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Unstressed: meaning, definitions and examples

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unstressed

 

[ ʌnˈstrɛst ]

Adjective
Context #1 | Adjective

linguistics pronunciation

The term 'unstressed' refers to a syllable or a sound that is not emphasized in speech. In many languages, including English, certain syllables receive more stress than others, resulting in a rhythmic pattern. Unstressed syllables typically have a shorter duration, lower pitch, and less energy compared to stressed syllables. Recognizing unstressed syllables is essential for understanding the prosody of language, which affects the meaning and emotional nuance of spoken words.

Synonyms

reduced, weak.

Examples of usage

  • The word 'banana' has two unstressed syllables.
  • In the phrase 'I am going', 'am' is unstressed.
  • Unstressed syllables can change the rhythm of poetry.

Translations

Translations of the word "unstressed" in other languages:

🇵🇹 não acentuado

🇮🇳 अवशिष्ट

🇩🇪 unbetont

🇮🇩 tidak tertekan

🇺🇦 неголосний

🇵🇱 nieakcentowany

🇯🇵 非強調

🇫🇷 non accentué

🇪🇸 no acentuado

🇹🇷 vurgusuz

🇰🇷 강세 없는

🇸🇦 غير مشدد

🇨🇿 nezdůrazněný

🇸🇰 nezdôraznený

🇨🇳 无重音

🇸🇮 nepoudarjen

🇮🇸 óáherslaður

🇰🇿 басымсыз

🇬🇪 არასაკმელი

🇦🇿 vurğusuz

🇲🇽 sin acento

Etymology

The word 'unstressed' comes from the prefix 'un-' meaning 'not' combined with the word 'stressed', which has its origins in the Latin word 'strictus' meaning 'drawn tight'. The concept of stress in linguistics has been studied for centuries, tracing back to the early grammatical works that categorized linguistic elements. In phonetics, stress refers to the emphasis placed on certain syllables, which can affect the meaning of words. The recognition of unstressed forms is crucial in language acquisition and understanding poetry and rhythm, reflecting the ongoing evolution of linguistic theory.

Word Frequency Rank

Positioned at #24,443, this word is part of extensive vocabulary. It's relatively rare in general usage but may be important in specific fields or formal writing.