stress-timed languages

Stress-timed languages are those where the rhythm depends on the pattern of stressed syllables, which occur at roughly regular intervals. In these languages, unstressed syllables are typically spoken more quickly and less distinctly, leading to a rhythmic timing that emphasizes the stressed parts of words. English is a common example, where stressed syllables tend to be evenly spaced, giving the speech a "beat" or timing pattern based on stress rather than the number of syllables. This contrasts with syllable-timed languages, where each syllable tends to be given roughly equal duration regardless of stress.