In word roots, the CVC syllable closest to the end of a word (i.e., right-most CVC syllable) attracts stress. In root words without a CVC syllable, stress is placed on the first CV syllable. The scope of stress placement does not depend on the hypothetical length of the root word.

When a root word takes suffixes, the scope refuses to leave the root word until there are two or more suffixes comprising two or more distinct syllables after the root word. At this point, the scope increases to the entire word inclusive of suffixes before reapplying the same rules to apply stress.