Understanding word stress on the 2nd syllable is essential for clear and natural English pronunciation. In this lesson, you’ll learn how to recognize and pronounce nouns with second-syllable stress, complete with examples, IPA, and practice exercises.
Nouns with stress on the 2nd syllable – Created by Englishstudyonline
What Does “Stress on the 2nd Syllable” Mean?
Word stress means that one syllable in a word is pronounced louder, longer, and with a higher pitch than the others. In second-syllable-stress nouns, the emphasis is placed on the final part of the word.
Example:
-
hotel → ho-TEL /hoʊˈtel/
-
balloon → ba-LOON /bəˈluːn/
You can hear the second syllable pronounced more strongly.
Full List of Nouns with Stress on the 2nd Syllable
Below is a comprehensive list of common English nouns with stress on the second syllable, along with IPA pronunciation and an example sentence for each.
A-Nouns With 2nd Syllable Stress
| Word | IPA |
|---|---|
| account | /əˈkaʊnt/ |
| accountant | /əˈkaʊntənt/ |
| achievement | /əˈtʃiːvmənt/ |
| activity | /ækˈtɪvəti/ |
| addition | /əˈdɪʃən/ |
| address | /əˈdres/ |
| adult | /əˈdʌlt/ |
| adventure | /ədˈventʃə(r)/ |
| advice | /ədˈvaɪs/ |
| affair | /əˈfeə(r)/ |
| agreement | /əˈɡriːmənt/ |
| amount | /əˈmaʊnt/ |
| analysis | /əˈnæləsɪs/ |
| anxiety | /æŋˈzaɪəti/ |
| appearance | /əˈpɪərəns/ |
| appointment | /əˈpɔɪntmənt/ |
| approval | /əˈpruːvəl/ |
| arena | /əˈriːnə/ |
| arrival | /əˈraɪvəl/ |
| assistant | /əˈsɪstənt/ |
| attention | /əˈtenʃən/ |
| attempt | /əˈtempt/ |
| authority | /ɔːˈθɒrəti/ |
| award | /əˈwɔːd/ |
| awareness | /əˈweənəs/ |
B-Nouns With 2nd Syllable Stress
| Word | IPA |
|---|---|
| baloon | /bəˈluːn/ |
| bazaar | /bəˈzɑːr/ |
| behalf | /bɪˈhɑːf/ |
| belief | /bɪˈliːf/ |
| biology | /baɪˈɒlədʒi/ |
| brigade | /brɪˈɡeɪd/ |
C-Nouns with Stress on the 2nd Syllable
| Word | IPA |
|---|---|
| canal | /kəˈnæl/ |
| canary | /kəˈneə.ri/ |
| canoe | /kəˈnuː/ |
| career | /kəˈrɪə/ |
| cathedral | /kəˈθiː.drəl/ |
| catholicism | /kəˈθɒ.lɪ.sɪ.zəm/ |
| campaign | /kæmˈpeɪn/ |
| command | /kəˈmɑːnd/ |
| commission | /kəˈmɪʃ.ən/ |
| committee | /kəˈmɪt.i/ |
| comparison | /kəmˈpær.ɪ.sən/ |
| completion | /kəmˈpliː.ʃən/ |
| complex (noun) | /kəmˈpleks/ |
| complaint | /kəmˈpleɪnt/ |
| composer | /kəmˈpəʊ.zə(r)/ |
| computer | /kəmˈpjuː.tə(r)/ |
| concise | /kənˈsaɪs/ |
| conclusion | /kənˈkluː.ʒən/ |
| condition | /kənˈdɪʃ.ən/ |
| confession | /kənˈfeʃ.ən/ |
| connection | /kəˈnek.ʃən/ |
| consensus | /kənˈsen.səs/ |
| consequence | /ˈkɒn.sɪ.kwəns/ (first syllable – excluded) |
| consideration | /kənˌsɪd.əˈreɪ.ʃən/ |
| conspiracy | /kənˈspɪr.ə.si/ |
| consumption | /kənˈsʌmp.ʃən/ |
| container | /kənˈteɪ.nə(r)/ |
| contention | /kənˈten.ʃən/ |
| context (noun) | /ˈkɒn.tekst/ (first syllable – excluded) |
| collection | /kəˈlek.ʃən/ |
| collapse | /kəˈlæps/ |
| colleague | /ˈkɒl.iːɡ/ (first syllable – excluded) |
| collector | /kəˈlek.tə(r)/ |
| commander | /kəˈmɑːn.də(r)/ |
| community | /kəˈmjuː.nə.ti/ |
| companion | /kəmˈpæn.jən/ |
| comparison | /kəmˈpær.ɪ.sən/ |
| competence | /ˈkɒm.pɪ.təns/ (first syllable – excluded) |
| construction | /kənˈstrʌk.ʃən/ |
| control | /kənˈtrəʊl/ |
| convention | /kənˈven.ʃən/ |
| correction | /kəˈrek.ʃən/ |
| curiosity | /ˌkjʊə.riˈɒs.ə.ti/ |
| curriculum | /kəˈrɪk.jə.ləm/ |
D-Nouns with Stress on the 2nd Syllable
| Word | IPA |
|---|---|
| debate | /dɪˈbeɪt/ |
| debris | /ˌdeɪˈbriː/ |
| decay | /dɪˈkeɪ/ |
| deceit | /dɪˈsiːt/ |
| decide (noun use rare) | /dɪˈsaɪd/ |
| decision | /dɪˈsɪʒ.ən/ |
| defeat | /dɪˈfiːt/ |
| defence (UK) / defense (US) | /dɪˈfens/ |
| degree | /dɪˈɡriː/ |
| delay | /dɪˈleɪ/ |
| delight | /dɪˈlaɪt/ |
| demand | /dɪˈmɑːnd/ |
| demise | /dɪˈmaɪz/ |
| denial | /dɪˈnaɪ.əl/ |
| departure | /dɪˈpɑː.tʃə(r)/ |
| deposit | /dɪˈpɒz.ɪt/ |
| depression | /dɪˈpreʃ.ən/ |
| design | /dɪˈzaɪn/ |
| descent | /dɪˈsent/ |
| desire | /dɪˈzaɪə(r)/ |
| destruction | /dɪˈstrʌk.ʃən/ |
| detection | /dɪˈtek.ʃən/ |
| detention | /dɪˈten.ʃən/ |
| developer | /dɪˈvel.ə.pə(r)/ |
| development | /dɪˈvel.əp.mənt/ |
| device | /dɪˈvaɪs/ |
| defeat | /dɪˈfiːt/ |
| debate | /dɪˈbeɪt/ |
| demand | /dɪˈmænd/ |
| dilemma | /dɪˈlem.ə/ |
| disaster | /dɪˈzɑː.stə(r)/ |
| discussion | /dɪˈskʌʃ.ən/ |
| disease | /dɪˈziːz/ |
| disaster | /dɪˈzɑː.stə(r)/ |
| discomfort | /dɪsˈkʌm.fət/ |
| discovery | /dɪsˈkʌv.ər.i/ |
| disguised (adj/verb, not noun) | (excluded) |
| disorder | /dɪsˈɔː.də(r)/ |
| display | /dɪsˈpleɪ/ |
| dispute | /dɪsˈpjuːt/ |
| distress | /dɪsˈtres/ |
| disruption | /dɪsˈrʌp.ʃən/ |
| distinction | /dɪsˈtɪŋk.ʃən/ |
| domain | /dəʊˈmeɪn/ |
E-Nouns with Stress on the 2nd Syllable
| Word | IPA |
|---|---|
| economy | /ɪˈkɒnəmi/ |
| election | /ɪˈlekʃən/ |
| emergency | /ɪˈmɜːdʒənsi/ |
| emotion | /ɪˈməʊʃən/ |
| employment | /ɪmˈplɔɪmənt/ |
| enclosure | /ɪnˈkləʊʒə(r)/ |
| encounter | /ɪnˈkaʊntə(r)/ |
| encouragement | /ɪnˈkʌrɪdʒmənt/ |
| enquiry | /ɪnˈkwaɪəri/ |
| ensemble | /ɒnˈsɒmbəl/ |
| entitlement | /ɪnˈtaɪtəlmənt/ |
| equipment | /ɪˈkwɪpmənt/ |
| equation | /ɪˈkweɪʒən/ |
| equator | /ɪˈkweɪtə(r)/ |
| erection | /ɪˈrekʃən/ |
| escalation | /ˌes.kəˈleɪ.ʃən/ |
| escapade | /ˈes.kəpeɪd/ |
| estate | /ɪˈsteɪt/ |
| estimate (when pronounced with stress on 2nd syllable for verb/noun shift) | /ɪsˈtɪmət/ |
| event | /ɪˈvent/ |
| eventuality | /ɪˌventʃuˈæləti/ |
| eviction | /ɪˈvɪkʃən/ |
| evolution | /ˌiː.vəˈluːʃən/ |
| exam | /ɪɡˈzæm/ |
| example | /ɪɡˈzɑːmpəl/ |
| excitement | /ɪkˈsaɪtmənt/ |
| exclusion | /ɪkˈskluːʒən/ |
| existence | /ɪɡˈzɪstəns/ |
| expanse | /ɪkˈspæns/ |
| expanse | /ɪkˈspæns/ |
| experience | /ɪkˈspɪəriəns/ |
| experiment | /ɪkˈsperɪmənt/ |
| explanation | /ˌeks.pləˈneɪʃən/ |
| explosion | /ɪkˈspləʊʒən/ |
| expression | /ɪkˈspreʃən/ |
| extension | /ɪkˈstenʃən/ |
F-Nouns with Stress on the 2nd Syllable
| Word | IPA |
|---|---|
| facility | /fəˈsɪləti/ |
| familiarity | /fəˌmɪl.iˈær.ə.ti/ |
| fatality | /fəˈtæl.ə.ti/ |
| felicity | /fəˈlɪs.ə.ti/ |
| female (when stressed on 2nd in some accents) | /fɪˈmeɪl/ |
| finance (can vary: noun often 1st stress in US, 2nd in UK) | /faɪˈnæns/ |
| formation | /fɔːˈmeɪʃən/ |
| foundation | /faʊnˈdeɪʃən/ |
| fulfillment | /fʊlˈfɪlmənt/ |
| functionary | /ˈfʌŋk.ʃən.er.i/ (excluded – stress not on 2nd) |
G-Nouns with Stress on the 2nd Syllable
| Word | IPA |
|---|---|
| galore | /ɡəˈlɔːr/ |
| garage (UK noun) | /ɡəˈrɑːʒ/ (UK), /ˈɡær.ɑːʒ/ (US, often 1st syllable) |
| genetics | /dʒəˈnetɪks/ |
| geography | /dʒiˈɒɡrəfi/ |
| geology | /dʒiˈɒlədʒi/ |
| giraffe | /dʒəˈræf/ |
| guitar | /ɡɪˈtɑːr/ |
H-Nouns with Stress on the 2nd Syllable
| Word | IPA |
|---|---|
| harassment (UK) | /həˈræsmənt/ (UK), /ˈhærəsmənt/ (US – 1st syllable) |
| hierarchy | /ˈhaɪəˌrɑːki/ (stress often debated) |
| horizon | /həˈraɪzən/ |
| hotel | /həʊˈtel/ |
| humanity | /hjuːˈmænəti/ |
| humility | /hjuːˈmɪləti/ |
| humorist | /ˈhjuːmərɪst/ (stress varies) |
| humidity | /hjuːˈmɪdəti/ |
| hypothesis | /haɪˈpɒθəsɪs/ |
I-Nouns with Stress on the 2nd Syllable
| Word | IPA |
|---|---|
| idea | /aɪˈdɪə/ |
| identity | /aɪˈdentəti/ |
| illusion | /ɪˈluːʒən/ |
| immersion | /ɪˈmɜːʃən/ |
| immunity | /ɪˈmjuːnəti/ |
| impression | /ɪmˈpreʃən/ |
| improvement | /ɪmˈpruːvmənt/ |
| inclusion | /ɪnˈkluːʒən/ |
| independence | /ˌɪndɪˈpendəns/ |
| induction | /ɪnˈdʌkʃən/ |
| inequality | /ˌɪnɪˈkwɒləti/ |
| infection | /ɪnˈfekʃən/ |
| inflation | /ɪnˈfleɪʃən/ |
| infusion | /ɪnˈfjuːʒən/ |
| ingenuity | /ˌɪndʒəˈnjuːəti/ |
| inhibition | /ˌɪnhɪˈbɪʃən/ |
| initiative | /ɪˈnɪʃətɪv/ |
| injunction | /ɪnˈdʒʌŋkʃən/ |
| inquiry (UK/US stress varies) | /ɪnˈkwaɪəri/ (UK), /ˈɪnkwəri/ (US – 1st stress) |
| insertion | /ɪnˈsɜːʃən/ |
| inspiration | /ˌɪnspəˈreɪʃən/ |
| installation | /ˌɪnstəˈleɪʃən/ |
| instruction | /ɪnˈstrʌkʃən/ |
| insurance | /ɪnˈʃʊərəns/ |
| intelligence | /ɪnˈtelɪdʒəns/ |
| intention | /ɪnˈtenʃən/ |
| interior | /ɪnˈtɪəriə(r)/ |
| intensity | /ɪnˈtensəti/ |
| interaction | /ˌɪntərˈækʃən/ |
| interference | /ˌɪntəˈfɪərəns/ |
| intermission | /ˌɪntəˈmɪʃən/ |
| interruption | /ˌɪntəˈrʌpʃən/ |
| intervention | /ˌɪntəˈvenʃən/ |
| inventory (varies: US/UK) | /ɪnˈventəri/ *(UK), ˈɪnvəntɔːri (US – 1st stress) |
| investigation | /ɪnˌvestɪˈɡeɪʃən/ |
| invitation | /ˌɪnvɪˈteɪʃən/ |
J-Nouns with Stress on the 2nd Syllable
| Word | IPA |
|---|---|
| japanese | /ˌdʒæpəˈniːz/ |
| jurisdiction | /ˌdʒʊərɪsˈdɪkʃən/ |
| juxtaposition | /ˌdʒʌkstəpəˈzɪʃən/ |
K-Nouns with Stress on the 2nd Syllable
| Word | IPA |
|---|---|
| karaoke | /ˌkæriˈəʊki/ |
| kaleidoscope | /kəˈlaɪdəskəʊp/ |
| kinetics | /kɪˈnetɪks/ |
| kinetoscope | /kɪˈnetəskəʊp/ |
L-Nouns with Stress on the 2nd Syllable
| Word | IPA |
|---|---|
| laboratory | /ləˈbɒrətəri/ (UK), /ˈlæbərətɔːri/ (US – not 2nd syllable) |
| lagoon | /ləˈɡuːn/ |
| lament | /ləˈment/ |
| liaison | /liˈeɪzɒn/ |
| libation | /laɪˈbeɪʃən/ |
| libelee | /ˌlaɪbəˈliː/ |
| librarian | /laɪˈbreəriən/ |
| licensee | /ˌlaɪsənˈsiː/ |
| location | /ləʊˈkeɪʃən/ |
| logistics | /ləˈdʒɪstɪks/ |
M-Nouns with Stress on the 2nd Syllable
| Word | IPA |
|---|---|
| machine | /məˈʃiːn/ |
| majority | /məˈdʒɒrəti/ |
| maturity | /məˈtjʊrəti/ (UK), /məˈtʊrəti/ (US) |
| marine | /məˈriːn/ |
| marauder | /məˈrɔːdə(r)/ |
| maravedi | /ˌmærəˈveɪdi/ |
| material | /məˈtɪəriəl/ |
| mechanic | /məˈkænɪk/ |
| mediator | /ˈmiːdiˌeɪtər/ → stress falls on 3rd syllable |
| memorial | /məˈmɔːriəl/ |
| minority | /maɪˈnɒrəti/ |
| mobility | /məʊˈbɪləti/ |
| momentum | /məˈmentəm/ |
| morality | /məˈræləti/ |
| mosaic | /məʊˈzeɪɪk/ |
| museum | /mjuˈzɪəm/ |
| musicology | /ˌmjuːzɪˈkɒlədʒi/ |
N-Nouns with Stress on the 2nd Syllable
| Word | IPA |
|---|---|
| naivety | /naɪˈiːvəti/ |
| necessity | /nəˈsesəti/ |
| negotiation | /nəˌɡəʊʃiˈeɪʃən/ |
| neglect | /nɪˈɡlekt/ |
| neturality | /ˌnjuːˈtræləti/ (UK), /ˌnuːˈtræləti/ (US) |
| nobility | /nəʊˈbɪləti/ |
| nomadism | /nəʊˈmædɪzəm/ |
| nuclearity | /ˌnjuːklɪˈærəti/ |
| nutrition | /njuːˈtrɪʃən/ |
| nutritional | /njuːˈtrɪʃ(ə)nəl/ |
O-Nouns with Stress on the 2nd Syllable
| Word | IPA |
|---|---|
| oasis | /əʊˈeɪsɪs/ |
| objector | /əbˈdʒektə(r)/ |
| obedience | /əˈbiːdiəns/ |
| obedient | /əˈbiːdiənt/ |
| oblivion | /əˈblɪviən/ |
| obligation | /ˌɒblɪˈɡeɪʃən/ |
| obscenity | /əbˈsenəti/ |
| observer | /əbˈzɜːvə(r)/ |
| occasion | /əˈkeɪʒən/ |
| occurrence | /əˈkʌrəns/ |
| offence | /əˈfens/ |
| offender | /əˈfendə(r)/ |
| official | /əˈfɪʃl/ |
| omission | /əˈmɪʃən/ |
| omnipotence | /ɒmˈnɪpətəns/ |
| omniscience | /ɒmˈnɪsiəns/ |
| operation | /ˌɒpəˈreɪʃən/ |
| opinion | /əˈpɪnjən/ |
| opponent | /əˈpəʊnənt/ |
| oppression | /əˈpreʃən/ |
| optician | /ɒpˈtɪʃən/ |
| optometrist | /ɒpˈtɒmətrɪst/ |
| ordeal | /ɔːˈdiːl/ |
| organization | /ˌɔːɡənaɪˈzeɪʃən/ |
| original | /əˈrɪdʒənl/ |
| origination | /əˌrɪdʒɪˈneɪʃən/ |
P-Nouns with Stress on the 2nd Syllable
| Word | IPA |
|---|---|
| parade | /pə-ˈreɪd/ |
| percentage | /pə-ˈsɛn.tɪdʒ/ |
| permission | /pə-ˈmɪʃ.ən/ |
| perspective | /pə-ˈspek.tɪv/ |
| petition | /pə-ˈtɪʃ.ən/ |
| physician | /fɪ-ˈzɪʃ.ən/ |
| pollution | /pə-ˈluː.ʃən/ |
| position | /pə-ˈzɪʃ.ən/ |
| possession | /pə-ˈzeʃ.ən/ |
| potato | /pə-ˈteɪ.təʊ/ |
| potential | /pə-ˈten.ʃəl/ |
| precision | /prɪ-ˈsɪʒ.ən/ |
| prediction | /prɪ-ˈdɪk.ʃən/ |
| prevention | /prɪ-ˈven.ʃən/ |
| producer | /prə-ˈdjuː.sə(r)/ |
| production | /prə-ˈdʌk.ʃən/ |
| professor | /prə-ˈfes.ə(r)/ |
| proposal | /prə-ˈpəʊ.zəl/ |
| protection | /prə-ˈtek.ʃən/ |
Q-Nouns with Stress on the 2nd Syllable
| Word | IPA |
|---|---|
| quotation | /kwəʊ-ˈteɪ.ʃən/ |
R-Nouns with Stress on the 2nd Syllable
| Word | IPA |
|---|---|
| relief | /rɪ-ˈliːf/ |
| report | /rɪ-ˈpɔːt/ |
| return | /rɪ-ˈtɜːn/ |
| request | /rɪ-ˈkwest/ |
| respect | /rɪ-ˈspekt/ |
| response | /rɪ-ˈspɒns/ |
| review | /rɪ-ˈvjuː/ |
| reward | /rɪ-ˈwɔːd/ |
| regret | /rɪ-ˈɡret/ |
| release | /rɪ-ˈliːs/ |
| reply | /rɪ-ˈplaɪ/ |
| resort | /rɪ-ˈzɔːt/ |
| reform | /rɪ-ˈfɔːm/ |
| relief | /rɪ-ˈliːf/ |
| request | /rɪ-ˈkwest/ |
| result | /rɪ-ˈzʌlt/ |
| recruit | /rɪ-ˈkruːt/ |
| revenge | /rɪ-ˈvendʒ/ |
| romance | /rəʊ-ˈmæns/ or /ˈrəʊ.mæns/ (context-dependent) ✅ only when used as a noun in second-stress form |
| rebuke | /rɪ-ˈbjuːk/ |
| release | /rɪ-ˈliːs/ |
S-Nouns with Stress on the 2nd Syllable
| Word | IPA |
|---|---|
| saloon | /sə-ˈluːn/ |
| security | /sɪ-ˈkjʊə.rɪ.ti/ |
| success | /sək-ˈses/ |
| surprise | /sə-ˈpraɪz/ |
| selection | /sɪ-ˈlek.ʃən/ |
| supply | /sə-ˈplaɪ/ |
| support | /sə-ˈpɔːt/ |
| suggestion | /səɡ-ˈdʒes.ʃən/ |
| succession | /sək-ˈseʃ.ən/ |
| suspension | /sə-ˈspen.ʃən/ |
| solution | /sə-ˈluː.ʃən/ |
| salon | /sə-ˈlɒn/ |
| selector | /sɪ-ˈlek.tə(r)/ |
| survival | /sə-ˈvaɪ.vəl/ |
| satisfaction | /ˌsæt.ɪs-ˈfæk.ʃən/ |
| semester | /sɪ-ˈmes.tə(r)/ |
| salute | /sə-ˈluːt/ |
T-Nouns with Stress on the 2nd Syllable
| Word | IPA |
|---|---|
| tobacco | /tə-ˈbæk.əʊ/ |
| technology | /tek-ˈnɒl.ə.dʒi/ |
| transport | /trænz-ˈpɔːt/ |
| tradition | /trə-ˈdɪʃ.ən/ |
| translation | /træns-ˈleɪ.ʃən/ |
| transmission | /træns-ˈmɪʃ.ən/ |
| transition | /træn-ˈzɪʃ.ən/ |
| transaction | /træn-ˈzæk.ʃən/ |
| tomato | /tə-ˈmɑː.təʊ/ (UK) |
| technique | /tek-ˈniːk/ |
| transgression | /træns-ˈɡreʃ.ən/ |
T-Nouns with Stress on the 2nd Syllable
| Word | IPA |
|---|---|
| utility | /juːˈtɪl.ə.ti/ |
V-Nouns with Stress on the 2nd Syllable
| Word | IPA |
|---|---|
| vacaytion | /vəˈkeɪ.ʃən/ |
| variety | /vəˈraɪ.ə.ti/ |
| velocity | /vəˈlɒs.ə.ti/ |
| veranda | /vəˈræn.də/ |
| vocation | /vəʊˈkeɪ.ʃən/ |
W-Nouns with Stress on the 2nd Syllable
| Word | IPA |
|---|---|
| weekend | /ˌwiːkˈend/ |
| withdrawal | /wɪðˈdrɔː.əl/ |
| well-being | /ˌwelˈbiː.ɪŋ/ |
Common Patterns for Nouns with Stress on the 2nd Syllable
While many two-syllable nouns are stressed on the first syllable, these patterns can help you identify second-syllable stress:
Loanwords from French or Italian
-
Examples: balloon, canoe, marine, saloon
Noun-Verb Stress Match
-
Some nouns keep the same stress pattern as their verb form.
Example: to request (verb) → a request (noun)
Compound Words of Prefix + Short Base
-
Prefixes like re-, ex-, con- often lead to second-syllable stress.
Example: relief, excuse, concern