# For the noun "address," which syllable gets accented? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [May 31, 2017, 3:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/for-the-noun-address-which-syllable-gets-accented/787778 "2017-05-31T15:45:29Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Leo\_Bloom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leo_bloom/32/10377_2.png) [@Leo\_Bloom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leo_Bloom)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2017, 3:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/for-the-noun-address-which-syllable-gets-accented/787778/1 "2017-05-31T15:45:29Z")
Not a spin-off, but a coincidence with a current thread on the accentuation of “harass.” Regional? National (Anglosphere)? Cultural? (Like, I believe, 'po-lice is an Afro-American thang.) ---
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2017, 3:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/for-the-noun-address-which-syllable-gets-accented/787778/2 "2017-05-31T15:48:40Z")
ADDress for the noun. I’ve never heard it any differently in any region or accent. Sent from my XT1635-02 using Tapatalk ---
**Author:** ![Amateur\_Barbarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/59ef9b/32.png) [@Amateur\_Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Amateur_Barbarian)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2017, 3:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/for-the-noun-address-which-syllable-gets-accented/787778/3 "2017-05-31T15:50:50Z")
AD-dress for the location of something. ad-DRESS for the verb. I don’t know of any significant exceptions, regional or otherwise. ---
**Author:** ![WOOKINPANUB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wookinpanub/32/132_2.png) [@WOOKINPANUB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WOOKINPANUB)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2017, 3:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/for-the-noun-address-which-syllable-gets-accented/787778/4 "2017-05-31T15:56:16Z")
I had to stop and think and now I’ve said them both so many times they both sound odd. a DRESS is the first one that came to mind so I’m going with that. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2017, 3:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/for-the-noun-address-which-syllable-gets-accented/787778/5 "2017-05-31T15:57:50Z")
I use both for the noun, and uh-DRESS for the verb (probably use this one more the noun, too.) ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2017, 3:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/for-the-noun-address-which-syllable-gets-accented/787778/6 "2017-05-31T15:58:16Z")
> [@Amateur\_Barbarian](#): > > AD-dress for the location of something. > ad-DRESS for the verb. This. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2017, 3:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/for-the-noun-address-which-syllable-gets-accented/787778/7 "2017-05-31T15:59:06Z")
It depends on which noun. Mail is sent to my home ADdress, but Lincoln delivered the Gettysburg adDRESS. The verb, though, is adDRESS regardless of which sense you’re using. You adDRESS an envelope, and Lincoln adDRESSed the crowd. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2017, 4:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/for-the-noun-address-which-syllable-gets-accented/787778/8 "2017-05-31T16:01:33Z")
> [@Amateur\_Barbarian](#): > > AD-dress for the location of something. > ad-DRESS for the verb. This. Depends on how I’m using the word. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2017, 4:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/for-the-noun-address-which-syllable-gets-accented/787778/9 "2017-05-31T16:04:18Z")
> [@Amateur\_Barbarian](#): > > AD-dress for the location of something. > ad-DRESS for the verb. > > I don’t know of any significant exceptions, regional or otherwise. This. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2017, 4:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/for-the-noun-address-which-syllable-gets-accented/787778/10 "2017-05-31T16:08:32Z")
> [@Amateur\_Barbarian](#): > > AD-dress for the location of something. > ad-DRESS for the verb. > > I don’t know of any significant exceptions, regional or otherwise. Well, if you go to [dictionary.com](http://dictionary.com), you’ll see both versions for the noun (with the accented syllable listed first), so there must be other people like me who at least sometimes use it this way. ETA: Same in Merriam-Webster online, with the “ADD” pronunciation for the noun listed second as an “also.” ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2017, 4:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/for-the-noun-address-which-syllable-gets-accented/787778/11 "2017-05-31T16:12:11Z")
I’ve actually heard both forms for the noun. In particular, I’ve heard the question “Did you get the right adDRESS?” I think it may be easier to add question intonation if the last syllable is stressed. ---
**Author:** ![Colophon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f05b48/32.png) [@Colophon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colophon)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2017, 4:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/for-the-noun-address-which-syllable-gets-accented/787778/12 "2017-05-31T16:15:17Z")
In British English the stress is on the second syllable for both the noun and the verb: “uh-DRESS”, /əˈdɹɛs/. The “AD-dress” pronunciation is never used in the UK as far as I am aware. ---
**Author:** ![markn\_1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f9ae1b/32.png) [@markn\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/markn_1)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2017, 4:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/for-the-noun-address-which-syllable-gets-accented/787778/13 "2017-05-31T16:24:52Z")
In English, many two syllable words that are used as both nouns and verbs are accented on the first syllable when used as a noun and the second when used as a verb. There’s a long list of examples in the [“Initial-stress-derived noun” wikipedia article](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Initial-stress-derived_noun), including “address”. ---
**Author:** ![CurtC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ce73a5/32.png) [@CurtC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CurtC)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2017, 4:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/for-the-noun-address-which-syllable-gets-accented/787778/14 "2017-05-31T16:38:04Z")
I figured it was a regionalism, like INsurance or UMbrella. But I guess the region is the US. ---
**Author:** ![Amateur\_Barbarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/59ef9b/32.png) [@Amateur\_Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Amateur_Barbarian)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2017, 4:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/for-the-noun-address-which-syllable-gets-accented/787778/15 "2017-05-31T16:44:21Z")
> [@BigT](#): > > I’ve actually heard both forms for the noun. In particular, I’ve heard the question “Did you get the right adDRESS?” I think it may be easier to add question intonation if the last syllable is stressed. I think that might come as much from the meaning-source as anything - that is, you’re not talking about a place’s AD-dress as much as ad-DRESSing the right place. Or not. This is English, not C++. ---
**Author:** ![Riemann](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/riemann/32/3133_2.png) [@Riemann](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Riemann)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2017, 4:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/for-the-noun-address-which-syllable-gets-accented/787778/16 "2017-05-31T16:45:54Z")
> [@markn\_1](#): > > In English, many two syllable words that are used as both nouns and verbs are accented on the first syllable when used as a noun and the second when used as a verb. There’s a long list of examples in the [“Initial-stress-derived noun” wikipedia article](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Initial-stress-derived_noun), including “address”. From that article: > [@](#): > > Pronunciations vary geographically. Some words here may belong on this list according to pronunciations prevailing in some regions, but not according to those in others…For some… speakers, however, address carries stress on the final syllable in both the noun and the verb. ---
**Author:** ![Riemann](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/riemann/32/3133_2.png) [@Riemann](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Riemann)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2017, 4:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/for-the-noun-address-which-syllable-gets-accented/787778/17 "2017-05-31T16:47:10Z")
> [@Amateur\_Barbarian](#): > > I think that might come as much from the meaning-source as anything - that is, you’re not talking about a place’s AD-dress as much as ad-DRESSing the right place. > > Or not. This is English, not C++. Not. You are just rationalizing preference for your own dialect. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2017, 4:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/for-the-noun-address-which-syllable-gets-accented/787778/18 "2017-05-31T16:58:56Z")
Mostly the first syllable, sometimes it just comes out the other way. I usually hear the verb as uh-DRESS around here. ---
**Author:** ![Cayuga](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/3e96dc/32.png) [@Cayuga](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cayuga)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2017, 5:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/for-the-noun-address-which-syllable-gets-accented/787778/19 "2017-05-31T17:25:44Z")
After several minutes’ reflection, I think I’ve figured out what I do. As a stand-alone noun, accent on first syllable: “Give me your AD-dress.” (maybe not all the time, but most of it) As a modified noun (i.e., part of a phrase), accent on second syllable: “They got a new web uh-DRESS,” “Send it to my home uh-DRESS.” (all the time, I’m pretty sure) ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2017, 6:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/for-the-noun-address-which-syllable-gets-accented/787778/20 "2017-05-31T18:40:06Z")
I say uh-DRESS, all the time. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/for-the-noun-address-which-syllable-gets-accented/787778.md?page=2)