Arsenio’s ESL Podcast: Season 3 – Episode 21 – Pronunciation – Two-Syllable Stressing

Happy Monday and welcome back! It’s time for some more pronunciation!

English word stress is variable.  Sometimes it is hard to know which syllable to stress.  Fortunately, there are general rules that can help.

• About 90% of two-syllable nouns have first-syllable stress: problem, freedom, baggage.
• Most two-syllable names also have first-syllable stress: David, Justin, Sarah, Lauren.

1. Secret
2. Compare
3. Relaxes
4. Succeed
5. Office
6. Haircut
7. Provide
8. Steven
9. Presented
10. Jacob
11. Daydream
12. Concept

What makes a syllable sound stressed in English?

• The vowel sound is full and clear.
• The vowel sound is often higher in pitch.
• The vowel sound is especially long.

Podcast