Rõhut

Rõhut is a term used in Estonian language to describe the stress or emphasis placed on a particular syllable within a word. The concept of stress is fundamental in phonology, the study of sound systems in languages. In Estonian, stress is a distinctive feature that can change the meaning of a word. For example, the word "õhtu" (evening) has stress on the first syllable, while "õhtu" (evening) with stress on the second syllable means "evening" in a different context. The placement of stress can also affect the pronunciation and intonation of a word. In Estonian, stress is typically indicated by a diacritical mark, such as an acute accent (´), placed above the vowel that receives the stress. The rules governing stress placement in Estonian are complex and can vary depending on the word's origin and its position in a sentence. Understanding the stress patterns in Estonian is essential for mastering the language, as it plays a crucial role in both spoken and written communication.