Ear Training 3-Syllable Word Stress

Ear Training
Syllable Stress
3-Syllable Words

​Say the following 3-syllable words with primary stress on the 1st syllable aloud, intentionally placing extra stress on the stressed syllable (indicated in ALL CAPS) by saying it louder, longer, and higher. Focus on the nucleus (the vowel) of the stressed syllable. Try tapping on a table, clapping your hands, or snapping your fingers on the stressed syllable to help you feel the stress.

​CATamount
GRAduate
FAscinate
NAvigate
CALculate
CANdidate

​CARnival
VICtory
OCtopus
FOllowing
MEditate
EDucate

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Multiple Choice

Which of the following words DOES NOT have primary stress on the 1st syllable?

• engineer

• complicate

• culminate

• beautiful

• organize

​Say the following 3-syllable words with primary stress on the 2nd syllable aloud, intentionally placing extra stress on the stressed syllable (indicated in ALL CAPS) by saying it louder, longer, and higher. Focus on the nucleus (the vowel) of the stressed syllable. Try tapping on a table, clapping your hands, or snapping your fingers on the stressed syllable to help you feel the stress.

inFECTed
unGRATEful
deLIcious
susPIcious
baNAna
coLLIsion

perFECtion
inVESTor
oCCAsion
deCIsion
reVIsion
oVAtion

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Multiple Choice

Which of the following words DOES NOT have primary stress on the 2nd syllable?

• intention

• selection

• detective

• directed

• interact

​Say the following 3-syllable words with primary stress on the 3rd syllable aloud, intentionally placing extra stress on the stressed syllable (indicated in ALL CAPS) by saying it louder, longer, and higher. Focus on the nucleus (the vowel) of the stressed syllable. Try tapping on a table, clapping your hands, or snapping your fingers on the stressed syllable to help you feel the stress.

volunTEER
repreSENT
guaranTEE
enterTAIN
interJECT
underSTAND

recoMMEND
disaPPEAR
disaGREE
overHEAT
overJOYED
mountaiNEER

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Multiple Choice

Which of the following words DOES NOT have primary stress on the third syllable?

• obsolete

• disrespect

• dehydrate

• disinfect

• decompose

​Still not feeling confident about 3-syllable word stress?

Go back and repeat the words again!

Remember, creating new neural pathways takes repetition, intensity, and time!