Definition & Meaning of "stress mark"

What is a "stress mark"?

A stress mark is a written symbol used to indicate the emphasis placed on a particular syllable in a word. In phonetic transcription, the stress mark is typically represented by a vertical line or an acute accent. For example, in the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA), primary stress is marked with a high vertical line (ˈ) before the stressed syllable, as in ˈpho.to.graph, where the first syllable receives the stress. Stress marks help clarify pronunciation and are essential in understanding the rhythmic and melodic patterns of speech in different languages.