Word stress
Word stress is very important if you want to be understood. Word stress means that one syllable is pronounced a little longer, higher, and louder than other syllables. It’s important because if you say a word with the wrong syllable stress, it is difficult to understand.
Look at these words connected to health insurance from the video. Do you know how many syllables there are? Do you know where the stress is in each word?
For example, how many syllables are there in premium? 1, 2, 3, or 4?
Which syllable is stressed? Is it pre·mi·um or pre·mi·um or pre·mi·um? (first, second, or third?)
Answers
- How many syllables are there in premium?
- Which syllable is stressed? Is it pre·mi·um or pre·mi·um or pre·mi·um? (first, second, or third?)
| premium | policy | generic |
| deductible | employer | provider |
| maximum | preventive | referral |
| insurance | prescription |
If you’re not sure, remember that you can always check in a dictionary. Look at this dictionary entry for premium from the Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English.
Notice the two dots in pre·mi·um. The dots divide the syllables, so you can see that there are 3 syllables in premium.
Also, notice the very small mark before ?pre. That shows you that pre is the stressed syllable in the word.
Let’s practice word stress!
Listen to the audio and notice the number of syllables and the stress.
As you listen, repeat the words the speaker says. Focus on the word stress. Say the stressed syllable louder than the other syllables.
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