Stress in Compound Words
Stress first part in noun compounds.
Examples
- GREENhouse vs green HOUSE
Key rules
- Noun compounds usually stress the first word: GREENhouse (a glasshouse)
- Adjective + noun phrases stress the second word: a green HOUSE (a house that is green)
- Stress can change the meaning of the phrase
Common mistakes
- green HOUSE (a house painted green) vs GREENhouse (a glasshouse) → Stress the first word for the noun compound
Use cases
- Speaking about places and objects
- Pronouncing compound nouns
- Presentations
💡 Tip: Check the dictionary for the stress of the compound word, and practise it aloud.