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Diamond
Which syllable should be stressed?
Adolescent
It has 4 syllables.
But I don't know which syllable to stress.
I've heard many people put the stress on the second one "do", and I heard others stress the third one "lesc".
Thanks.
Apr 11, 2015 12:38 PM
Answers · 4
3
Are the people putting stress on the second syllable native speakers? Native speakers put the stress on the third syllable, at least I've never heard a native speaker who didn't. This applies to British English, and I think to American English too.
April 11, 2015
2
The stress is on the third syllable (..LESC.. )
If you have heard anybody stress the second syllable they are wrong. The second syllable is not pronounced as a 'do' sound. It is an unstressed schwa vowel, written like / ə / in dictionaries, and sounding like a very short, weak 'duh' sound. It is never stressed by native speakers.
April 11, 2015
1
I've never heard the accent go anywhere but on the third syllable. But this is exactly where a dictionary is useful. For U.S. English I really like the American Heritage Dictionary--I have the print volume but the online website seems to be about the same. English dictionaries will list all of the usual pronunciations, the most frequent first.
https://ahdictionary.com/word/search.html?q=adolescent&submit.x=45&submit.y=17
In this case, only one pronunciation is shown and the accent is shown as being on the third syllable:
ad·o·les·cent (ăd′l-ĕs´ ənt)
For contrast, let me check the word "kilometer," which I pronounced with the accent on the second syllable, but a friend of mine pronounces with the accent on the first syllable.
kil·o·me·ter (kĭ-lŏm´ ĭ-tər, kĭl´ə-mē′tər)
Sure enough, mine is the first listed, his is the second.
Lexicographers are good at their job.
April 12, 2015
1
It is the ES in the meddle.
Adolescent
[ad-l-es-uh nt]
check dictionary.com
April 11, 2015
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Diamond
Language Skills
Arabic, English, French
Learning Language
English, French
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