Word stress in German

German words are usually stressed on the first syllable. A few word types break the rule.

The rule

Stress the first syllable.

ARbeitwork▶

KÜchekitchen▶

MOrgenmorning▶

WOHnungflat▶

The exceptions

be-, ver-, ge-, er-, ent- are never stressed

Stress the next part.

beZAHlento pay▶

verSTEhento understand▶

geSUNDhealthy▶

-ieren, -ion, -tät, -ei are stressed

Often words from French or Latin.

telefoNIErento phone▶

InformaTIONinformation▶

BäckeREIbakery▶

Good to know 1

In long nouns, stress the first word: KRANkenhaus (hospital), BAHNhof (station).