Stress Patterns

3-Syllable Words

Pattern

In words of 3 or more syllables, stress usually falls
on the syllable immediately before the suffix.
The chart below shows exceptions to this pattern.

Stress falls on the suffix.	Stress falls 2 syllables before the suffix.
-ee	-ate
employée referée refugée	verbs to appréciate to inítiate to óperate nouns, adjectives certíficate délicate
-eer	-ize
auctionéer enginéer voluntéer	verbs to apólogize to áuthorize to récognize
exceptions -ee
commíttee