英語詞彙的重音位置是有其規律的。例如：有些雙音節詞彙做名詞時重音往往落在首音節上；而做動詞時，重音就落在第二音節上了。這些詞彙常見的有：addict，accent，abstract，annex等。掌握好並讀準單詞的重音有一定的規律可循。為了便於記憶和學習，現將部分規則按重音位置和字母順序作如下歸納，並從理論上進行簡要分析。
一、歸類部分
1．重音落在末音節的字母組合
①以-ee結尾，讀音為/!>?/的詞彙：appellee chimpanzee conferee contestee decree drawee evacuee em-ployee goatee grandee guarantee indictee inductee
②以-act結尾，讀音為/$kt/的詞彙，多為動詞：contact contract detract distract exact enact intact interact
④以-ade結尾，讀音為/eid/的詞彙：arcade brigade colonnade escalade escapade（exception：decade）
⑤以-ane結尾，讀音為/ein/的詞彙：inane insane profane humane
⑥以-ceive結尾，讀音為/s!>?v/的動詞：conceive deceive perceive receive
⑦以-duce結尾，讀音為/dj(>?s/的詞彙：conduce deduce induce introduce reduce reproduce subduce traduceseduce
⑨以-een結尾，讀音為/!>?n/的名詞：colleen canteen pretteen Salween shagreen thirteen spalpeenvelevteen yestreen
⑩以-eer結尾，讀音為/i+/的名詞：cannoneer compeer domineer engineer fronteer gadgeteer gazetterpamphleteer patrioteer
(11)以-ect結尾，讀音為/ekt/的動詞：affect bisect collect defect direct detect correct confect connectdisinfect eject elect
(12)以-ede結尾，讀音為d/的動詞：accede antecede concede impede intercede precede recede retrocedesecede supercede
(13)以-end結尾，讀音為/end/的動詞：attend amend commend comprehend contend defend depend extendintend represend subtend
(14)以-el結尾，讀音為/el/的詞彙：compel impel Nobel marcel propel rebel（v．）
(15)以-ert結尾，
的詞彙：assert concert convert desert introvert subvert
(16)以-ese結尾，
的詞彙：Chinese Japanese Napalese sudanese telegraphese vietnamese
(17)以-clude結尾，的動詞：conclude exclude include occlude preclude seclude
(18)以-esce結尾，讀音為/es/的詞彙：coalesce deliquesce effloresce evanesce recrudesce
(19)以-ess結尾，讀音為/es/的動詞：compress confess depress express impress profess redress represssuppress transgress若不是動詞，以-ess結尾，的詞彙之重音位置不固定："progress "congress pro"cess un"less
(20)以-est結尾，讀音為/est/的動詞：adjest congest contest digest infest protest suggest
(21)以-ette結尾，讀音為/et/的詞彙：cassette cigarette brunette coquette chemisette forssette frisettegazette grisette
(22)以-form結尾的動詞：conform perform reform transform（但uniform是名詞）
(23)以-ict結尾，讀音為/ikt/的動詞：afflict conflict constrict contradict inflict predict restric
(24)以-ide結尾，讀音為/aid/的詞彙：aside astride beside confide divide provide reside subside
(25)以-ign結尾，讀音為/ain/的動詞：assign condign design consign resign
(26)以-ire結尾，讀音為/ai+/的動詞：conspire esquire expire desire inquire inspire require respire
(27)以-lapse結尾，讀音為/l$ps/的詞彙：collapse prolapse relapse
(28)以-mit結尾，讀音為/mit/的詞彙：admit commit demit emit intermit omit permit pretermit remitsubmit transmit（若是名詞，重音落在首音節，如："limit "summit "vomit）
(29)以-ort結尾的動詞：disport distort escort export import report retort support trans-port（若是名詞，重音多落在首音節：escort export import bistort purport等。）
(30)以-ore結尾詞彙：afore before deplore explore restore
(31)以-pose結尾，讀音為/p+us/、/p+uz/的動詞：depose decompose expose impose interpose oppose indispose predis-pose propose suppose
(32)以-scribe結尾，讀音為/skraib/的詞彙：conscribe describe escribe prescribe subscribe transcribe
(33)以-scend結尾，讀音為/send/的詞彙：ascend condescend descend transcend
(34)以-oon結尾的詞彙：afternoon balloon buffoon cartoon cocoon decocoon dragoon festoongalloon octoroon pocaroon（exception：forenoon）
(35)以-que結尾，讀音為/k/的詞彙：antique boutique blottesque burlesque arabesque cacique critiquegrotesque Japanesque mystique
(36)以-r結尾，現在分詞和過去分詞均要雙寫r（-red，-ring）：demur incur inter infer occur prefer recur refer transfer
(37)以-uct結尾，讀音為/)kt/的詞彙：conduct construct deduct instruct obstruct product
(38)以-ult結尾的詞彙：consult exult insult occult midcult result
(39)以-ume結尾的詞彙：assume consume perfume presume subsume
(40)以-use結尾的詞彙：accuse confuse excuse perfuse refuse suffuse transfuse
(41)以-ure結尾，讀音為/ju+/的詞彙：accure impure immure insecure insure inure mature obscure per-dure procure secure（exceptions："epicure "manicure）
2．重音落在倒數第二個音節的字母組合：
①以-ial結尾，讀音為/+l/、/i+l/或/j+l/的詞彙：/+l/：confidential decrial existential impartial inferential inffluentialinitial prejudicial sacrificial substantial/i+l/：authorial bimestrial colloquial gressorial material mercurialministerial motorial pictorial prefatorial tectorial visitorial/j+l/：antimonial bicentennial colonial
②以-ian結尾，讀音為/+n/、/i+n/、/j+n/的詞彙：/+n/：academician arithmetician acoustician electrician Eurasian Lin-guistician musician Persian politician practician/i+n/、/j+n/：Cantabrigian collegian Colombian historian rosarian salu-tatorian subclavian
③以-ia結尾，讀音為/i+/的詞彙：國名、地名：Australia Ethiopia Indonesia Malaysia Mauritania Roma-nia醫學：abulia achromatopsia acidemia acrophobia aerophobia bilharziainsomnia其他：academia acedia cryptomeria razzia encyclopedia
④以-ic結尾，讀音為/ik/偶或包括以-ics結尾的詞彙：atomatic atmospheric autarkic autographic ballistic climatic cosmeticenteric epidemic
⑤以-ior結尾，讀音為/i+/的詞彙，形容詞居多：inferior junior posterior prior senior superior ulterior
⑥以-it結尾，讀音為/it/的詞彙：cohabit demerit discredit discomfit decrepit deposit explicit dispiritdisinherit inspirit inherit inhabit inhibit reposit transit visit
⑦以-scence（n．）或-scent（adj）結尾：acescence acquiescence deliquescence convalescence evanescence obso-lescence reminiscence renascence decrescent marcescent pubescent re-crudescent quiescent resipiscent suffrutescent
⑧以-ion或-sion結尾：accusaion abolition confusion explosion decision impression persua-sion excitation suggestion invitation
3．重音落在倒數第三個音節的字母組合：
①以-fy結尾，讀音為/fai/的動詞：acidify identify intensify emulsify lapidify personify qualify modifyprettify simplify transmogrify
②以-ical結尾，讀音為/ik+l/的詞彙：academical chemical electrical political periodical encyclical teleologi-cal inimical theoretical technological
④以-itude結尾的詞彙：attitude decrepitude infinitude lassitude latitude platitude
⑤以-ity結尾，讀音為/iti/的詞彙：ability curiosity civility facility fragility opportunity personalitypossibility sensitivity simplicity speciality utility vanity whimsicality
⑥以-graph或-phy結尾的詞彙：aerography bibliography biography calligraphy chirography geographylexicography photography planography telegraphy theosophy philosophy
⑦以-ology結尾的詞彙：aerology bibliology bryology crytology ecology Egyptology lexicologytechnology pestology psychology testaceology teleology theology zoology
⑨以-ular結尾，讀音為/jul+/的詞彙：biangular binocular consular insular intercelluar ocular orbicularpopular particular secular regular triangular
4．詞彙加了字首後的重讀位置①重讀落在第一音節的詞彙，加字首後，重讀位置不變："dazzle—be"dazzle "operate—co"operate"force—en"force "logical—il"logical"literate—il"literate "constant—in"constant②重讀落在第二音節的詞彙，加字首後，原重讀位置不受影響，但字首的字母組合作為一個音節可重讀或次重讀：pro"duce—"repro"duce"graduate—"post"graduate"national—"inter"nationalim"pressionism—"neo-imp"ressionism（the only exception："finite—"infinie）
二、簡析部分從語言學的角度來分析，英語的詞重音（word stress）的位置是不固定的。英語與某些別的語言不同，例如：法語詞彙的重音總是在詞的末音節上；與法語相反的是捷克語，它的重音總是落在詞的首音節上，而波蘭語卻獨特一些，重音位置總是落在詞彙的倒數第二個音節上，因此，這些語言的重音稱為固定重音（fixed stress），而英語和俄語的重音則是自由重音（free stress）。英語本身吸收並借用了大量的外來語（loan words），以歷史語言學或詞源學（etymology）的觀點來剖析，就不難解釋為什麼英語重音屬於自由重音這一現象。例如：以-ion和-ic結尾的英語詞彙重音往往落在倒數第二個音節上，而-ion和-ic結尾的字母組合則源於拉丁語。以-ee結尾的英語詞彙重音總是落在末音節上，若追溯它的同源詞（cognate），我們可以看到-ee這一字尾源於Middle English的-e，而-e又來源於Middle French的-é，若再追本溯源，乃是來自於Old French的-é。再考察以-ette字尾結尾的詞彙，－ette字尾也是經歷了從Old French到Middle French再到Middle English這一相似的演變過程，直至現在，仍然保留了法語的重音特徵，與現代法語的詞重音總是落在末音節這一規律完全吻合。
英語詞彙的重音位置是有其規律的。例如：有些雙音節詞彙做名詞時重音往往落在首音節上；而做動詞時，重音就落在第二音節上了。這些詞彙常見的有：addict，accent，abstract，annex等。掌握好並讀準單詞的重音有一定的規律可循。為了便於記憶和學習，現將部分規則按重音位置和字母順序作如下歸納，並從理論上進行簡要分析。
一、歸類部分
1．重音落在末音節的字母組合
①以-ee結尾，讀音為/!>?/的詞彙：appellee chimpanzee conferee contestee decree drawee evacuee em-ployee goatee grandee guarantee indictee inductee
②以-act結尾，讀音為/$kt/的詞彙，多為動詞：contact contract detract distract exact enact intact interact
④以-ade結尾，讀音為/eid/的詞彙：arcade brigade colonnade escalade escapade（exception：decade）
⑤以-ane結尾，讀音為/ein/的詞彙：inane insane profane humane
⑥以-ceive結尾，讀音為/s!>?v/的動詞：conceive deceive perceive receive
⑦以-duce結尾，讀音為/dj(>?s/的詞彙：conduce deduce induce introduce reduce reproduce subduce traduceseduce
⑨以-een結尾，讀音為/!>?n/的名詞：colleen canteen pretteen Salween shagreen thirteen spalpeenvelevteen yestreen
⑩以-eer結尾，讀音為/i+/的名詞：cannoneer compeer domineer engineer fronteer gadgeteer gazetterpamphleteer patrioteer
(11)以-ect結尾，讀音為/ekt/的動詞：affect bisect collect defect direct detect correct confect connectdisinfect eject elect
(12)以-ede結尾，讀音為d/的動詞：accede antecede concede impede intercede precede recede retrocedesecede supercede
(13)以-end結尾，讀音為/end/的動詞：attend amend commend comprehend contend defend depend extendintend represend subtend
(14)以-el結尾，讀音為/el/的詞彙：compel impel Nobel marcel propel rebel（v．）
(15)以-ert結尾，
的詞彙：assert concert convert desert introvert subvert
(16)以-ese結尾，
的詞彙：Chinese Japanese Napalese sudanese telegraphese vietnamese
(17)以-clude結尾，的動詞：conclude exclude include occlude preclude seclude
(18)以-esce結尾，讀音為/es/的詞彙：coalesce deliquesce effloresce evanesce recrudesce
(19)以-ess結尾，讀音為/es/的動詞：compress confess depress express impress profess redress represssuppress transgress若不是動詞，以-ess結尾，的詞彙之重音位置不固定："progress "congress pro"cess un"less
(20)以-est結尾，讀音為/est/的動詞：adjest congest contest digest infest protest suggest
(21)以-ette結尾，讀音為/et/的詞彙：cassette cigarette brunette coquette chemisette forssette frisettegazette grisette
(22)以-form結尾的動詞：conform perform reform transform（但uniform是名詞）
(23)以-ict結尾，讀音為/ikt/的動詞：afflict conflict constrict contradict inflict predict restric
(24)以-ide結尾，讀音為/aid/的詞彙：aside astride beside confide divide provide reside subside
(25)以-ign結尾，讀音為/ain/的動詞：assign condign design consign resign
(26)以-ire結尾，讀音為/ai+/的動詞：conspire esquire expire desire inquire inspire require respire
(27)以-lapse結尾，讀音為/l$ps/的詞彙：collapse prolapse relapse
(28)以-mit結尾，讀音為/mit/的詞彙：admit commit demit emit intermit omit permit pretermit remitsubmit transmit（若是名詞，重音落在首音節，如："limit "summit "vomit）
(29)以-ort結尾的動詞：disport distort escort export import report retort support trans-port（若是名詞，重音多落在首音節：escort export import bistort purport等。）
(30)以-ore結尾詞彙：afore before deplore explore restore
(31)以-pose結尾，讀音為/p+us/、/p+uz/的動詞：depose decompose expose impose interpose oppose indispose predis-pose propose suppose
(32)以-scribe結尾，讀音為/skraib/的詞彙：conscribe describe escribe prescribe subscribe transcribe
(33)以-scend結尾，讀音為/send/的詞彙：ascend condescend descend transcend
(34)以-oon結尾的詞彙：afternoon balloon buffoon cartoon cocoon decocoon dragoon festoongalloon octoroon pocaroon（exception：forenoon）
(35)以-que結尾，讀音為/k/的詞彙：antique boutique blottesque burlesque arabesque cacique critiquegrotesque Japanesque mystique
(36)以-r結尾，現在分詞和過去分詞均要雙寫r（-red，-ring）：demur incur inter infer occur prefer recur refer transfer
(37)以-uct結尾，讀音為/)kt/的詞彙：conduct construct deduct instruct obstruct product
(38)以-ult結尾的詞彙：consult exult insult occult midcult result
(39)以-ume結尾的詞彙：assume consume perfume presume subsume
(40)以-use結尾的詞彙：accuse confuse excuse perfuse refuse suffuse transfuse
(41)以-ure結尾，讀音為/ju+/的詞彙：accure impure immure insecure insure inure mature obscure per-dure procure secure（exceptions："epicure "manicure）
2．重音落在倒數第二個音節的字母組合：
①以-ial結尾，讀音為/+l/、/i+l/或/j+l/的詞彙：/+l/：confidential decrial existential impartial inferential inffluentialinitial prejudicial sacrificial substantial/i+l/：authorial bimestrial colloquial gressorial material mercurialministerial motorial pictorial prefatorial tectorial visitorial/j+l/：antimonial bicentennial colonial
②以-ian結尾，讀音為/+n/、/i+n/、/j+n/的詞彙：/+n/：academician arithmetician acoustician electrician Eurasian Lin-guistician musician Persian politician practician/i+n/、/j+n/：Cantabrigian collegian Colombian historian rosarian salu-tatorian subclavian
③以-ia結尾，讀音為/i+/的詞彙：國名、地名：Australia Ethiopia Indonesia Malaysia Mauritania Roma-nia醫學：abulia achromatopsia acidemia acrophobia aerophobia bilharziainsomnia其他：academia acedia cryptomeria razzia encyclopedia
④以-ic結尾，讀音為/ik/偶或包括以-ics結尾的詞彙：atomatic atmospheric autarkic autographic ballistic climatic cosmeticenteric epidemic
⑤以-ior結尾，讀音為/i+/的詞彙，形容詞居多：inferior junior posterior prior senior superior ulterior
⑥以-it結尾，讀音為/it/的詞彙：cohabit demerit discredit discomfit decrepit deposit explicit dispiritdisinherit inspirit inherit inhabit inhibit reposit transit visit
⑦以-scence（n．）或-scent（adj）結尾：acescence acquiescence deliquescence convalescence evanescence obso-lescence reminiscence renascence decrescent marcescent pubescent re-crudescent quiescent resipiscent suffrutescent
⑧以-ion或-sion結尾：accusaion abolition confusion explosion decision impression persua-sion excitation suggestion invitation
3．重音落在倒數第三個音節的字母組合：
①以-fy結尾，讀音為/fai/的動詞：acidify identify intensify emulsify lapidify personify qualify modifyprettify simplify transmogrify
②以-ical結尾，讀音為/ik+l/的詞彙：academical chemical electrical political periodical encyclical teleologi-cal inimical theoretical technological
④以-itude結尾的詞彙：attitude decrepitude infinitude lassitude latitude platitude
⑤以-ity結尾，讀音為/iti/的詞彙：ability curiosity civility facility fragility opportunity personalitypossibility sensitivity simplicity speciality utility vanity whimsicality
⑥以-graph或-phy結尾的詞彙：aerography bibliography biography calligraphy chirography geographylexicography photography planography telegraphy theosophy philosophy
⑦以-ology結尾的詞彙：aerology bibliology bryology crytology ecology Egyptology lexicologytechnology pestology psychology testaceology teleology theology zoology
⑨以-ular結尾，讀音為/jul+/的詞彙：biangular binocular consular insular intercelluar ocular orbicularpopular particular secular regular triangular
4．詞彙加了字首後的重讀位置①重讀落在第一音節的詞彙，加字首後，重讀位置不變："dazzle—be"dazzle "operate—co"operate"force—en"force "logical—il"logical"literate—il"literate "constant—in"constant②重讀落在第二音節的詞彙，加字首後，原重讀位置不受影響，但字首的字母組合作為一個音節可重讀或次重讀：pro"duce—"repro"duce"graduate—"post"graduate"national—"inter"nationalim"pressionism—"neo-imp"ressionism（the only exception："finite—"infinie）
二、簡析部分從語言學的角度來分析，英語的詞重音（word stress）的位置是不固定的。英語與某些別的語言不同，例如：法語詞彙的重音總是在詞的末音節上；與法語相反的是捷克語，它的重音總是落在詞的首音節上，而波蘭語卻獨特一些，重音位置總是落在詞彙的倒數第二個音節上，因此，這些語言的重音稱為固定重音（fixed stress），而英語和俄語的重音則是自由重音（free stress）。英語本身吸收並借用了大量的外來語（loan words），以歷史語言學或詞源學（etymology）的觀點來剖析，就不難解釋為什麼英語重音屬於自由重音這一現象。例如：以-ion和-ic結尾的英語詞彙重音往往落在倒數第二個音節上，而-ion和-ic結尾的字母組合則源於拉丁語。以-ee結尾的英語詞彙重音總是落在末音節上，若追溯它的同源詞（cognate），我們可以看到-ee這一字尾源於Middle English的-e，而-e又來源於Middle French的-é，若再追本溯源，乃是來自於Old French的-é。再考察以-ette字尾結尾的詞彙，－ette字尾也是經歷了從Old French到Middle French再到Middle English這一相似的演變過程，直至現在，仍然保留了法語的重音特徵，與現代法語的詞重音總是落在末音節這一規律完全吻合。