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Cafetalk Tutor's Column

Tutor Cecily G. 's Column

Words and names from French and syllable stress

2021-04-04

Many English two syllable names have stress on the first syllable.

Women's names:

Emma
Jana
Maya
Julie

Men's names:

Andrew
Daniel
Peter
Patrick

However, many 2 syllable names used in English that come from French have stress on the second syllable:

Women's names:

Marie
Nicole
Danielle
Denise
Celine
Renee 

Men's names:

Pierre
Maurice

We also use some two syllable French words in English that have stress on the second syllable:

saute (means to fry lightly)
duvet (a down cover you put on your bed)
ca
baguette (a bread shaped like a stick)
ballet
hotel

Note: this rule doesn't hold true for all French two syllable words or names used in English, and this is not the way the French say the words or names. They use equal stress. 














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