Thirteen or thirty, and where the stress lands

1. 1
   stress/stres/

   verb

   To say one part of a word with more force than the rest.
2. 2
   syllable/ˈsɪləbəl/

   noun

   A single beat of sound inside a spoken word.
3. 3
   rhythm/ˈrɪðəm/

   noun

   The pattern of strong and weak beats in spoken words.
4. 4
   emphasis/ˈemfəsəs/

   noun

   The extra weight one syllable carries when a word is said.
5. 5
   pronounce/prəˈnaʊns/

   verb

   To say a word or a sound in a certain way.
6. 6
   confuse/kənˈfjuːz/

   verb

   To mix up one thing with another.
7. 7
   listen/ˈlɪsən/

   verb

   Pay attention to what you can hear.
8. 8
   teenager/ˈtiːˌneɪdʒər/

   noun

   A person between thirteen and nineteen years old.
9. 9
   difference/ˈdɪfərəns/iAlso said ˈdɪfrəns.

   noun

   The way two things are not the same.
10. 10
    price/praɪs/

    noun

    The amount of money you pay for something.

The sentences

1. Which syllable do you stress in that word?

2. The first syllable sounds stronger than the second.

3. The rhythm of the word changes what people hear.

4. Put the emphasis on the second syllable, not the first.

5. Could you pronounce the number again a bit slower?

6. People often confuse thirteen and thirty on the phone.

7. Listen to where the stress falls in each word.

8. Is there a cheaper ticket for a teenager?

9. Can you hear the difference between those two words?

10. Could you write the price down for me please?

Pronunciation

• rhythm/ˈrɪðəm/

  Two syllables, RITH-uhm, with the soft th of "the" and no h sound after the r.

• emphasis/ˈemfəsəs/

  Stress the first syllable, EM-fuh-sis; the last two vowels are both weak.

• pronounce/prəˈnaʊns/

  Stress lands on the second syllable, and the first one is a quick weak puh.

• listen/ˈlɪsən/

  The t is silent: /ˈlɪsən/.

• teenager/ˈtiːˌneɪdʒər/

  Main stress on TEEN, with a long ee, and a lighter beat on the nay.

Good to know

sales tax

Prices on tags and menus in the US usually don't include sales tax, so the amount at the register is often a bit more than what you saw. The rate is set locally, so it varies by state and even by city.

tipping

Tipping is expected in most restaurants and taxis, usually between 15 and 20 percent of the bill. In shops and fast food it isn't expected.

receipt

You usually get a printed receipt with every purchase, and it's normal to ask to check it if a price looks wrong. Keeping it helps if you need to check a charge later.

Questions

What's the difference between thirteen and thirty when you hear them?

People often confuse thirteen and thirty on the phone, and listening for where the stress falls in each word tells them apart.

What does emphasis mean when someone talks about pronouncing a word?

Emphasis is the extra weight one syllable carries when a word is said, like putting the emphasis on the second syllable, not the first.

What do you say if you want the price written down?

You can say, could you write the price down for me please.