Stress Marks in Dictionaries
Three marks show the stressed syllable: the grave ì, the acute ý and the tilde ã. You see them in dictionaries, not in normal texts.
How It Works
Because stress is free, learners need a way to see it. Dictionaries, textbooks and word tables use three marks:
- Grave, kairinis (`): usually a stressed short syllable at this level: vìsas (all), tàs (that).
- Acute, dešininis (´): a stressed long syllable: výras (man), dúona (bread).
- Tilde, riestinis (~): a stressed long syllable said the other way: nãmas (house), sniẽgas (snow).
The difference between the acute and the tilde is a difference in tone. It is covered in falling and rising tones. At this stage, simply stress the marked syllable.
Where the mark goes in a two-letter sound. With diphthongs like ie, uo, ai or au, and with pairs like an or ar, the acute sits on the first letter (dúona) and the tilde on the second (sniẽgas, rañką, vil̃kas). So a tilde can even appear over l, m, n or r.
A grave-mark exception. In ui and mixed syllables beginning with i or u, the first-part emphasis uses a grave rather than an acute: tìltas (bridge), kùrti (to create). These are long syllables even though their first vowel stays short. Some borrowed combinations beginning with o follow this rule too.
Dictionaries often add a number after the word, such as rankà (2). This number names the stress pattern of the word. See accent paradigms.
Do not write these marks in ordinary texts, messages or forms. Lithuanians use them only in reference works, teaching materials and, rarely, to avoid a misunderstanding.
Examples (6)
- Vìsas miestas miega.
The whole city is asleep.
Word by Word: Whole city sleeps.
The grave on vìsas marks a stressed short i.
- Tas výras yra mano dėdė.
That man is my uncle.
Word by Word: That man is my uncle.
The acute on výras marks a stressed long y.
- Mūsų nãmas mažas.
Our house is small.
Word by Word: Our house small.
The tilde on nãmas marks a stressed a said long.
- Aš valgau dúoną.
I'm eating bread.
Word by Word: I eat bread.
With the acute, the mark goes on the first letter of uo.
- Lauke daug sniẽgo.
There's a lot of snow outside.
Word by Word: Outside much snow-of.
With the tilde, the mark goes on the second letter of ie.
- Vil̃kas gyvena miške.
The wolf lives in the forest.
Word by Word: Wolf lives in-forest.
The tilde can sit on l when il forms one long syllable.
Common Mistakes
Putting an acute on a short vowel.
Vísas miestas miega.Vìsas miestas miega.The i in vìsas is short. A stressed short syllable takes the grave, not the acute.
Putting the tilde on the first letter of ie.
Lauke daug snĩego.Lauke daug sniẽgo.In a two-letter sound, the tilde always sits on the second letter.
How It Connects
Learn This First
Dictionary marks identify the stressed syllable and give further pronunciation information.
Related Patterns
- Falling and Rising Tones
Later, learn what the acute and the tilde sound like.
Level 5 - Accent Paradigms
Later, learn what the numbers after dictionary words mean.
Level 6 - Diphthongs ie and uoThe Diphthongs Ie and Uo
Review the diphthongs whose marks sit on the first or second letter.
Level 1 - Long y and ū
Review which vowels are long and which are short.
Level 1
Practice Stress Marks in Dictionaries in Bubblegum
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