finalstress

Finalstress is a phonological concept describing the position of the primary lexical stress in a word, typically on the final syllable. The term is used to annotate languages or word-formation systems where the last syllable bears the main stress, though many languages exhibit exceptions or context-driven shifts. In fixed final-stress systems, most native words are pronounced with stress on the final syllable, with occasional deviations due to loanwords, proper names, or specific morphemes.

Turkish is commonly described as having predominantly final-syllable stress, meaning the last syllable of the word is usually stressed, though there are common exceptions for borrowed terms and certain proper nouns.

In languages with final stress, phonetic effects often accompany the stressed syllable, including longer vowel duration, greater amplitude, or higher pitch. The position of stress can influence rhythm, syllable weight, and morphological boundaries, particularly in suffix-rich words where affixation can reinforce final stress.

Historical and typological notes: final-stress patterns can emerge through diachronic processes such as suffixation and vowel reduction, which push prominence toward the end of a word; shifts can also occur under contact with other languages or in the adaptation of loanwords. Cross-linguistic surveys show substantial variation in stress placement, with final-stress as one end of a spectrum that also includes penultimate, antepenultimate, and variable systems.

See also: stress (linguistics), prosody, Turkish phonology.