# accentual

CEFR C1 · Adjective

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/accentual
Updated: 2026-06-04

## Definition

relating to the way you stress or emphasize certain syllables in a word. It describes how the sound of a word is organized into strong and weak parts.

For teachers: relating to the placement of stress or emphasis on specific syllables within a word. Often used in linguistic contexts to describe the rhythmic or prosodic structure of a language.

## Examples

- The poet used an accentual rhythm to make the poem feel more powerful.
- In some languages, the meaning of a word can change depending on which syllable is accentual.
- The study of accentual patterns in Old English reveals how the language's stress system influenced the eventual loss of its complex inflectional endings.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.