-al suffix

The adjective- and noun-forming -al suffix can be added both to base words (personal) and words that already contain suffixes, primarily the -ic and -tion suffix (medical and national). This suffix is stress-controlling, meaning it dictates where the primary stress can be expected to fall within a word.

2-syllable -al words

Words that contain the -al suffix that are only two syllables in length are usually stressed on the first syllable (as are most 2-syllable nouns and adjectives, regardless of the presence of a suffix).

-al suffix stress
2-syllable:	central
	mental
	normal
	•	•

3+ syllable -al words

Words that are three syllables or longer that contain the -al suffix are usually stressed on the third-from-last syllable.

-al suffix stress
3-syllable:	crim i nal • • •
4-syllable:	o rig i nal • • • •
5-syllable:	in di vid u al • • • • •

-ic and -tion + -al

The -al suffix can be added to the -ic suffix and -tion suffix and the word will still be stressed on the third-from-last syllable. This is consistent with the fact that words containing the -ic or -tion are usually stressed on the syllable previous to the -ic or -tion.

-ic suffix and -tion suffix + -al suffix
4-syllable:	his tor i cal • • • •		tra di tion al • • • •
5-syllable	al pha bet i cal • • • • •		in ter na tion al • • • • •

Pronuncian Lessons

  

Top-Ranked Lessons

long e sound /i/

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Introduction to Approximant Sounds

l sound /l/

velar l sound /ɫ/

Introduction to Stops

t sound /t/

b sound /b/

g sound /ɡ/

k sound /k/

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