Word and Sentence Stress in American English
Learn to communicate well and connect in conversations in English with these articles and video lessons
Ever noticed how native English speakers use their voices to emphasize important words and help you follow what they’re saying? The rise and fall of their pitch, and the contrast between the words that matter, and those that don’t, create the natural rhythm and melody of American English. If you’re … Read the article and watch the video lesson
The words we’re going to talk about today aren’t especially interesting, but they probably sound different than you expect. We’ll focus on several words that you use almost every day, so that you feel more comfortable saying them naturally. Is what we’re discussing today still a mystery? Then grab a … Read the article and watch the video lesson
By now, you know the number one piece of accent advice I wish I could give every non-native speaker: stress your words clearly. Word stress helps you pronounce words accurately, and it helps other people identify and understand the word you’re saying. When we stress a word, we emphasize one … Read the article and watch the video lesson
One of the biggest concerns I hear from my clients and students is that they want how they sound in English to reflect the quality of their ideas. In other words, they want to communicate clearly and confidently, so that other people can easily understand and follow what they’re saying. … Read the article and watch the video lesson
Quick quiz: How do you say the names of these popular states? Is it CAlifornia, or CaliFORnia? Do you say FloRIda, or FLORida? Should you pronounce it NEW York, or New YORK? If you’re not 100% sure how to say these states, don’t worry, you’re not alone. Many of the … Read the article and watch the video lesson
Ever asked yourself one of these questions about pitch? I don’t understand how to use pitch. Why can’t I hear pitch in my own voice? What’s the difference between pitch and volume? Are they the same thing? They sound like it. How do you use pitch to communicate meaning in … Read the article and watch the video lesson
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