What are stress and intonation in English?
Stress is which syllable or word we emphasise; intonation is the rise and fall of pitch. Both affect meaning and clarity. Getting stress and intonation more natural helps listeners understand you and helps you sound more fluent.
Word stress and sentence stress
In English we stress one syllable per word (e.g. 'PHO-to-graph'). In sentences we stress the most important words. Wrong stress can make a word hard to recognise. Rozy can help you notice and correct stress as you speak.
Intonation
Rising intonation often signals a question or uncertainty; falling intonation can signal a statement or completion. Practising in conversation helps you hear and produce natural patterns.
Frequently asked questions
- What is stress in English?
- The emphasis we put on a syllable (word stress) or a word (sentence stress). It affects clarity and meaning.
- What is intonation?
- The rise and fall of pitch in speech. It can show whether we're asking, stating, or showing surprise or doubt.
- How can I improve stress and intonation?
- Listen to natural English and imitate. Practise speaking with feedback; Rozy helps you notice when stress or intonation might be unclear.
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