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Very long words

Long English words are almost always built from stackable prefixes and suffixes, so they yield to chunking rather than memorisation. Find the root first, then add the pieces outward. Primary stress usually sits near the end, on the syllable before -ity, -ion or -ical.


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The words

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Sixths, strengths, twelfths, world: short words that are far harder than they look.
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Keep practising

Browse every practice list or the word index, hear two accents back to back on Compare, or test your ear with the listening quiz.

To read the rules behind these words, see the pronunciation guides — including silent letters, word stress and American vs British. Or hear each accent on its own page: American, British, Australian.