Stress
The word stress in Macedonian is antepenultimate, meaning it falls on the third from last syllable in words with three or more syllables, and on the first or only syllable in other words. This is sometimes disregarded when the word has entered the language more recently or from a foreign source. The following rules apply:
- Disyllabic words are stressed on the second-to-last syllable.
For example, дете ('child'), мajкa ('mother') and тaтко ('father').
- Trisyllabic and polysyllabic words are stressed on the third-to-last syllable.
For example, планина ('mountain'), планината ('the mountain'), and планинарите ('the mountaineers').
Exceptions include:
- Verbal adverbs: e.g. викaјќи ('shouting'), одејќи ('walking').
- Foreign loanwords: e.g. клише ('cliché'), генеза ('genesis'), литература ('literature').
- A number of anthroponyms (ex. Александар, 'Alexander') and toponyms (ex. Канада, 'Canada').
Read more about this topic: Macedonian Phonology
Famous quotes containing the word stress:
“It is not stressful circumstances, as such, that do harm to children. Rather, it is the quality of their interpersonal relationships and their transactions with the wider social and material environment that lead to behavioral, emotional, and physical health problems. If stress matters, it is in terms of how it influences the relationships that are important to the child.”
—Felton Earls (20th century)
“Like all weak men he laid an exaggerated stress on not changing one’s mind.”
—W. Somerset Maugham (1874–1966)
“In the stress of modern life, how little room is left for that most comfortable vanity that whispers in our ears that failures are not faults! Now we are taught from infancy that we must rise or fall upon our own merits; that vigilance wins success, and incapacity means ruin.”
—Agnes Repplier (1858–1950)