Kõrvalkõvasid

Kõrvalkõvasid is a term used in Estonian linguistics to describe secondary stresses within a word. While Estonian has a primary stress that falls on the first syllable of most words, longer words can also exhibit weaker secondary stresses on other syllables. These secondary stresses are not as prominent as the primary stress but can influence the rhythm and pronunciation of the word.

The placement of secondary stresses is often determined by the syllable structure and vowel length. Typically, they tend to occur on syllables that are not immediately adjacent to the primary stress. For example, in a three-syllable word with primary stress on the first syllable, a secondary stress might be found on the third syllable. In longer words, there might be multiple secondary stresses, creating a more complex pattern of emphasis.

Understanding kõrvalkõvasid is important for accurate pronunciation and comprehension of spoken Estonian. While native speakers naturally apply these secondary stresses, learners may need to pay conscious attention to them. The subtle variations in stress can affect the perception of word boundaries and the overall flow of speech. Linguistic analysis often identifies these secondary stresses to provide a more complete description of Estonian prosody.