Penultimate rule

The Latin accent distribution rule (also: Paenultimaregel ) pretends, at which point sits the word accent of a Latin word. Usually polysyllabic Latin words can be stressed only on the penultimate ( penultimate ) or antepenultimate ( antepaenultima ) syllable.

Two-syllable words are stressed usually on the penultimate syllable, three-syllable can be stressed on the penultimate syllable only if this a long vowel bears (natural length) or is closed, so if the syllable nucleus follows more than one consonant.

Example:

• Agricola: penultimate syllable is short: accent on the antepenultimate syllable
• Imprimis: penultimate syllable is ( natural) long: accent on the penultimate syllable
• Secundus: vowel of the penultimate syllable is short, but the syllable is closed: accent on the penultimate syllable