What is stress? Pronunciation and usage in English

stress means . Learn how to pronounce and use stress through vivid examples and easy-to-understand exercises.

Definition & pronunciation of stress

stressnoun

/strɛs/
Definition & pronunciation of stress

Okay, let's break down how to pronounce "stress" in English. It's a tricky one for many learners! Here's a breakdown:

1. The Short Way (Most Common):

  • Pronunciation: /ˈstres/ (Stress on the first syllable)
  • Breakdown:
    • “st” - Pronounced like the "st" in "stop."
    • “re” - Pronounced like the "re" in "red."
    • “ss” - Pronounced like two "s" sounds quickly together (like "s" in "miss").

2. The Longer Way (More Formal/Traditional):

  • Pronunciation: /strɛs/ (Stress on the first syllable)
  • Breakdown:
    • “str” - Pronounced like the "str" in "stream."
    • “e” – Pronounced like the “e” in “bed.”
    • “ss” – Pronounced like "s" in "miss."

Key Differences & Tips:

  • The “ss” sound is crucial: Don't just say “stres.” The double “s” is often what trips people up. Practice saying “s” quickly twice.
  • The length of the “e”: The longer “e” sound is more common in older British English, but the short “e” is perfectly acceptable and very common in American English.
  • Emphasis: The stress is always on the first syllable.

Resources to Help You:

  • Google Search: Search for "how to pronounce stress word" on Google and listen to the audio examples.
  • Forvo: https://forvo.com/word/stress/ – This website has pronunciations from native speakers.
  • YouTube: Search YouTube for "how to pronounce stress in English" - you'll find many helpful videos.

To help me give you even more targeted advice, could you tell me:

  • Where are you from? (American English vs. British English can have slight differences)

Usage and examples with the word stress in English

Let's break down how to use the word "stress" in English. It's a surprisingly versatile word with multiple meanings! Here's a breakdown categorized for clarity:

1. Stress (as in Pressure & Anxiety)

  • Meaning: This is the most common understanding of "stress" – a feeling of being overwhelmed, pressured, or worried. It's related to psychological and emotional strain.
  • How to use it:
    • "I'm feeling a lot of stress at work lately." (General feeling of pressure)
    • "The exam created a huge amount of stress for me." (Specific event causing anxiety)
    • "She's under a lot of stress trying to meet her deadlines." (Ongoing pressure)
    • "Stress can have a negative impact on your health." (Discussing the effects)
  • Synonyms: pressure, anxiety, worry, tension, strain, burden, agitation.

2. Stress (as in Emphasis in Words)

  • Meaning: This refers to the way you pronounce a syllable in a word, making it louder and longer. It’s indicated with an accent mark (´) over the stressed syllable.
  • How to use it:
    • "The word 'photo' is stressed on the first syllable: pho-TO.” (Pointing out pronunciation)
    • "Stress helps you understand the meaning of a word." (Explaining its function)
    • "Notice how the verb ‘establish’ is stressed - es-TAB-lish.” (Providing an example)
  • Key Words with Stress Marked:
    • photo
    • already
    • holiday
    • possible
    • comfortable
    • opportunity

3. Stress (as in Physical Force)

  • Meaning: This refers to the force exerted on an object, often creating pressure or tension.
  • How to use it:
    • "The pressure on the tire was too high – it was under a lot of stress." (Referring to a physical force)
    • "The engineer designed the bridge to withstand the stress of heavy traffic." (Technical context)
    • "The material was not strong enough to handle the stress." (Describing material properties)
  • Synonyms: pressure, force, tension

4. Stress (as in Difficulty or Importance)

  • Meaning: This is a less common usage, referring to the importance or difficulty of something.
  • How to use it:
    • “This project is under a lot of stress – there’s a tight deadline and many challenges.” (Highlighting difficulty)
    • “The situation is under intense stress.” (Emphasizing the significance of a problem)

Phrases using "Stress":

  • Stress test: A test to see how a system or material responds to pressure (often used in finance or engineering).
  • Stress relief: Activities designed to reduce stress (e.g., yoga, meditation, hobbies).
  • Stress management: Strategies for coping with and reducing stress.
  • Put someone under stress: To cause someone to feel stressed.

Tips for Using "Stress" Correctly:

  • Context is key: Pay attention to the surrounding words to understand which meaning of "stress" is being used.
  • Accents: When referring to word stress, be accurate with the placement of the accent mark.
  • Don’t overuse it: While "stress" is common, vary your vocabulary to avoid repetitive language.

Resources for More Information:

To help me give you even more targeted advice, could you tell me:

  • What are you trying to do with the word "stress"? (e.g., write an essay, have a conversation, understand a news article?)

Synonyms for the word stress

Practice with vocabulary stress

Exercise 1: Fill in the blanks

  1. The upcoming project deadline is causing significant ______ among the team members, leading to long working hours and increased anxiety.
  2. During the presentation, the speaker tried to ______ the key benefits of the new software, using bold text and repeated phrases.
  3. Balancing work, family responsibilities, and personal goals can often lead to considerable mental ______.
  4. The financial ______ on many households has worsened due to rising inflation and static wages.

Exercise 2: Choose the correct answer (there may be multiple correct answers per question)

  1. Which of the following emotions or states can arise from excessive workload and pressure? a) serenity b) contentment c) stress d) relaxation e) anxiety

  2. When a manager wants to make a particular point stand out in a discussion, they might: a) downplay it b) reiterate it c) gloss over it d) stress it e) highlight it

  3. The company introduced new initiatives to help employees cope with high levels of operational ______. a) tension b) ease c) comfort d) pressure e) relaxation

  4. Which of the following words best describes the act of placing special importance or attention on something? a) neglect b) disregard c) highlight d) understate e) emphasize

  5. What are common physical manifestations of prolonged mental strain? a) improved sleep b) headaches c) muscle tension d) increased energy e) digestive issues

Exercise 3: Rewrite the sentences

  1. The demanding schedule and constant deadlines are making the team members feel very overwhelmed. (Rewrite using "stress" or a related word form)
  2. The report explicitly mentioned the critical need for improving cybersecurity measures. (Rewrite using "stress" or a related word form)
  3. The recent budget cuts created a difficult financial situation for many non-profit organizations. (Rewrite without using "stress" or any related word forms)

Answer:

Exercise 1:

  1. stress
  2. emphasize
  3. stress
  4. burden (or pressure)

Exercise 2:

  1. c) stress, e) anxiety
  2. b) reiterate, d) stress, e) highlight
  3. a) tension, d) pressure
  4. c) highlight, e) emphasize
  5. b) headaches, c) muscle tension, e) digestive issues

Exercise 3:

  1. The demanding schedule and constant deadlines are stressing out the team members. (Or: The demanding schedule and constant deadlines are causing significant stress for the team members.)
  2. The report stressed the critical need for improving cybersecurity measures. (Or: The report placed significant stress on the critical need for improving cybersecurity measures.)
  3. The recent budget cuts created significant financial strain for many non-profit organizations. (Or: The recent budget cuts created a challenging financial predicament for many non-profit organizations.)

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