What is an unstressed syllable?

An unstressed syllable is a syllable that is pronounced with less emphasis and at a lower pitch than a stressed syllable. It usually has a shorter duration and less clarity in pronunciation compared to a stressed syllable. In English, unstressed syllables often occur in words with more than one syllable, and their positioning within a word can affect sentence rhythm and meter. Unstressed syllables also play an important role in determining the stress patterns and intonation of a sentence.