Stress Patterns & Suffixes

Advanced · Word Stress

Although English stress can feel random, there are reliable patterns, especially around word endings (suffixes). Certain suffixes always "pull" the stress to a particular place, so if you learn the pattern you can predict the stress of thousands of words.

For example, words ending in -tion/-sion always stress the syllable just before the ending: eduCAtion, deCIsion.

Suffix stress rules

-tion / -sion / -ic / -ical / -ity → stress the syllable BEFORE the suffix.

Rules & examples

  1. -tion / -sion → stress the syllable right before it.

    Very reliable across many words.

    • eduCAtion, informAtion, deCIsion, teleVIsion
  2. -ic / -ical → stress the syllable before -ic.

    Another dependable rule.

    • fanTAStic, eleCTRic, ecoNOMic, HIStoric
  3. -ity → stress the syllable before -ity.

    The stress "moves" onto that syllable.

    • aBIlity, posiBIlity, univerSIty, acTIvity
  4. Adding a suffix can MOVE the stress.

    The root and the derived word may be stressed differently.

    • PHOtograph → phoTOgraphy → photoGRAPHic

Tips to remember

  • Group words by ending and drill them together — the pattern locks in fast.
  • Watch how stress shifts across a word family: economy → eConomy, economic → ecoNOMic.