One of the subtle but important aspects of English pronunciation is the difference between compound nouns and noun phrases. The stress pattern completely changes the meaning—and Spanish speakers often miss this distinction.
The Basic Rule
- Compound noun: Stress on the FIRST word → BLACKbird (a species)
- Noun phrase: Stress on the SECOND word → black BIRD (any bird that's black)
This pattern applies to hundreds of word combinations in English.
Classic Examples
More Meaning-Changing Pairs
Common Compound Nouns
All of these have stress on the FIRST element:
Compound Nouns with Two Words
Even when written as two words, compound nouns keep first-word stress:
When Stress Changes Meaning
These pairs show how stress alone can change the meaning:
| First Stress (Compound) | Meaning | Second Stress (Phrase) | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| LIGHThouse | tower with beacon | light HOUSE | house that's not heavy |
| BLUEprint | a plan/design | blue PRINT | print that's blue |
| HIGH school | secondary school | high SCHOOL | elevated school building |
| DARKroom | photo development room | dark ROOM | room without light |
| DRY cleaner | laundry service | dry CLEANER | cleaner that's dry |
Exceptions: Stress on Second Word
Some compounds have stress on the second word, especially with street names and locations:
Practice Exercise
Read these sentences with correct compound noun stress:
- "The BUS stop is near the COFFEE shop."
- "Put your SUNGLASSES in your HAND bag."
- "The POLICE officer works at the FIRE station."
- "I need a NEW CREDIT card and a HAIR cut."
Why This Matters
Spanish doesn't have this stress distinction—adjective + noun combinations always have the same stress pattern. In English, getting compound noun stress wrong can:
- Make you harder to understand
- Change the meaning of what you say
- Mark you as a non-native speaker
Practice listening for this pattern in movies, podcasts, and conversation—once you hear it, you'll notice it everywhere!