Compound and Noun–Verb Stress: REcord or reCORD?
How stress changes meaning in word pairs, compounds and phrasal verbs.
In English, the same spelling can be two different words, and the stress tells you which one. a REcord is a noun; to reCORD is a verb. A GREENhouse is for plants; a green HOUSE is a house painted green. These patterns are easy to learn.
Noun or Verb? Stress Shows It
In many two-syllable word pairs, the noun is stressed on the first syllable and the verb on the second.
1The rule: NOUN first, verb SECOND
| Word | Noun | Verb |
|---|---|---|
| record | a REcord /ˈrekɔːd/ | to reCORD /rɪˈkɔːd/ |
| present | a PREsent /ˈpreznt/ | to preSENT /prɪˈzent/ |
| object | an OBject /ˈɒbdʒɪkt/ | to obJECT /əbˈdʒekt/ |
| contract | a CONtract /ˈkɒntrækt/ | to conTRACT /kənˈtrækt/ |
| increase | an INcrease /ˈɪnkriːs/ | to inCREASE /ɪnˈkriːs/ |
| progress | PROgress /ˈprəʊɡres/ | to proGRESS /prəˈɡres/ |
| permit | a PERmit /ˈpɜːmɪt/ | to perMIT /pəˈmɪt/ |
| export | an EXport /ˈekspɔːt/ | to exPORT /ɪkˈspɔːt/ |
| produce | PROduce /ˈprɒdjuːs/ | to proDUCE /prəˈdjuːs/ |
| suspect | a SUSpect /ˈsʌspekt/ | to susPECT /səˈspekt/ |
Notice: the vowel changes too. The unstressed syllable often becomes a schwa /ə/ or /ɪ/: REcord /ˈrekɔːd/ but reCORD /rɪˈkɔːd/.
2More pairs
- conduct
- conflict
- convert
- decrease
- desert
- import
- insult
- project
- rebel
- refund
- upset
3Not every pair changes
Many words keep the same stress as noun and verb: reply, control, respect, report, promise, travel, comment, answer, visit.
Compound Nouns: Stress the First Part
When two words make one new noun, the first part usually carries the stress.
1Compound noun or adjective + noun?
| Compound noun | Adjective + noun |
|---|---|
| a GREENhouse a glass building for plants | a green HOUSE a house that is green |
| a BLACKbird a type of bird | a black BIRD any bird that is black |
| a DARKroom a room for developing photos | a dark ROOM a room with no light |
| a HOTdog a sausage in a bread roll | a hot DOG a dog that is too warm |
| an ENGlish teacher someone who teaches English | an English TEAcher a teacher from England |
2Everyday compounds
- BUS stop
- CAR park
- PHONE number
- BOOKshop
- SWIMming pool
- TOOTHbrush
- BIRTHday
- WEEKend
- SHOPping centre
- TEXT message
- COFfee cup
- AIRport
3Streets and roads
Street is never stressed, but other place words usually are: OXford Street, but Oxford ROAD, Abbey ROAD, Park AVenue, Leicester SQUARE.
4Some exceptions
A few compounds are stressed on the second part, especially food made of a material, days and some places: apple PIE, Christmas DAY, town HALL, front DOOR.
Phrasal Verbs and Their Nouns
The verb stresses the particle. The noun stresses the first part.
| Verb | Noun |
|---|---|
| to set UP | a SETup |
| to log IN | a LOGin |
| to take OFF | a TAKEoff |
| to break DOWN | a BREAKdown |
| to work OUT | a WORKout |
| to check IN | a CHECK-in |
| to print OUT | a PRINTout |
| to back UP | a BACKup |
- Can you set it UP before the meeting? The SETup takes ten minutes.
- Please back UP your files. Do you have a BACKup?
Practice Sentences
Read each sentence and underline the stressed syllable of the words in bold.
- They'll present the present after lunch.
- We export cars. Exports increased last year.
- I object to that strange object on my desk.
- Let's record a new record in the studio.
- The English teacher works in a greenhouse at the weekend.
Tip for German speakers: German compounds also stress the first part (BAHNhof, HAUStür), so English compound nouns usually feel natural. Pay most attention to the noun–verb pairs: German has nothing similar, and the vowel changes are easy to miss.
Check Yourself
Decide, then open the answer.
-
Please don't insult me. Where is the stress on insult?
Show answer
inSULT: it is a verb.
-
That was an insult. Where is the stress?
Show answer
INsult: it is a noun.
-
A BLACKboard or a black BOARD: which one is in a classroom?
Show answer
a BLACKboard (compound noun)
-
Where is the stress in Oxford Street?
Show answer
OXford Street: Street is never stressed.
-
Noun or verb: a WORKout?
Show answer
Noun. The verb is to work OUT.
-
Does reply change its stress as a noun?
Show answer
No. It is rePLY as both noun and verb.
Keep Practising
Related pages in the Pronunciation Studio.
Stress Changes Meaning
Nouns first, verbs second. Compounds stress the first part. Learn these patterns, and you'll hear them everywhere.
a REcord · to reCORD
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