the small words between them are said quickly. This gives English its natural "bounce". Learn more on the Weak words and rhythm page.
How to find the stress
In a dictionary, look for the small mark ˈ in the pronunciation. The syllable after it is stressed: happy /ˈhæpi/ = HAP·py. Every word card on this site shows this mark too.