Free and Moving Stress
Lithuanian stress is free: it can fall on any syllable. It is also often mobile: it can move when the word changes form.
How It Works
In some languages the stress always falls in the same place: on the first syllable in Czech, or usually on the next-to-last in Polish. Lithuanian is not like that. The stressed syllable can be:
- the first: vãsara (summer), nãmas (house)
- a middle one: mergáitė (girl)
- the last: Lietuvà (Lithuania)
The marks above show the stressed syllable. You will only see them in dictionaries and learning materials. See stress marks in dictionaries.
Stress can move. In many words the stress jumps between the stem and the ending as the word changes:
- rankà (hand) but rañką (hand, as an object)
- vanduõ (water) but vándenį (water, as an object)
- nãmas (house) but namaĩ (houses, home)
These movements follow a small number of patterns, which you will meet later in accent paradigms.
Stress can change the meaning. Kãsa means "digs", but kasà means "braid" or "cash desk". Context usually makes the meaning clear.
Stress and vowel length. A stressed a or e is usually said long (nãmas, mẽdis), but it stays short at the end of a word (rankà). Unstressed vowels are not swallowed: a long vowel stays long without stress. See the letters ė and e.
Examples (6)
- Mano ranka šalta.
My hand is cold.
Word by Word: My hand cold.
Rankà is stressed on the last syllable.
- Jis spaudžia man ranką.
He's shaking my hand.
Word by Word: He presses to-me hand.
Rañką, the object form, is stressed on the first syllable.
- Senelis kasa daržą.
Grandpa is digging the garden.
Word by Word: Grandpa digs garden.
Here kãsa (digs) is stressed on the first syllable.
- Jos kasa labai ilga.
Her braid is very long.
Word by Word: Her braid very long.
Here kasà (braid) is stressed on the last syllable. Only the stress tells the two words apart.
- Aš geriu vandenį.
I'm drinking water.
Word by Word: I drink water.
Vanduõ is stressed at the end, but vándenį is stressed at the start.
- Lietuva yra graži šalis.
Lithuania is a beautiful country.
Word by Word: Lithuania is beautiful country.
Lietuvà is stressed on the last syllable, unlike English Lithuania.
Common Mistakes
Stressing a word the English way.
Líetuva yra graži šalis.Lietuvà yra graži šalis.The marks show stress, as in a dictionary. Lietuva is stressed on the last syllable, not the first.
Keeping the stress in one place in every form.
Mano rañka šalta.Mano rankà šalta.The object form is rañką, but the subject form rankà is stressed on the ending. Check each form in a dictionary.
How It Connects
Related Patterns
- Stress Marks in Dictionaries
Learn to read the three stress marks used in dictionaries.
Level 1 - Accent Paradigms
Later, learn the patterns that describe how stress moves.
Level 6 - Falling and Rising Tones
Later, learn the two ways a long stressed syllable can be said.
Level 5 - ė / eThe Letters Ė and E
See how stress often makes a plain e long.
Level 1 - Accusative Direct Object
Meet the object forms, like ranką, where stress often moves.
Level 1
Practice Free and Moving Stress in Bubblegum
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