A stress mark is a small symbol that shows which part of a word to emphasize when you say it out loud. In dictionaries, stress marks usually look like little marks above or before certain syllables, helping you know where to put the stress (the extra force or emphasis) in your pronunciation.

For example, in the word “photograph,” the stress falls on the first syllable: PHO-to-graph. But in “photographer,” it shifts to the second: pho-TO-gra-pher. Stress marks show you these differences so you don't accidentally say “pho-TO-graph” and sound a bit odd.

Different dictionaries use different systems. Some put a heavy mark (ˈ) before the main stressed syllable and a lighter mark (ˌ) before secondary stressed syllables. Others use bold letters or other symbols.

Getting the stress right matters more than you might think. Say “DEsert” (the sandy place) versus “deSERT” (to abandon), or “PREsent” (a gift) versus “preSENT” (to show something), and you'll see how stress marks help you avoid confusion. They're like little road signs in the dictionary, guiding you toward clear, confident speech.