If you're having trouble pronouncing a word, try breaking it down into syllables and stressing the correct one. With a little practice, you'll be a pro at pronouncing even the most difficult words!
Definition
One of the most difficult things about learning a new language is mastering the correct pronunciation. One of the biggest factors in correctly pronouncing a word is word stress. native English speakers stress certain syllables in a word while pronouncing it. This is especially true for words that are difficult to pronounce or have multiple syllables.
Types
There are three types of word stress: primary, secondary, and tertiary.
Knowing which syllable to stress in a word can be difficult for non-native speakers. A good rule of thumb is to stress the syllable that is stressed in the dictionary. However, there are exceptions to this rule. For example, the word "photograph" is actually stressed on the second syllable, not the first.
Conclusion
There are guidelines regarding which syllables should be stressed in words. But the guidelines are somewhat intricate! The greatest way to learn is probably by doing. Try to get a sense of the "music" of spoken English by paying close attention to what is being said.
You should familiarize yourself with a word's pattern of stress as you learn it. If you keep a vocabulary journal, make a note of the stressed syllable. You can check a dictionary if you don't know. Every dictionary provides a word's phonetic spelling. Here, the stressed syllable is indicated with an apostrophe ('), which is often placed either before or after the stressed syllable.
