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Word Stress

Generally, the stress in Dari is on the last syllable of the word, with the exception of certain grammatical suffixes.

"book" ketáab کتاب = + + + ب

"interpreter" tarjomáan = + + + + + ن ترجمان

It may also occur earlier in the word for the purpose of emphasis and addressing people, on the negative particle نه (na) as in نکرد (nákard "he (she) did not do"), and on the prefix به (be) as in بخریم (békharim "let us buy' [subjunctive]).

In several words, the initial syllable is stressed:

"even" háttaa حتی = + +

"but" ámmaa اما = ا + +

"yes" báli بلی = + +

Frequently, a secondary stress occurs on one of the preceding syllables, as in:

"kitchen" aashpázkhaaná آشپزخانه = آ + + + + + + +

In this case, the last stressed syllable has the greater stress, as in the English word "characteristic" where two stressed syllables (CHAR ac ter IS tic) occur but the second stress is stronger. In Dari, the difference in stress is generally even greater.

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