Here's a pattern that trips up many English learners: some words can be either a noun or a verb, but the stress shifts depending on which one you mean. Say "REcord" and it's a noun. Say "reCORD" and it's a verb.
This isn't random. There's a rule: for many two-syllable words that can be both nouns and verbs, nouns stress the first syllable and verbs stress the second.
The Basic Rule
- NOUN: Stress falls on the first syllable
- VERB: Stress falls on the second syllable
This pattern comes from the history of English. Nouns tend to keep their original Germanic stress pattern (first syllable), while verbs often adopted a Romance language pattern (final syllable stress).
Common Noun-Verb Pairs
Record
Present
Object
Subject
Project
Conduct
Conflict
Contract
Permit
Produce
More Pairs to Practice
| Word | Noun (1st syllable) | Verb (2nd syllable) |
|---|---|---|
| contest | /ˈkɑːntest/ (a competition) | /kənˈtest/ (to dispute) |
| desert | /ˈdezərt/ (dry land) | /dɪˈzɜːrt/ (to abandon) |
| export | /ˈekspɔːrt/ (goods sent out) | /ɪkˈspɔːrt/ (to send goods out) |
| import | /ˈɪmpɔːrt/ (goods brought in) | /ɪmˈpɔːrt/ (to bring goods in) |
| increase | /ˈɪnkriːs/ (a rise) | /ɪnˈkriːs/ (to rise) |
| insult | /ˈɪnsʌlt/ (an offensive remark) | /ɪnˈsʌlt/ (to offend) |
| protest | /ˈproʊtest/ (a demonstration) | /prəˈtest/ (to demonstrate) |
| rebel | /ˈrebəl/ (a person who resists) | /rɪˈbel/ (to resist) |
| refund | /ˈriːfʌnd/ (returned money) | /rɪˈfʌnd/ (to return money) |
| suspect | /ˈsʌspekt/ (a person suspected) | /səˈspekt/ (to believe guilty) |
Exceptions to Know
Not all two-syllable noun-verb pairs follow this rule. Some common words keep the same stress for both:
- answer: /ˈænsər/ for both noun and verb
- picture: /ˈpɪktʃər/ for both noun and verb
- visit: /ˈvɪzɪt/ for both noun and verb
- travel: /ˈtrævəl/ for both noun and verb
- promise: /ˈprɑːmɪs/ for both noun and verb
The stress-shift pattern is most reliable with Latin-origin words that have prefixes like re-, con-, pro-, per-, pre-, ob-, sub-.
Why This Matters
Using the wrong stress can cause confusion or make you sound non-native. Compare:
- "They will reCORD the music" (verb, correct)
- "They will REcord the music" (sounds wrong, like a noun)
Native speakers rely on stress to understand your meaning, especially in fast speech.
Practice Exercise
Read these sentences aloud, paying attention to stress:
- "The company will export (verb) more exports (noun) next year."
- "I object (verb) to this object (noun) being here."
- "The rebel (noun) chose to rebel (verb)."
- "Please record (verb) this for our records (noun)."
- "The increase (noun) will increase (verb) profits."
Tips for Spanish Speakers
This pattern doesn't exist in Spanish, where stress usually stays consistent regardless of word class. Train your ear by:
- Listening for the stress difference in native speech
- Practicing minimal pairs (REcord vs reCORD)
- Using a dictionary that marks stress patterns
For more on English stress patterns, see our guide on how word stress changes meaning in English.