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Formation, spelling and pluralization of compound nouns.
A compound noun is formed by combining two or more words that function as a single noun.
Compound nouns may be written as one word, as separate words or with a hyphen.
I left my backpack in the car.
Я оставил рюкзак в машине.
"Backpack" is a compound noun formed from "back" + "pack".
The coffee shop opens at seven.
Кофейня открывается в семь.
"Coffee shop" is a compound noun written as two separate words.
She bought a toothbrush at the store.
Она купила зубную щетку в магазине.
"Toothbrush" is a closed compound noun.
His mother-in-law is visiting this weekend.
Его теща или свекровь приезжает в эти выходные.
"Mother-in-law" is a hyphenated compound noun.
The police officer helped us find the building.
Полицейский помог нам найти здание.
"Police officer" is an open compound noun.
I forgot my password again.
Я снова забыл свой пароль.
"Password" is a closed compound noun.
The bus stop is across the street.
Автобусная остановка находится через дорогу.
"Bus stop" functions as one noun although it is written as two words.
The editor-in-chief approved the article.
Главный редактор утвердил статью.
"Editor-in-chief" is a hyphenated compound noun.
Compound nouns are formed from different combinations of words.
The most common patterns are noun+noun, adjective+noun, verb+noun and verb+particle.
My school bus arrives at 7:30.
Мой школьный автобус приезжает в 7:30.
"School bus" follows the noun + noun pattern.
She bought a greenhouse for the backyard.
Она купила теплицу для двора.
"Greenhouse" combines "green" + "house" in the adjective + noun pattern.
We had lunch at a drive-in restaurant.
Мы пообедали в ресторане с обслуживанием для автомобилистов.
"Drive-in" is formed from a verb-related element and functions as part of a compound noun.
He bought a washing machine yesterday.
Он купил стиральную машину вчера.
"Washing machine" contains a verb-derived noun element followed by a noun.
My brother works as a firefighter.
Мой брат работает пожарным.
"Firefighter" combines "fire" + "fighter" in a noun + noun pattern.
The children are waiting at the playground.
Дети ждут на детской площадке.
"Playground" is a compound noun formed from two nouns.
Please log in with your username and password.
Пожалуйста, войдите с помощью имени пользователя и пароля.
"Username" and "password" are closed compound nouns.
She is looking for a part-time job.
Она ищет работу с неполным рабочим днем.
"Part-time" is a hyphenated compound modifier used before "job".
Some compound nouns are written as one word.
Examples include toothbrush, bedroom, football and notebook.
I need a new toothbrush.
Мне нужна новая зубная щетка.
"Toothbrush" is written as one word.
The baby is sleeping in the bedroom.
Ребенок спит в спальне.
"Bedroom" is a closed compound noun.
We bought a new notebook for school.
Мы купили новую тетрадь для школы.
"Notebook" is a closed compound noun.
The kitchen has a dishwasher.
На кухне есть посудомоечная машина.
"Dishwasher" is written as one word.
He forgot his password.
Он забыл свой пароль.
"Password" is a closed compound noun.
The children are playing in the backyard.
Дети играют во дворе.
"Backyard" is written as one word in standard American English.
The firefighter arrived quickly.
Пожарный быстро приехал.
"Firefighter" is a closed compound noun.
She checked her email on the smartphone.
Она проверила электронную почту на смартфоне.
"Smartphone" is a closed compound noun.
Some compound nouns are written as separate words.
Examples include bus stop, post office, coffee table and police officer.
The bus stop is across from the bank.
Автобусная остановка находится напротив банка.
"Bus stop" is written as two separate words.
I left my coffee cup on the desk.
Я оставил свою чашку кофе на столе.
"Coffee cup" is an open compound noun.
The post office closes at five.
Почта закрывается в пять.
"Post office" is written as two words.
A police officer stopped the car.
Полицейский остановил машину.
"Police officer" is an open compound noun.
The living room is very bright.
Гостиная очень светлая.
"Living room" is an open compound noun.
She put the book on the coffee table.
Она положила книгу на журнальный столик.
"Coffee table" is written as two words.
The fire station is near the highway.
Пожарная часть находится возле шоссе.
"Fire station" is an open compound noun.
We stopped at a gas station on the way home.
Мы остановились на заправке по дороге домой.
"Gas station" is an open compound noun common in American English.
Some compound nouns are joined with a hyphen.
Examples include mother-in-law, editor-in-chief and passer-by.
My mother-in-law lives nearby.
Моя теща или свекровь живет неподалеку.
"Mother-in-law" is a hyphenated compound noun.
The editor-in-chief approved the story.
Главный редактор утвердил статью.
"Editor-in-chief" is traditionally written with hyphens.
A passer-by called the police.
Прохожий вызвал полицию.
"Passer-by" is a traditional hyphenated compound noun.
Her brother-in-law is a doctor.
Ее шурин или деверь — врач.
"Brother-in-law" is a hyphenated compound noun.
The commander-in-chief addressed the troops.
Главнокомандующий обратился к войскам.
"Commander-in-chief" is a hyphenated compound noun.
The attorney-in-fact signed the document.
Доверенное лицо подписало документ.
"Attorney-in-fact" is a specialized hyphenated compound noun.
The court-martial began on Monday.
Военный суд начал заседание в понедельник.
"Court-martial" is a hyphenated compound noun.
The secretary-general gave a short statement.
Генеральный секретарь сделал короткое заявление.
"Secretary-general" is a hyphenated compound noun.
The plural marker is usually added to the main noun in the compound.
Compare toothbrushes, mothers-in-law, passers-by and courts-martial.
The store sells toothbrushes.
Магазин продает зубные щетки.
"Toothbrushes" takes the plural ending on the complete closed compound.
Two mothers-in-law arrived early.
Две тещи или свекрови приехали рано.
"Mothers-in-law" pluralizes the main noun "mother".
Several passers-by stopped to help.
Несколько прохожих остановились помочь.
"Passers-by" pluralizes the main noun "passer".
The courts-martial were held at military bases.
Военные суды проходили на военных базах.
"Courts-martial" pluralizes the main noun "court".
The editors-in-chief met after the conference.
Главные редакторы встретились после конференции.
"Editors-in-chief" pluralizes "editor".
The brothers-in-law live in different states.
Братья жен или мужей живут в разных штатах.
"Brothers-in-law" pluralizes "brother".
The washing machines are in the warehouse.
Стиральные машины находятся на складе.
"Washing machines" takes the plural marker on the main noun "machines".
The attorneys general met with reporters.
Генеральные прокуроры встретились с журналистами.
"Attorneys general" pluralizes "attorney", not "general".
Compound nouns usually receive the main stress on the first element.
Compare BLACKbird (the bird) with black BIRD (any bird that is black). Stress may change the meaning.
I bought a WHITEboard for the classroom.
Я купил белую доску для класса.
"Whiteboard" normally has primary stress on the first element as a compound noun.
The BLACKbird was sitting in the tree.
Черный дрозд сидел на дереве.
"Blackbird" has compound-noun stress, while "black bird" describes any bird that is black.
She bought a NEWspaper this morning.
Она купила газету сегодня утром.
"Newspaper" normally receives the main stress on the first element.
The GREENhouse is full of plants.
Теплица заполнена растениями.
"Greenhouse" has compound stress on the first element.
We waited at the BUS stop for twenty minutes.
Мы ждали на автобусной остановке двадцать минут.
"Bus stop" normally has stronger stress on the first element.
She works at the POST office downtown.
Она работает на почте в центре.
"Post office" normally receives its strongest stress on "post".
He bought a BLACK bird for the painting.
Он нарисовал черную птицу для картины.
"Black bird" is a phrase rather than the compound noun "blackbird", so the stress pattern differs.
The BLACKbird disappeared into the trees.
Черный дрозд исчез среди деревьев.
"Blackbird" refers to a particular type of bird and normally has compound stress.
The meaning of a compound noun is not always predictable from its individual words.
Some compounds have idiomatic meanings that must be learned as vocabulary items.
I have a headache.
У меня болит голова.
"Headache" has a lexicalized meaning that is more than simply "head" + "ache".
We missed the deadline.
Мы пропустили крайний срок.
"Deadline" means the final time by which something must be done.
They went on their honeymoon in Hawaii.
Они отправились в свадебное путешествие на Гавайи.
"Honeymoon" has a specialized meaning that is not simply "honey" + "moon".
I need some feedback on this project.
Мне нужна обратная связь по этому проекту.
"Feedback" is a compound noun with a specialized modern meaning.
The butterfly landed on the flower.
Бабочка села на цветок.
"Butterfly" is a lexicalized compound whose meaning cannot be predicted directly from its parts.
The airport was crowded this morning.
Сегодня утром в аэропорту было многолюдно.
"Airport" combines "air" and "port", but functions as one established vocabulary item.
The children are playing in the playground.
Дети играют на детской площадке.
"Playground" has a specific meaning referring to an area designed for play.
He missed the train because of a traffic jam.
Он опоздал на поезд из-за пробки.
"Traffic jam" has a conventional meaning that refers to heavy traffic causing a blockage.
English freely creates new compound nouns.
Modern compounds such as smartphone, livestream and password illustrate how new words enter the language.
I use my smartphone for work.
Я использую смартфон для работы.
"Smartphone" is a modern compound formed from "smart" + "phone".
The company started a weekly livestream.
Компания начала еженедельную прямую трансляцию.
"Livestream" is a modern compound noun created from existing words.
Please save the file with a strong password.
Пожалуйста, сохраните файл с надежным паролем.
"Password" is an established compound formed from "pass" + "word".
The app has a built-in screenshot tool.
В приложении есть встроенный инструмент для снимков экрана.
"Screenshot" is a productive modern compound noun.
The team created a new workspace for remote workers.
Команда создала новое рабочее пространство для удаленных сотрудников.
"Workspace" is formed from "work" + "space".
The company launched a customer-support chatbot.
Компания запустила чат-бот для поддержки клиентов.
"Chatbot" is a modern compound created from "chat" + "bot".
We held a video call after lunch.
Мы провели видеозвонок после обеда.
"Video call" is a productive open compound noun.
The school uses a learning-management system.
Школа использует систему управления обучением.
"Learning-management system" illustrates how English can create longer compounds for new concepts.
Proper names may form part of a compound noun.
Examples include London Underground, Nobel Prize and Oxford Dictionary.
We took the Chicago Riverwalk after dinner.
После ужина мы прогулялись по набережной Чикаго.
"Chicago Riverwalk" combines a proper name with a compound noun.
She bought a book from the New York Times bestseller list.
Она купила книгу из списка бестселлеров New York Times.
"New York Times" is a proper name functioning within a larger noun phrase.
He studies at a school that uses the Oxford English Dictionary.
Он учится в школе, которая использует Oxford English Dictionary.
"Oxford English Dictionary" contains a proper name as part of the compound noun phrase.
The Nobel Prize is awarded every year.
Нобелевскую премию вручают каждый год.
"Nobel Prize" combines a proper name with a common noun.
The New York subway is very busy at rush hour.
Нью-Йоркское метро очень загружено в часы пик.
"New York subway" combines a proper name with an open compound noun.
She bought a Harvard University sweatshirt.
Она купила толстовку Harvard University.
"Harvard University" functions as a proper name within a larger noun phrase.
The Los Angeles airport was crowded.
Аэропорт Лос-Анджелеса был переполнен.
"Los Angeles airport" combines a proper place name with an open compound.
The White House press secretary gave a statement.
Пресс-секретарь Белого дома сделал заявление.
"White House press secretary" contains a proper name as part of a larger compound noun phrase.
The spelling of compound nouns may change over time.
Many compounds evolve from open to hyphenated and eventually to closed forms as usage becomes established.
Email is usually written as one word in modern American English.
Email обычно пишется как одно слово в современном американском английском.
"Email" illustrates how a compound can become closed as usage becomes established.
Online is now normally written as one word.
Online сейчас обычно пишется как одно слово.
"Online" is a modern closed compound that developed from earlier forms.
Today we usually write "website" as one word.
Сегодня "website" обычно пишется как одно слово.
"Website" illustrates the shift from a more open compound to a closed form.
Many compounds become more compact as their usage becomes established.
Многие сложные слова становятся более компактными по мере закрепления в языке.
Compounds may develop from open forms to hyphenated forms and eventually to closed forms.
The word "website" is now normally closed.
Слово "website" сейчас обычно пишется слитно.
Modern standard spelling favors the closed form.
The spelling of some compounds varies between dictionaries.
Написание некоторых сложных слов различается в разных словарях.
Compound spelling is not always completely fixed across all varieties and style guides.
Some older forms remain open even when similar compounds have become closed.
Некоторые старые формы остаются раздельными, даже когда похожие сложные слова уже пишутся слитно.
English compound spelling develops gradually rather than according to one universal rule.
Always check a current dictionary when the spelling of a new compound is uncertain.
Всегда проверяйте современный словарь, если не уверены в написании нового сложного слова.
Established usage determines whether a compound is open, hyphenated, or closed.
Not every sequence of two words forms a compound noun.
Compare blackbird (one lexical item) with black bird (an adjective followed by a noun).
I saw a blackbird in the garden.
Я увидел черного дрозда в саду.
"Blackbird" is a lexicalized compound noun referring to a particular type of bird.
I saw a black bird in the garden.
Я увидел черную птицу в саду.
"Black bird" is an adjective + noun phrase, not the compound noun "blackbird".
She bought a greenhouse for the backyard.
Она купила теплицу для двора.
"Greenhouse" is a compound noun with an established lexical meaning.
The house has a green house near the garage.
Возле гаража у дома есть зеленый домик.
"Green house" is simply an adjective + noun phrase and does not mean "greenhouse".
We waited at the bus stop.
Мы ждали на автобусной остановке.
"Bus stop" functions as a compound noun even though it is written as two words.
There was a red bus stop sign near the corner.
Возле угла был красный знак автобусной остановки.
"Red bus stop sign" contains ordinary modifiers as well as the compound noun "bus stop".
He works at a police station.
Он работает в полицейском участке.
"Police station" is a conventional compound noun.
The police station has a large parking lot.
У полицейского участка большая парковка.
"Police station" remains a compound noun even though other modifiers can be added around it.
Some compound nouns become fixed vocabulary items with meanings independent of their parts.
Examples include honeymoon, deadline and butterfly.
The deadline is Friday.
Крайний срок — пятница.
"Deadline" is a lexicalized compound with a meaning established independently of its parts.
They went on their honeymoon after the wedding.
После свадьбы они отправились в свадебное путешествие.
"Honeymoon" is a fixed lexicalized compound.
A butterfly landed on her hand.
Бабочка села ей на руку.
"Butterfly" has a lexicalized meaning that cannot be predicted from "butter" + "fly".
The newspaper published the story on the front page.
Газета опубликовала статью на первой полосе.
"Newspaper" is an established lexicalized compound.
He bought a paperback at the airport.
Он купил книгу в мягкой обложке в аэропорту.
"Paperback" is a lexicalized compound meaning a book with a flexible cover.
She gave me a birthday present.
Она подарила мне подарок на день рождения.
"Birthday" is a fixed compound noun with its own established meaning.
We need a haircut before the wedding.
Нам нужно постричься перед свадьбой.
"Haircut" is a lexicalized compound noun.
The children are watching cartoons on the television.
Дети смотрят мультфильмы по телевизору.
"Television" is historically a compound formed from elements with a specialized meaning.
Pay attention to spelling, plural formation and word stress when using compound nouns.
Common mistakes include incorrect spacing, misplaced hyphens and forming the plural on the wrong element.
I left my backpack at school.
Я оставил рюкзак в школе.
Do not split the closed compound "backpack" into two words.
The bus stop is across the street.
Автобусная остановка находится через дорогу.
Do not incorrectly write the established open compound "bus stop" as one word.
My mother-in-law is visiting us.
Моя теща или свекровь приезжает к нам.
Do not omit the hyphens in the traditional spelling "mother-in-law".
Two mothers-in-law attended the wedding.
На свадьбе присутствовали две тещи или свекрови.
The plural is "mothers-in-law", not "mother-in-laws".
The editors-in-chief met yesterday.
Главные редакторы встретились вчера.
The plural marker goes on the main noun: "editors-in-chief".
The blackbird was sitting in the tree.
Черный дрозд сидел на дереве.
Do not confuse the compound noun "blackbird" with the phrase "black bird".
She works at a gas station.
Она работает на заправке.
"Gas station" is the standard open compound in American English.
He saved the file with a password.
Он сохранил файл с паролем.
Do not incorrectly write "password" as two separate words.