{"history":[],"article":{"id":"b0527766-b5f2-4a78-97c6-6b713174e93a","title":"Lithuanian accentuation","slug":"lithuanian-accentuation","content":":::summary\n:::\n\n# \nIn the [Lithuanian](https://bliptext.com/articles/lithuanian-language) [phonology](https://bliptext.com/articles/lithuanian-phonology), stressed [heavy syllables](https://bliptext.com/articles/heavy-syllable) are pronounced in one of two [prosodically](https://bliptext.com/articles/prosody-linguistics) distinct ways.\nOne way is known as the acute or falling accent: this may be described as \"sudden, sharp or rough\".\nIn Lithuanian it is called tvirtaprãdė príegaidė, literally 'firm-start accent'.\nThe second way is known as the circumflex or rising accent, which may be described as \"continued, mild or smooth\".\nIn Lithuanian it is called tvirtagãlė príegaidė, literally 'firm-end accent'.\nLight (i.e. short) syllables may be stressed or unstressed, but cannot be differentiated by accent.\nIn written Lithuanian, various diacritic marks ([acute](https://bliptext.com/articles/acute-accent) ⟨´⟩, [tilde](https://bliptext.com/articles/tilde) ⟨˜⟩, and [grave](https://bliptext.com/articles/grave-accent) ⟨`⟩) are used to mark the tonal accent and stress.\n\n# Syllable weight\nIn Lithuanian, heavy (i.e. long) syllables include those containing:\nHeavy syllables can be either stressed or unstressed.\nIn mixed acute diphthongs beginning with /i/ or /u/, the acute mark is replaced by a grave; this reflects the fact that, in the standard language (but not in some dialects), the first part of the diphthong is short.\nIn complex diphthongs, the [acute](https://bliptext.com/articles/acute-accent) accent is marked by an [acute](https://bliptext.com/articles/acute-accent) ⟨´⟩ diacritic over the first letter and the circumflex by a [tilde](https://bliptext.com/articles/tilde) ⟨˜⟩ over the second letter.\nThis indicates a perception that the letter is stronger in some way.\nFor example, a higher pitch or a longer or louder sound, depending on the dialect and speaker.\nStressed short vowels are marked by a [grave](https://bliptext.com/articles/grave-accent) diacritic ⟨`⟩.\n\n# Stress\n[Stress](https://bliptext.com/articles/stress-linguistics) is free and can occur on any syllable of the word.\nHowever, it rarely occurs more than four syllables before the end of the word.\nSome nouns and adjectives have fixed stress, that is, an accent remains on the same stem syllable in all the inflections.\nOther nouns and adjectives have mobile stress where the accent moves from place to place, particularly between stem and ending.\nIn each declension of the noun or adjective, there are four accent classes, one fixed and three mobile, all with different patterns of movement.\nStress is a complex of various [acoustic](https://bliptext.com/articles/acoustics) features, particularly loudness (strength and intensity).\nOther features such as duration, spectrum and pitch, are of lesser importance in normal speech.\nThe frequency of syllables stressed at various positions from the ends of words varies: the last syllable is stressed 28.67% of the time; the second last, 53.22% of the time (most commonly); the third last, 16.10%, the fourth last, 1.86% and the fifth last, 0.15% (least commonly)., which means that despite the apparent freedom of accentuation, more than 97% of words are in fact stressed on one of the last three syllables.\nThe most distant syllable that can be stressed is the sixth.\nNouns stressed in this way are declined in the same manner as other polysyllabic nouns.\nFor example,\nPolysyllabic compound words and prefixed words, usually have one or sometimes two [secondary](https://bliptext.com/articles/secondary-stress) (or weaker) stresses.\nThe further the secondary stress is from the main stress, the stronger it is.\nFor example,\nIn international words, which consist of three poorly inter-flowing parts, two secondary stresses may occur.\nFor example,\nLong syllables, that is, those containing a long vowel, a diphthong, or a mixed diphthong which ends in a sonorant, may have one of two types of accents: the acute or the circumflex.\nIn an unstressed position, the opposition of the two accents is neutralized and reflected by a circumflex accent.\nIn dialects, there are cases when words may be differentiated only by the use of accents on unstressed syllables.\nOne example is where an accent determines the declensional case,\nIn standard language, such a difference would not be emphasized.\nThe m might have an increased emphasis in the case of an ending -e drop in sg.\nlocative.\n\n# Syllable nucleus\nMixed and simple diphthongs are present only when they are followed by consonants or when they occur at the end of a word.\nWhen they are followed by a vowel, the diphthong is split into two syllables.\nFor instance,\nDiphthongs are distinguished from monophthongs (simple vowels) by the fact that they do not have short equivalents.\nComplex diphthongs differ from the others in that the second component is a vowel rather than a consonant, that is, a [semivowel](https://bliptext.com/articles/semivowel) or [sonorant](https://bliptext.com/articles/sonorant), and they do not split into two syllables.\nFor example,\nComplex diphthongs also differ from monophthongs in that their rise is variable; they are longer than long vowels and, in comparison to au, ai, ei, an accent does not lengthen their parts.\nWhen foreign words are adopted, and there are simple (eu, oi, ou) or mixed diphthongs (o or e with l, m, n, or r); the sounds of the o and the e are not lengthened.\nOne exception is the mixed diphthong or which is found in old, nativized foreign words like morkà \"carrot\" and, gõrčius \"measure of about three litres\".\nIn this case, the o is long and marked by a circumflex when stressed or written ò when short.\n(Both variants are used).\nMixed diphthongs with long vowels can be found in compound words.\nFor example,\nThese can be compared to other mixed diphthongs where the long vowel is not present such as:\n\n# Differentiating between tone patterns\nHeavy syllables and diphthongs (simple, complex or mixed) may have two accents.\nThe presence of [minimal pairs](https://bliptext.com/articles/minimal-pair), indicates the role of the two accentual patterns.\nFor example,\nAn accent represents a complex of acoustic features such as, sound quality ([timbre](https://bliptext.com/articles/timbre)), quantity, strength ([intensity](https://bliptext.com/articles/intensity-physics)), [fundamental frequency](https://bliptext.com/articles/fundamental-frequency) (pitch), and degree of pitch separation.\nThese features may be varied in order to produce dialect and in order to differentiate between two accents when they are present.\nThe differentiation between two accents present in monophthongs and complex diphthongs is clearest in the [Samogitian dialect](https://bliptext.com/articles/samogitian-dialect).\nIt is less so in western Aukštaitian and more assimilated in the eastern and southern Aukštaitian dialects.\nIn the standard language, accents in monophthongs differ with longer circumflex vowels both in diapason (tonal grouping) and intensity.\nIn practice, however, these distinctions are minor.\nSimilarly, in complex diphthongs (ie and uo), and mixed diphthongs beginning with i and u, the first element of these diphthongs does not lengthen when stressed.\nOn the other hand, simple and mixed diphthongs starting in a and e are clearly differentiated in the standard language.\nThe first part of the diphthong becomes longer and more tense under the acute accent.\nIn eastern and southern Aukštaitian, diphthongs starting in i and u lengthen similarly to those in a and e, and thus the accents can be easily differentiated.\nIn the Samogitian and western Aukštaitian dialects, variation of pitch and tone is an important way to differentiate accents.\nFor instance, accents may differ in where they appear in time relative to the peak of the pitch and the peak of the diapason.\nIn particular, the acute accent, when depicted as a graph, has a curve with pitch similar to the circumflex, but more sudden.\nThe rise lasts for a shorter time and falls more rapidly.\nIt starts when the pitch is higher and then, after a slight and quick rise, it falls.\nIn comparison, the circumflex accent, when depicted as a graph, has a curve in which the rise lasts longer and falls less rapidly.\nIt begins when the pitch is a little lower than that of the acute, rises slightly to a peak that is later than the acute and then falls at a similar rate but to a lesser extent.\nThe [Samogitian dialect](https://bliptext.com/articles/samogitian-dialect) also uses the \"laužtinė priegaidė\", a variant of the acute accent.\nIt is similar to the Latvian broken tone and the Danish [stød](https://bliptext.com/articles/st-d).\nChoice of intonation is used in Lithuanian and other Indo-European languages to determine meaning.\nThe other Indo-European languages include [Latvian](https://bliptext.com/articles/latvian-language), [Serbo-Croatian](https://bliptext.com/articles/serbo-croatian) and [Ancient Greek](https://bliptext.com/articles/ancient-greek).\n[Swedish](https://bliptext.com/articles/swedish-language) and [Norwegian](https://bliptext.com/articles/norwegian-language) also have tonal distinctions, but these latter are not Proto-Germanic in origin.\nRather, they are a Scandinavian innovation where tonal differences have arisen when old monosyllabic words have received an additional vowel, but have kept their original tonal characteristics.\n\n# Pronunciation\n[Friedrich Kurschat](https://bliptext.com/articles/friedrich-kurschat), in his \"Grammar of the Lithuanian language\" (Grammatik der littauischen Sprache, 1876) called the two accents \"sudden\" (gestossene Betonung) and \"continued\" (geschliffene Betonung).\nHe described them as different variations (rise and fall) of tone and illustrated them with notes.\nThe circumflex tone is described as a rise of a [minor third](https://bliptext.com/articles/minor-third) interval and for the mixed diphthongs as a rise of a [perfect fourth](https://bliptext.com/articles/perfect-fourth) interval.\nThe acute tone is described as a fall of a [perfect fifth](https://bliptext.com/articles/perfect-fifth) interval.\n[Kazimieras Jaunius](https://bliptext.com/articles/kazimieras-jaunius) describes strength of voice (more than tone) as an element differentiating between the two accents.\nThe acute accent, tvirtapradė priegaidė changes from stronger and higher to weaker and lower.\nThe circumflex accent, tvirtagalė changes from weaker and lower to stronger and higher.\nPronunciations of the two accents by speakers of dialects have minor differences.\nVaitkevičiūtė studied the pronunciation of four words by speakers of different dialects.\nThe words were the singular vocatives rýte (\"morning\"), rỹti (a male name), sū́ri (\"cheese\") and, sū̃ri (\"saltiness\").\nThe dialect speakers were from western Aukštaitians ([Marijampolė](https://bliptext.com/articles/marijampol), [Vilkaviškis](https://bliptext.com/articles/vilkavi-kis), [Kazlų Rūda](https://bliptext.com/articles/kazl-r-da), [Garliava](https://bliptext.com/articles/garliava)), [Veliuona](https://bliptext.com/articles/veliuona), and [Dzūkian](https://bliptext.com/articles/dz-kian).\n\n## Western Aukštaitija\nIn this region, the acute accent is more intense and has a higher pitch; the threshold of pitch between the accented syllable and the following syllable nucleus is larger (56 Hz versus 51 Hz), and the length of the nuclei of the syllables is shorter (rýte, where y = 394 ms and e = 163 ms versus rỹte where y = 433 ms and e = 194 ms).\nVowels with an acute are significantly shorter and less intense that vowels with a circumflex (rýte, where y length = 190 ms and e length = 102 ms versus rỹte where y length = 286 ms and e length = 80 ms).\n\n## Veliuona\nIn this region, the acute accent is pronounced with a higher starting pitch, a shorter length and a similar intensity to the circumflex and the two accents are most easily distinguished (sū́ri, where ū length = 341 ms and i length = 170 ms versus sū̃ri where ū length = 526 ms and i length = 186 ms).\n\n## Dzūkija\nIn this region, the acute accent over a vowel is shorter and the threshold of pitch between the stressed syllable and the following syllable is smaller than with the circumflex.\nIn rýte and rỹte, the fundamental frequency of the next, unstressed syllable was 78 Hz after an acute accent, and by 88 Hz after a circumflex.\nThe length in rýte, where y = 164 ms; and e = 125 ms versus rỹte where y = 255 ms e = 124 ms.\n\n# Articulation and length\nWhen a vowel with an acute is articulated, [articulators](https://bliptext.com/articles/vocal-tract) in mouth tense, the resonance of the [epiglottis](https://bliptext.com/articles/epiglottis) decreases and the [larynx](https://bliptext.com/articles/larynx) rises.\nWhen a vowel with a circumflex accent is articulates, the articulators are less tense, the resonance of the epiglottis increases and the larynx moves down.\n\n# Possibilities for accentuation\n\n## Vowels\n\n## Diphthongs\nThe length of long vowels to complex diphthongs to simple diphthongs with different kinds of accentuation occurs in ratios of 1 : 1.12 : 1.25 with acute accentuation; 1 : 1.02 : 1.08 with circumflex accentuation; and, 1 : 1.09 : 1.15 with no accentuation.\nWhen accentuated short vowels, such as ã or ẽ occur in a non-desinential syllable (one that does end in an inflection), either open or closed, they lengthen and always have a circumflex intonation.\nTheir lengthening is not to the extent of a long vowel.\nSimilarly, in this form, they may constitute the first part of a simple or mixed diphthong.\nFor example,\nIn pronominal forms (they have two endings) there is one case, masculine singular dative, where a stressed letter a, being not on the last ending, is acute, for example, a sg.\ndat.\nof gerasis – the good: ger-á-jam (< *ger-ám-jam) of indefinite ger-ám.\nThere are some cases where these two sounds do not lengthen.\nIn verbs, for example: mèsti (< *met-ti) – to throw, mèstas (or mẽstas) – thrown (but mẽtamas - being thrown).\nIn foreign words: tèmai (dative) – theme, subject (nominative is temà 2).\nThe rule of these two root-lengthening sounds does also not fit for sounds stressed in the ending: spalvà 4 – color (instrumental is spalvà); galvà 3 – head (instrumental is gálva); sodè loc. – in a garden (nominative sõdas 2).\nLengthened vowels a, e (and ą, ę, which were nasal in earlier times) are of the quality,.\nHistorically, there were long vowels ā, ē, which today are the narrower o, ė.\n\n## Lengthening diphthongs\nThe contrast between the accents in diphthongs starting in a, e (au, ai, ei; a, e + l, m, n, r) is based on the quantity and quality.\nIn acute accented cases, the first element is emphasized: it lengthens, is more tensed, open than the respective element in the circumflex cases.\nThe second element of acute simple diphthongs is more open and less tensed than the respective element of the circumflex diphthongs.\nIn the circumflex cases the second element is emphasized and lengthened.\nBut for the mixed diphthongs, the circumflex variant can also be pronounced without an emphasis and be understood only as shortness of a first element of a diphthong (in contrast to the acute, where the first element lengthens) in a standard language.\nIn some cases, like in a word oppositional to várna 'crow': var̃nas 'raven', the r would occur more likely emphasized, than not.\nBut in some, for example, var̃das 'name', it can occur either emphasized, or not (so that it would be understood by some as vàrdas in the latter case).\nSuch pronunciation and understanding of a circumflex diphthong being more some like without emphasis of any of its two elements, but some like a shortness of a first element, could also fit for aũ, aĩ, eĩ diphthongs, but an emphasis of the second element (similarly to the acute case, where the first element is emphasized) is characteristic for them too.\nThe first element of circumflex cases is similar to a short unstressed vowel – not tensed, more closed.\nIn an aũ case a vowel a receives a slight o shade (becomes narrower).\n\n## Not lengthening diphthongs\nIn the acute cases of the diphthongs starting in i, u (i, u + l, m, n, r; ui), the first element does not lengthen and tense in a standard language, but an emphasis remains.\nSince it does not lengthen, the acute accent is marked by a grave.\nThe first element of acute mixed diphthongs e, o + l, m, n, r of a foreign origin, does not lengthen as well: hèrbas – coat of arms, spòrtas – sport.\nIn eastern and southern Aukštaitian, dialects these acute diphthongs are lengthened similarly to a, e starting diphthongs.\nIn the circumflex cases, articulation is like in a, e starting diphthongs: the second element is emphasized and lengthened.\n\n## Long vowels, complex diphthongs\nIn acute complex diphthongs (i.e., uo), the first element is more tensed and closed and the second element more closed, but less tensed than in the circumflex cases, but the two elements do not differ much.\nThe acute long vowels, similarly, are much more closed and more tensed than the circumflex, but the contrast is lesser than in the complex diphthongs.\n\n## Assimilation\nThe contrast between the two accents in vowels and complex diphthongs is disappearing, because the opposition between the two accents is not present in all the dialects.\nThe base dialects of a standard language (western Aukštaitian) cover a smaller area.\nThe standard language is being affected by different dialects, where speakers pronounce the two accents differently.\nThe mixed diphthongs starting in i, u and a simple diphthong ui are commonly pronounced without noticeable intensifying of one of the appropriate elements in both acute as well as circumflex cases.\nIt is easy to intentionally intensify the second part in the circumflex accent, but it is common too, that it is impossible to extract, hear out them from the standard language, the sounds are pronounced without an attention on emphasizing some accentual oppositions.\nIn a case of the mixed diphthongs starting in a, e the opposition can be understood at least by different quantity of these sounds: lengthened in the acute case, and not lengthen in the circumflex.\nSuch lengthening helps to hold the two accents in the simple diphthongs (au, ai, ei) too (for example, in an ui case, where the first element is short, the opposition between accents is usually lost in a standard language), but in this case the lengthening, emphasis of the second element in the circumflex accentuation (similarly to the emphasis of the first element in the acute accentuation) is characteristic, not unusual.\nAmong the reasons of unification of accents in, for example, mixed diphthongs, there possibly is the absence of necessity to distinguish between them.\nFor example, in the case of várna 'crow' - var̃nas 'raven', the r would probably usually be emphasized in var̃nas, but in a case of var̃das 'name', where there is no relative acute word, there can be no feeling for a speaker that they should emphasize a sound r. But in these cases the distinction can be understood through quantity of a sound – the acute variant has lengthened a, and the circumflex – not lengthened.\nSo, in diphthongs, the problematic leave i, u starting diphthongs, where a standard language speaker has no means to hear, directly knows what type of the accent they should have (if they are stressed).\n\n# Word part stress and accent\n\n## Prefix\n\n## Root\nShort vowels a, e in a root of a word lengthen when stressed and have a circumflex accent: ã, ẽ: (sg. nom. - sg. inst.) kẽlias - keliù 'road', rãtas - ratù 'wheel'.\nBut these vowels do not lengthen in foreign words, some forms of disyllabic verbs: temà - tèmos 'theme' (sg. nom. - pl. nom./sg. gen.); mèsti 'to throw', mèstas (or mẽstas) 'thrown (past passive participle)'\n\n## Suffix\nSome of the suffixes receive acute, some circumflex accents and some – either of the accents.\nBut in the latter case the words having such suffixes have either the different endings, for example: kaimýnas – neighbour, lentýna – shelf and tėvỹnė – fatherland, lenktỹnės pl. – racing.\nOr the endings are same, but the words still have differences in meaning: viršū́nė – peak, summit, pinnacle, Valiū́nas, Mickū́nas (surnames) and klajū̃nė (f) – wanderer (the suffix has actor's meaning), klajū̃nas – wanderer, malū̃nas – mill.\n\n## Ending\nLong endings (long vowels and diphthongs), if stressed, are accented in a circumflex accent except a few cases where acute accent occurs – dative singular (unstressed in nouns): gerám (geras - good), pronominal gerájam (< *gerám-jam); gẽrai f, pronominal gẽrajai; dative plural: geríems, pron. geríesiems; geróms, pron. gerósioms; naktìms (naktis - night).\nAnd in pronominal forms, besides datives, there are more acute ending cases – instrumental singular masculine and feminine: gerúoju (indefinite form: gerù), gerą́ja (< *gerán-jan) (indefinite: gerà); pl. acc.\nmasc. and fem.: gerúosius (indefinite: gerùs), gerą́sias (indefinite: geràs).\nHistorically, some endings which are short today, where acute: gerù 'sg.\nins.\nof geras – good' (< gerúo) : gerúoju (pronominal); keliù 'I am raising; I raise' (< keliúo) : keliúosi 'I am getting up; I get up (reflexive of keliu)'.\nIn nouns the singular dative and accusative forms are never stressed in the ending.\nSome of the declensional cases, which in some of the four accentuation patterns are stressed, in other – not stressed, are short: singular feminine nominative -à (stressed in the II, III, IV accentuation patterns), singular instrumental and locative, plural accusative and locative.\n\n# Nouns\nLithuanian nominal stems are divided into four accentual classes, usually referred to by their numbers.\nThey are defined by the place and type (acute, circumflex accents of syllable, short stress) of the accent.\nThe accent is either steady in the same syllable in all cases (the first pattern), or moves to the ending in one of the three patterns.\nHere follows the wording along the data, which is also seen in the tables below:\nRelation between accent type and accentuation pattern (the certain stress places in the cases):\n\n## Accentuation tables","current_revision":null,"created_by":"kACnuQmH5k9Nr5VNVEpVeg7XpvUmMctD","created_at":"2025-01-26T12:05:43.731Z","updated_at":"2025-01-26T12:05:43.731Z","search_vector":"'accentu':2 'lithuanian':1","search_content":" \n \n\n# \nIn the [Lithuanian](https://bliptext.com/articles/lithuanian-language) [phonology](https://bliptext.com/articles/lithuanian-phonology), stressed [heavy syllables](https://bliptext.com/articles/heavy-syllable) are pronounced in one of two [prosodically](https://bliptext.com/articles/prosody-linguistics) distinct ways.\nOne way is known as the acute or falling accent: this may be described as \"sudden, sharp or rough\".\nIn Lithuanian it is called tvirtaprãdė príegaidė, literally 'firm-start accent'.\nThe second way is known as the circumflex or rising accent, which may be described as \"continued, mild or smooth\".\nIn Lithuanian it is called tvirtagãlė príegaidė, literally 'firm-end accent'.\nLight (i.e. short) syllables may be stressed or unstressed, but cannot be differentiated by accent.\nIn written Lithuanian, various diacritic marks ([acute](https://bliptext.com/articles/acute-accent) ⟨´⟩, [tilde](https://bliptext.com/articles/tilde) ⟨˜⟩, and [grave](https://bliptext.com/articles/grave-accent) ⟨`⟩) are used to mark the tonal accent and stress.\n\n# Syllable weight\nIn Lithuanian, heavy (i.e. long) syllables include those containing:\nHeavy syllables can be either stressed or unstressed.\nIn mixed acute diphthongs beginning with /i/ or /u/, the acute mark is replaced by a grave; this reflects the fact that, in the standard language (but not in some dialects), the first part of the diphthong is short.\nIn complex diphthongs, the [acute](https://bliptext.com/articles/acute-accent) accent is marked by an [acute](https://bliptext.com/articles/acute-accent) ⟨´⟩ diacritic over the first letter and the circumflex by a [tilde](https://bliptext.com/articles/tilde) ⟨˜⟩ over the second letter.\nThis indicates a perception that the letter is stronger in some way.\nFor example, a higher pitch or a longer or louder sound, depending on the dialect and speaker.\nStressed short vowels are marked by a [grave](https://bliptext.com/articles/grave-accent) diacritic ⟨`⟩.\n\n# Stress\n[Stress](https://bliptext.com/articles/stress-linguistics) is free and can occur on any syllable of the word.\nHowever, it rarely occurs more than four syllables before the end of the word.\nSome nouns and adjectives have fixed stress, that is, an accent remains on the same stem syllable in all the inflections.\nOther nouns and adjectives have mobile stress where the accent moves from place to place, particularly between stem and ending.\nIn each declension of the noun or adjective, there are four accent classes, one fixed and three mobile, all with different patterns of movement.\nStress is a complex of various [acoustic](https://bliptext.com/articles/acoustics) features, particularly loudness (strength and intensity).\nOther features such as duration, spectrum and pitch, are of lesser importance in normal speech.\nThe frequency of syllables stressed at various positions from the ends of words varies: the last syllable is stressed 28.67% of the time; the second last, 53.22% of the time (most commonly); the third last, 16.10%, the fourth last, 1.86% and the fifth last, 0.15% (least commonly)., which means that despite the apparent freedom of accentuation, more than 97% of words are in fact stressed on one of the last three syllables.\nThe most distant syllable that can be stressed is the sixth.\nNouns stressed in this way are declined in the same manner as other polysyllabic nouns.\nFor example,\nPolysyllabic compound words and prefixed words, usually have one or sometimes two [secondary](https://bliptext.com/articles/secondary-stress) (or weaker) stresses.\nThe further the secondary stress is from the main stress, the stronger it is.\nFor example,\nIn international words, which consist of three poorly inter-flowing parts, two secondary stresses may occur.\nFor example,\nLong syllables, that is, those containing a long vowel, a diphthong, or a mixed diphthong which ends in a sonorant, may have one of two types of accents: the acute or the circumflex.\nIn an unstressed position, the opposition of the two accents is neutralized and reflected by a circumflex accent.\nIn dialects, there are cases when words may be differentiated only by the use of accents on unstressed syllables.\nOne example is where an accent determines the declensional case,\nIn standard language, such a difference would not be emphasized.\nThe m might have an increased emphasis in the case of an ending -e drop in sg.\nlocative.\n\n# Syllable nucleus\nMixed and simple diphthongs are present only when they are followed by consonants or when they occur at the end of a word.\nWhen they are followed by a vowel, the diphthong is split into two syllables.\nFor instance,\nDiphthongs are distinguished from monophthongs (simple vowels) by the fact that they do not have short equivalents.\nComplex diphthongs differ from the others in that the second component is a vowel rather than a consonant, that is, a [semivowel](https://bliptext.com/articles/semivowel) or [sonorant](https://bliptext.com/articles/sonorant), and they do not split into two syllables.\nFor example,\nComplex diphthongs also differ from monophthongs in that their rise is variable; they are longer than long vowels and, in comparison to au, ai, ei, an accent does not lengthen their parts.\nWhen foreign words are adopted, and there are simple (eu, oi, ou) or mixed diphthongs (o or e with l, m, n, or r); the sounds of the o and the e are not lengthened.\nOne exception is the mixed diphthong or which is found in old, nativized foreign words like morkà \"carrot\" and, gõrčius \"measure of about three litres\".\nIn this case, the o is long and marked by a circumflex when stressed or written ò when short.\n(Both variants are used).\nMixed diphthongs with long vowels can be found in compound words.\nFor example,\nThese can be compared to other mixed diphthongs where the long vowel is not present such as:\n\n# Differentiating between tone patterns\nHeavy syllables and diphthongs (simple, complex or mixed) may have two accents.\nThe presence of [minimal pairs](https://bliptext.com/articles/minimal-pair), indicates the role of the two accentual patterns.\nFor example,\nAn accent represents a complex of acoustic features such as, sound quality ([timbre](https://bliptext.com/articles/timbre)), quantity, strength ([intensity](https://bliptext.com/articles/intensity-physics)), [fundamental frequency](https://bliptext.com/articles/fundamental-frequency) (pitch), and degree of pitch separation.\nThese features may be varied in order to produce dialect and in order to differentiate between two accents when they are present.\nThe differentiation between two accents present in monophthongs and complex diphthongs is clearest in the [Samogitian dialect](https://bliptext.com/articles/samogitian-dialect).\nIt is less so in western Aukštaitian and more assimilated in the eastern and southern Aukštaitian dialects.\nIn the standard language, accents in monophthongs differ with longer circumflex vowels both in diapason (tonal grouping) and intensity.\nIn practice, however, these distinctions are minor.\nSimilarly, in complex diphthongs (ie and uo), and mixed diphthongs beginning with i and u, the first element of these diphthongs does not lengthen when stressed.\nOn the other hand, simple and mixed diphthongs starting in a and e are clearly differentiated in the standard language.\nThe first part of the diphthong becomes longer and more tense under the acute accent.\nIn eastern and southern Aukštaitian, diphthongs starting in i and u lengthen similarly to those in a and e, and thus the accents can be easily differentiated.\nIn the Samogitian and western Aukštaitian dialects, variation of pitch and tone is an important way to differentiate accents.\nFor instance, accents may differ in where they appear in time relative to the peak of the pitch and the peak of the diapason.\nIn particular, the acute accent, when depicted as a graph, has a curve with pitch similar to the circumflex, but more sudden.\nThe rise lasts for a shorter time and falls more rapidly.\nIt starts when the pitch is higher and then, after a slight and quick rise, it falls.\nIn comparison, the circumflex accent, when depicted as a graph, has a curve in which the rise lasts longer and falls less rapidly.\nIt begins when the pitch is a little lower than that of the acute, rises slightly to a peak that is later than the acute and then falls at a similar rate but to a lesser extent.\nThe [Samogitian dialect](https://bliptext.com/articles/samogitian-dialect) also uses the \"laužtinė priegaidė\", a variant of the acute accent.\nIt is similar to the Latvian broken tone and the Danish [stød](https://bliptext.com/articles/st-d).\nChoice of intonation is used in Lithuanian and other Indo-European languages to determine meaning.\nThe other Indo-European languages include [Latvian](https://bliptext.com/articles/latvian-language), [Serbo-Croatian](https://bliptext.com/articles/serbo-croatian) and [Ancient Greek](https://bliptext.com/articles/ancient-greek).\n[Swedish](https://bliptext.com/articles/swedish-language) and [Norwegian](https://bliptext.com/articles/norwegian-language) also have tonal distinctions, but these latter are not Proto-Germanic in origin.\nRather, they are a Scandinavian innovation where tonal differences have arisen when old monosyllabic words have received an additional vowel, but have kept their original tonal characteristics.\n\n# Pronunciation\n[Friedrich Kurschat](https://bliptext.com/articles/friedrich-kurschat), in his \"Grammar of the Lithuanian language\" (Grammatik der littauischen Sprache, 1876) called the two accents \"sudden\" (gestossene Betonung) and \"continued\" (geschliffene Betonung).\nHe described them as different variations (rise and fall) of tone and illustrated them with notes.\nThe circumflex tone is described as a rise of a [minor third](https://bliptext.com/articles/minor-third) interval and for the mixed diphthongs as a rise of a [perfect fourth](https://bliptext.com/articles/perfect-fourth) interval.\nThe acute tone is described as a fall of a [perfect fifth](https://bliptext.com/articles/perfect-fifth) interval.\n[Kazimieras Jaunius](https://bliptext.com/articles/kazimieras-jaunius) describes strength of voice (more than tone) as an element differentiating between the two accents.\nThe acute accent, tvirtapradė priegaidė changes from stronger and higher to weaker and lower.\nThe circumflex accent, tvirtagalė changes from weaker and lower to stronger and higher.\nPronunciations of the two accents by speakers of dialects have minor differences.\nVaitkevičiūtė studied the pronunciation of four words by speakers of different dialects.\nThe words were the singular vocatives rýte (\"morning\"), rỹti (a male name), sū́ri (\"cheese\") and, sū̃ri (\"saltiness\").\nThe dialect speakers were from western Aukštaitians ([Marijampolė](https://bliptext.com/articles/marijampol), [Vilkaviškis](https://bliptext.com/articles/vilkavi-kis), [Kazlų Rūda](https://bliptext.com/articles/kazl-r-da), [Garliava](https://bliptext.com/articles/garliava)), [Veliuona](https://bliptext.com/articles/veliuona), and [Dzūkian](https://bliptext.com/articles/dz-kian).\n\n## Western Aukštaitija\nIn this region, the acute accent is more intense and has a higher pitch; the threshold of pitch between the accented syllable and the following syllable nucleus is larger (56 Hz versus 51 Hz), and the length of the nuclei of the syllables is shorter (rýte, where y = 394 ms and e = 163 ms versus rỹte where y = 433 ms and e = 194 ms).\nVowels with an acute are significantly shorter and less intense that vowels with a circumflex (rýte, where y length = 190 ms and e length = 102 ms versus rỹte where y length = 286 ms and e length = 80 ms).\n\n## Veliuona\nIn this region, the acute accent is pronounced with a higher starting pitch, a shorter length and a similar intensity to the circumflex and the two accents are most easily distinguished (sū́ri, where ū length = 341 ms and i length = 170 ms versus sū̃ri where ū length = 526 ms and i length = 186 ms).\n\n## Dzūkija\nIn this region, the acute accent over a vowel is shorter and the threshold of pitch between the stressed syllable and the following syllable is smaller than with the circumflex.\nIn rýte and rỹte, the fundamental frequency of the next, unstressed syllable was 78 Hz after an acute accent, and by 88 Hz after a circumflex.\nThe length in rýte, where y = 164 ms; and e = 125 ms versus rỹte where y = 255 ms e = 124 ms.\n\n# Articulation and length\nWhen a vowel with an acute is articulated, [articulators](https://bliptext.com/articles/vocal-tract) in mouth tense, the resonance of the [epiglottis](https://bliptext.com/articles/epiglottis) decreases and the [larynx](https://bliptext.com/articles/larynx) rises.\nWhen a vowel with a circumflex accent is articulates, the articulators are less tense, the resonance of the epiglottis increases and the larynx moves down.\n\n# Possibilities for accentuation\n\n## Vowels\n\n## Diphthongs\nThe length of long vowels to complex diphthongs to simple diphthongs with different kinds of accentuation occurs in ratios of 1 : 1.12 : 1.25 with acute accentuation; 1 : 1.02 : 1.08 with circumflex accentuation; and, 1 : 1.09 : 1.15 with no accentuation.\nWhen accentuated short vowels, such as ã or ẽ occur in a non-desinential syllable (one that does end in an inflection), either open or closed, they lengthen and always have a circumflex intonation.\nTheir lengthening is not to the extent of a long vowel.\nSimilarly, in this form, they may constitute the first part of a simple or mixed diphthong.\nFor example,\nIn pronominal forms (they have two endings) there is one case, masculine singular dative, where a stressed letter a, being not on the last ending, is acute, for example, a sg.\ndat.\nof gerasis – the good: ger-á-jam (< *ger-ám-jam) of indefinite ger-ám.\nThere are some cases where these two sounds do not lengthen.\nIn verbs, for example: mèsti (< *met-ti) – to throw, mèstas (or mẽstas) – thrown (but mẽtamas - being thrown).\nIn foreign words: tèmai (dative) – theme, subject (nominative is temà 2).\nThe rule of these two root-lengthening sounds does also not fit for sounds stressed in the ending: spalvà 4 – color (instrumental is spalvà); galvà 3 – head (instrumental is gálva); sodè loc. – in a garden (nominative sõdas 2).\nLengthened vowels a, e (and ą, ę, which were nasal in earlier times) are of the quality,.\nHistorically, there were long vowels ā, ē, which today are the narrower o, ė.\n\n## Lengthening diphthongs\nThe contrast between the accents in diphthongs starting in a, e (au, ai, ei; a, e + l, m, n, r) is based on the quantity and quality.\nIn acute accented cases, the first element is emphasized: it lengthens, is more tensed, open than the respective element in the circumflex cases.\nThe second element of acute simple diphthongs is more open and less tensed than the respective element of the circumflex diphthongs.\nIn the circumflex cases the second element is emphasized and lengthened.\nBut for the mixed diphthongs, the circumflex variant can also be pronounced without an emphasis and be understood only as shortness of a first element of a diphthong (in contrast to the acute, where the first element lengthens) in a standard language.\nIn some cases, like in a word oppositional to várna 'crow': var̃nas 'raven', the r would occur more likely emphasized, than not.\nBut in some, for example, var̃das 'name', it can occur either emphasized, or not (so that it would be understood by some as vàrdas in the latter case).\nSuch pronunciation and understanding of a circumflex diphthong being more some like without emphasis of any of its two elements, but some like a shortness of a first element, could also fit for aũ, aĩ, eĩ diphthongs, but an emphasis of the second element (similarly to the acute case, where the first element is emphasized) is characteristic for them too.\nThe first element of circumflex cases is similar to a short unstressed vowel – not tensed, more closed.\nIn an aũ case a vowel a receives a slight o shade (becomes narrower).\n\n## Not lengthening diphthongs\nIn the acute cases of the diphthongs starting in i, u (i, u + l, m, n, r; ui), the first element does not lengthen and tense in a standard language, but an emphasis remains.\nSince it does not lengthen, the acute accent is marked by a grave.\nThe first element of acute mixed diphthongs e, o + l, m, n, r of a foreign origin, does not lengthen as well: hèrbas – coat of arms, spòrtas – sport.\nIn eastern and southern Aukštaitian, dialects these acute diphthongs are lengthened similarly to a, e starting diphthongs.\nIn the circumflex cases, articulation is like in a, e starting diphthongs: the second element is emphasized and lengthened.\n\n## Long vowels, complex diphthongs\nIn acute complex diphthongs (i.e., uo), the first element is more tensed and closed and the second element more closed, but less tensed than in the circumflex cases, but the two elements do not differ much.\nThe acute long vowels, similarly, are much more closed and more tensed than the circumflex, but the contrast is lesser than in the complex diphthongs.\n\n## Assimilation\nThe contrast between the two accents in vowels and complex diphthongs is disappearing, because the opposition between the two accents is not present in all the dialects.\nThe base dialects of a standard language (western Aukštaitian) cover a smaller area.\nThe standard language is being affected by different dialects, where speakers pronounce the two accents differently.\nThe mixed diphthongs starting in i, u and a simple diphthong ui are commonly pronounced without noticeable intensifying of one of the appropriate elements in both acute as well as circumflex cases.\nIt is easy to intentionally intensify the second part in the circumflex accent, but it is common too, that it is impossible to extract, hear out them from the standard language, the sounds are pronounced without an attention on emphasizing some accentual oppositions.\nIn a case of the mixed diphthongs starting in a, e the opposition can be understood at least by different quantity of these sounds: lengthened in the acute case, and not lengthen in the circumflex.\nSuch lengthening helps to hold the two accents in the simple diphthongs (au, ai, ei) too (for example, in an ui case, where the first element is short, the opposition between accents is usually lost in a standard language), but in this case the lengthening, emphasis of the second element in the circumflex accentuation (similarly to the emphasis of the first element in the acute accentuation) is characteristic, not unusual.\nAmong the reasons of unification of accents in, for example, mixed diphthongs, there possibly is the absence of necessity to distinguish between them.\nFor example, in the case of várna 'crow' - var̃nas 'raven', the r would probably usually be emphasized in var̃nas, but in a case of var̃das 'name', where there is no relative acute word, there can be no feeling for a speaker that they should emphasize a sound r. But in these cases the distinction can be understood through quantity of a sound – the acute variant has lengthened a, and the circumflex – not lengthened.\nSo, in diphthongs, the problematic leave i, u starting diphthongs, where a standard language speaker has no means to hear, directly knows what type of the accent they should have (if they are stressed).\n\n# Word part stress and accent\n\n## Prefix\n\n## Root\nShort vowels a, e in a root of a word lengthen when stressed and have a circumflex accent: ã, ẽ: (sg. nom. - sg. inst.) kẽlias - keliù 'road', rãtas - ratù 'wheel'.\nBut these vowels do not lengthen in foreign words, some forms of disyllabic verbs: temà - tèmos 'theme' (sg. nom. - pl. nom./sg. gen.); mèsti 'to throw', mèstas (or mẽstas) 'thrown (past passive participle)'\n\n## Suffix\nSome of the suffixes receive acute, some circumflex accents and some – either of the accents.\nBut in the latter case the words having such suffixes have either the different endings, for example: kaimýnas – neighbour, lentýna – shelf and tėvỹnė – fatherland, lenktỹnės pl. – racing.\nOr the endings are same, but the words still have differences in meaning: viršū́nė – peak, summit, pinnacle, Valiū́nas, Mickū́nas (surnames) and klajū̃nė (f) – wanderer (the suffix has actor's meaning), klajū̃nas – wanderer, malū̃nas – mill.\n\n## Ending\nLong endings (long vowels and diphthongs), if stressed, are accented in a circumflex accent except a few cases where acute accent occurs – dative singular (unstressed in nouns): gerám (geras - good), pronominal gerájam (< *gerám-jam); gẽrai f, pronominal gẽrajai; dative plural: geríems, pron. geríesiems; geróms, pron. gerósioms; naktìms (naktis - night).\nAnd in pronominal forms, besides datives, there are more acute ending cases – instrumental singular masculine and feminine: gerúoju (indefinite form: gerù), gerą́ja (< *gerán-jan) (indefinite: gerà); pl. acc.\nmasc. and fem.: gerúosius (indefinite: gerùs), gerą́sias (indefinite: geràs).\nHistorically, some endings which are short today, where acute: gerù 'sg.\nins.\nof geras – good' (< gerúo) : gerúoju (pronominal); keliù 'I am raising; I raise' (< keliúo) : keliúosi 'I am getting up; I get up (reflexive of keliu)'.\nIn nouns the singular dative and accusative forms are never stressed in the ending.\nSome of the declensional cases, which in some of the four accentuation patterns are stressed, in other – not stressed, are short: singular feminine nominative -à (stressed in the II, III, IV accentuation patterns), singular instrumental and locative, plural accusative and locative.\n\n# Nouns\nLithuanian nominal stems are divided into four accentual classes, usually referred to by their numbers.\nThey are defined by the place and type (acute, circumflex accents of syllable, short stress) of the accent.\nThe accent is either steady in the same syllable in all cases (the first pattern), or moves to the ending in one of the three patterns.\nHere follows the wording along the data, which is also seen in the tables below:\nRelation between accent type and accentuation pattern (the certain stress places in the cases):\n\n## Accentuation tables","revisionCount":0},"hasMore":false,"nextCursor":null}

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