First-syllable stress
prízvuk na prvej slabike
Slovak normally stresses the first syllable of a word.
Hear and place the steady first-syllable beat.
Keep the stress steady and light. Long vowel marks show vowel length, not stress.
Prepositions can form one rhythmic unit with the following word, so the stress may fall on the preposition.
Sound contrasts
BRAtislava / bra-ti-SLA-va Stress first syllable
ĎAkujem / ďa-KU-jem Keep later syllables light
How it is formed
Give the first syllable a small lift. Keep the rest even; do not stretch it for stress.
Words and phrase
Bratislavaďakujemprosím
Ďakujem za pomoc. Thank you for the help.
Reference
Jazykovedný ústav Ľudovíta Štúra SAV ↗Full attribution on References.