Most English words have stress on earlier syllables, especially on the first or second. There are a few categories where you might find words with stress on the last syllable:
1. Some 2-syllable words:
* Words ending in "-ette": cigarette, vignette
* Words ending in "-ese": Japanese, Chinese
* Words ending in "-eer": engineer, volunteer
* Words ending in "-ique": unique, antique
* Words ending in "-ain": captain, certain (but not always, "mountain" has stress on the first syllable)
2. Words ending in "-ing" with a certain rhythm:
* Verbs in the present participle: singing, walking, talking (but not always, "morning" has stress on the first syllable)
* Some adjectives and nouns: morning, evening, darling
3. Some words with specific meanings:
* Proper nouns: René, José
* Words with prefixes and suffixes: overdue, immature
4. Words borrowed from other languages:
* French: café, ballet, coup
* Italian: piano, pasta, pizza
Important Note:
Many words that appear to have stress on the last syllable are actually pronounced with a *secondary stress* on an earlier syllable. For example, "address" has a primary stress on the second syllable and a secondary stress on the last syllable.
It's also worth noting that word stress can be influenced by context and regional accents. So, while these examples provide a general guideline, there are always exceptions and variations in pronunciation.
If you are unsure about the stress pattern of a word, it's always best to consult a dictionary.