Word Accent in Compound Words

Word Accent in Compound Words

What are Compound Words?

·        A compound word is made by combining two or more words to create a new word with a specific meaning. For example, blackboard (black + board) and sunflower (sun + flower).

·        In compound words, meaning changes depending on which part of the word you stress while speaking. Understanding how word accent works in compound words is important for speaking clearly and avoiding misunderstandings.

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Types of Compound Words and Their Stress Patterns

1. Compound Nouns

• A compound noun is a noun made up of two or more words. Most often, the stress falls on the first word of the compound.

Examples:

• BLACKboard (a board used for writing with chalk).
• SUNflower (a type of flower).
• TOOTHbrush (a tool used to brush teeth).

Why this happens:

• In compound nouns, the first part often describes the second part, and the stress on the first word tells us it’s the most important part.
• For example, in BLACKboard, the focus is on black (the color of the board).

2. Compound Adjectives

• A compound adjective is made up of two or more words that together describe a noun. In compound adjectives, the stress is usually placed on the second word.

Examples:

• bad-TEMpered (someone who easily gets angry).
• old-FAshioned (something that is not modern).

Why this happens:

• In compound adjectives, the second word is more important because it gives the key information about the quality or condition of the noun. For example, in bad-TEMpered, the word “tempered” (meaning mood) is key to understanding the meaning.
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3. Compound Verbs

• A compound verb is formed by joining two words to describe an action. Compound verbs usually place the stress on the second word.

Examples:

• underSTAND (to comprehend something).
• overCOME (to successfully deal with a problem).

Why this happens:

• In compound verbs, the second word often carries the core action or meaning. For example, in underSTAND, the action of standing (or understanding) is the focus of the word.

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Word Accent in Compound Words: Why?

• Changing the stress can change the meaning: In some cases, moving the stress from one part of a compound word to another can change the meaning or type of word.

Example:

• HOTdog (noun): A type of food (a sausage in a bun).
• hot DOG (adjective + noun): A dog that feels hot.

In “HOTdog”, the stress on the first word tells us it’s a compound noun, meaning a specific type of food.

But in “hot DOG”, the stress on the second word shows it's describing a dog that is hot, not food.