Economy      02.02.2020

"Quarter" or "quarter" where is the correct stress? Here are some example suggestions

Doubt what stress is "quarter" or "quarter"? Let's find out which syllable is stressed. But for them there are easy-to-remember rules, so let's look at all the subtleties of writing these words in order.

Correct stress

In this word, the stress should be on the second syllable - quarter.

What is the rule and how to remember it

"Quarter". This emphasis is correct. This word comes from the German "quartal" and from the Latin "quartus" - "fourth". IN Latin the stress was on the first syllable, but German and Russian have a different pronunciation norm. The word retains stress when changing cases and in other parts of speech, therefore: “quarter”, “quarter”, and so on.

"Kvartal" is a misnomer, despite the fact that it is used in professional accountant slang. It happens that professional stress becomes acceptable, but this has not yet happened with regard to the word “quarter”. Almost all dictionaries mark this stress as erroneous. Exception: Kuznetsov's dictionary, where the variant "quarter" is marked as slang.

There is an erroneous opinion that in the meaning of "a quarter of a year" the stress moves to the first syllable. This is wrong.

Example sentences with the word quarter.

  • When the quarter ends, we have a park at work.
  • This city block is notorious.

The Russian language is rich and very difficult to use. And in some cases, even native speakers find it difficult to figure out the correct pronunciation of words. Vernacular sometimes crowd out the competent construction of speech. Let's try to deal with one of these difficult examples, we will explain how to correctly place the stress in the word quarter.

The word being parsed has several semantic meanings, so many do not know where to put the emphasis "quarter" or "quarter" to indicate the true meaning of the word.

The meaning may vary depending on the context:

  1. Separate part of the city, divided by the intersection of streets.
  2. Part of the forest, divided by the intersection of clearings.
  3. Part of the year, consisting of three months (when dividing the year into four equal parts).

The latter meaning is usually the most common when it comes to accounting. Surely many of us have heard more than once that taxes must be paid before the end of the fourth quarter or other similar statements.

When a word is used in this sense, the last syllable often becomes stressed, and when a part of the city is mentioned, the first syllable.

This is due to the fact that the word is . And for this category of word forms, it is characteristic to highlight belonging to one or another meaning through stress.

For example "castle" and "castle". By changing stressed syllables, Russian speakers try to convey to the listener the true meaning of the statement, while neglecting the rules of competent speech construction.

What syllable is stressed

So, we found out in which cases people emphasize the first or second "a" under the influence of semantic load. But what is the right way to put emphasis?

It turns out that regardless of the meaning, the last syllable is always stressed in the word "quarter".

Here's an example:

  • He still hasn't turned in his documents for the last quarter;
  • Sasha walked a whole block, but his legs did not feel tired.

When pronouncing this word, making the first syllable stressed, you demonstrate to others your illiteracy and ignorance of the norms of the Russian language.

Attention! Try to remember correct pronunciation words and stock up on a test in case you need it.

Since the word is a noun male, it can be declined by cases:

  • quarter,
  • quarter,
  • quarter,
  • quarter,
  • quarter,
  • quarter.

Note that when this noun is inflected, the stress remains on the last syllable. The same applies to plural"quarters".

Professional jargon

Under the influence of modern professional jargon, the word began to be spoken with an emphasis on the first syllable. Such use is deemed acceptable in rare cases.

So, for example, you can put the stress on the first syllable when talking with colleagues.

But when communicating with subordinates or business partners, it is better to avoid such pronunciation, as this can not only make you look like an illiterate person, but also undermine your authority in the eyes of others.

All dictionaries of the Russian language, as well as the dictionary of stresses, agree that the use of a word with the first stressed syllable is illiterate and unacceptable.

Only in the Kuznetsov dictionary is there a note that the use of stress on the first syllable is acceptable in professional jargon, but the author does not indicate this option as correct.

How to remember

The easiest way to remember how to pronounce a particular word is to find a test for it.

In this case, it will be the word "quarterly" with the stressed second syllable. Try to pronounce the accent on the first syllable and you will understand how much the word cuts the ear.

You can also use the rhyme "hands-on". Rhyme the words "quarter-abrupt" and you will immediately remember which syllable is stressed.

Useful video

Summing up

We found out that when pronouncing the word “quarter”, the second vowel “a” is stressed, regardless of the context and its semantic load.

Sometimes in professional jargon it is allowed to stress the first syllable. This is not a gross mistake, but Russian dictionaries do not recommend such pronunciation.

Try to remember the correct version of the stress in the word "quarter" and show yourself to be an educated and literate person when communicating.

Often we are faced with a situation where it is necessary not only to behave beautifully, but also to conduct a dialogue correctly, which means that it is necessary to know how to pronounce even words that carry double stress, for example, calls, catalog or quarter. After all, it is by the conversation of a person that you can determine how educated he is. Today we will talk about how to pronounce the quarter correctly and on which syllable the stress falls.

It should immediately be noted that compilers of dictionaries and reference books have no consensus on the correct spelling of this word.

How to put stress in the word quarter

Due to the fact that the answer to this question is not quite simple, it is worth understanding its pronunciation. And the history of this word is unusual. A quarter is a quarter of a year, and it appeared in German, but its roots go back to Latin origins. But it is worth understanding a few questions:

  1. Which syllable should be stressed?
  2. Where did the mispronunciation of the word come from.

So, first of all, I would like to say that in German this word meant “city block” and appeared in the 17th century.

In Latin, it had an accent on the first syllable, but this is not recorded in any of the dictionaries.

"Quarter" is borrowed from German language, respectively from Latin, since most words in German have their origin from Latin, and mean the fourth part of something.

Although many cannot find the golden mean, which syllable should be stressed, nevertheless most argue that the correct meaning is on the last syllable.

QuarterAl is written in this meaning in most dictionaries, such as Ozhegova and Ushakova, as well as in most other reference books, since, in accordance with the norm of the Russian language, it is correct to speak using the second syllable.

What to do if we are talking about a time period?

But still, some believe that when it comes to a time period, it is correct to put the stress on the first syllable, while others believe that this is wrong. How is it necessary?

So, the word that came to us from Latin, in Russian has multiple meanings:

  • A quarter of a year, that is, a certain period of time, which is three months, for example, from April to June, or from June to August.
  • Part of the city, which is limited by streets, and four.
  • And you should also consider the part of the land planted with something, usually it is a rectangular shape.

There are opinions that the stress in it depends on its meaning, but don't believe this myth. All dictionaries repeat in the same way that the stress in a word is placed in the same way, on the last syllable and completely independent of the meaning. And it must be pronounced correctly, and with an emphasis on the first syllable is considered a mistake in Russian.

You need to know: how to put stress in a word.

How to write a word in declension in cases?

And also, it is worth saying that when declining this word, the stress is both in the plural and in singular, will fall on the second syllable, for example, quarter, quarters, etc.

How to pronounce the word "quarter" to accountants?

But it is worth noting that all rules have exceptions and this case is the same.

IN professional activity accountants, there are some deviations from general rules, and these cases are prescribed by the compilers of dictionaries, and they mark them with a mark of professionalism, as, for example, it is in Kuznetsov's dictionary.

But even in this case, it is worth remembering that it is possible to say this word with a mark on the first syllable only in a professional circle, and when speaking on the radio or other mass speeches, the word must be used with an emphasis on the second syllable.

Here are some example suggestions:

  1. In the city, you can often rent an apartment in the most suitable quarter for you.
  2. Everything was correct in the accountant's report for the quarter, which pleased the director very much.
  3. The working quarter was right next to the river.
  4. All quarters are built in such a way that there are schools, kindergartens and hospitals nearby;
  5. At the end of the quarter, Margarita Evgenievna had to make a report without delay.

In this regard, we can observe that regardless of the meaning, it is written with an accent on the second syllable, and no circumstances can change this rule.

If there is no desire to pronounce correctly, then, of course, you can use the colloquial form with an emphasis on the first syllable, but only in a narrow circle of communication.

We live in a modern and civilized country, and therefore know your native language it is simply necessary, moreover, there are not so many words that have double stress and you can remember them and in the future, when speaking, show the correct pronunciation, and not illiteracy. And therefore it’s worth remembering forever that no matter what the speech is about, the stress in the word “quarter” is always placed on the second syllable.

In this word, the stress is always on the second syllable. quarter.

The debate about how to properly emphasize the word quarter has been going on for a very long time. Many people believe that the stress in this word goes to the first syllable if the time frame is indicated, and to the second syllable if the place is indicated. This opinion is fundamentally wrong.

All spelling dictionaries, with the exception of the Kuznetsov dictionary, say that the stress is on the second syllable. Kuznetsov's dictionary allows stress on the first syllable, but only when the word is used by professionals. Despite such an innovation in this dictionary, it is still correct to place the stress on the second syllable.

Television announcers, who seem to be supposed to know what stresses to use in which words, are of particular annoyance. However, you can often hear the phrase "In this quarter ...". I just want to say to them, "Citizens, learn Russian."

Emphasis on the first syllable is acceptable only in professional jargon, and then you should not abuse it. You can talk with colleagues and friends as you please, however, if you are speaking to the public or giving a press conference, making a report, etc., then it is completely unacceptable to use the word in its slang meaning.

No, according to the rules business etiquette to emphasize the first syllable, this will show everyone your illiteracy. Speak correctly and everything will work out for you.

An example of using the word quarter with the correct accent:

Taxes are often paid in advance every quarter.

They turned the corner, crossed one block, the second and realized that there was nothing more to talk about.

The word "quarter" came into Russian from German (Quartal), which in turn comes from the Latin quartus - the fourth. In Russian, it has several meanings:


  • the fourth part of the year, a time span of three months from January to March, from April to June, from July to September or from October to December;

  • part of the city, as a rule, limited by four streets intersecting with each other;

  • in special terminology, a block is also called a plot of planted land, as a rule, of a rectangular shape, and in forestry, a plot of forest bounded by clearings;

  • obsolete meaning - part of the city, entrusted to the police unit, headed by the quarter warden.

There is a point of view that in "quarter" depends on the meaning, and that when it comes to a period of time, one should say "quarter", in all other cases - "quarter". However, it is not.


All dictionaries of the Russian language are unanimous: the literary, correct stress in the word "quarter" is placed on the last syllable in all meanings of this word without exception. The pronunciation of "quarter" is considered a speech error, and compilers of dictionaries often emphasize that it is wrong to say so.


In all case forms of the singular and plural, the second "A" remains unchanged: quarters, quarters, quarters, and so on. Also, the stress on the second syllable is preserved in the adjective “quarterly” in all meanings - “quarterly report”, “quarterly building”, “quarterly clearing”.

Professional slang: is it permissible to say “quarter” to accountants

In professional speech, it is sometimes acceptable to deviate from literary norms pronunciation, such "special" cases are specially specified by the authors of dictionaries. They mark such a variant of emphasis as professionalism.


In relation to the word "quarter" with the accent on the first syllable, the authors of dictionaries and reference books of the Russian language do not have a single opinion. Most dictionaries insist that people of all professions should emphasize last word. So, the only variant of the correct stress - "quarter" is indicated in the dictionaries of Ozhegov and Ushakov, in the "Dictionary of Pronunciation and Stress Difficulties" by Gorbachevich and many others.


However, in explanatory dictionary Kuznetsov, a “quarter” is mentioned with an emphasis on “A” - marked “prof”. But this case is the exception rather than the rule.


But even if the stress on the first syllable is acceptable for accountants, it must be remembered that professional jargon is considered appropriate only in the casual communication of colleagues among themselves. And when speaking on radio or television, going to the podium with a report or report, it is necessary to be guided by the norms of Russian literary language and put the correct stress in the word "quarter" - on the last syllable.