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Syllable stress A syllable is a word, or part of a word, which contains a single vowel sound. Every word contains at least one syllable, Some examples include: Pen Watch Cat The following words are examples of words with two syllables. garden: gar / den hotel: ho / tel consist: con / sist Here are some examples of words with three syllables: September: sep / tem / ber department: de / part / ment telephone: te / le / phone And these words have four syllables: kindergarten: kin / der / gar / ten information: in / for / ma / tion January: ja / nu / ar / y When words have two, three or four syllables we usually stress only one syllable and not the others. The syllable that is pronounced with the most emphasis we call a ‘stressed syllable’ and in spoken English the correct stress is important otherwise you may not be understood. Listen to the following words and choose the correct stressed syllable: Frustration frus / tra / tion Delicious de / li / cious Flexibility flex / i / bil / i / ty Mysterious m