põhirõhk

Põhirõhk is a term used in Estonian linguistics to denote the primary or main stress in a word. It identifies the syllable that receives the greatest emphasis when the word is spoken, typically indicated by a higher pitch and longer duration. In standard Estonian, the primary stress generally falls on the first syllable of the word. This stress position is usually preserved in inflected and compound forms, helping to maintain the word’s pronunciation and rhythm within sentences. For example, in common two-syllable words such as raamat and kool, the stress falls on the first syllable: RAAMAT and KOOL.

The concept is important for accurate pronunciation, listening comprehension, and language teaching. While the default pattern has the primary stress on the initial syllable, loanwords, proper names, and some dialectal or regional varieties may exhibit variations in stress placement.

The term põhirõhk combines põhi meaning “main” or “principal” with rõhk meaning “stress” or “emphasis.” It is used across descriptive phonology, phonetics, and Estonian grammar to discuss how word stress affects speech patterns and intelligibility.