Sometimes words familiar from childhood can be confused. For example, sorrel. Stress in a word raises many questions. How to pronounce - sorrel or sorrel?
Plant history
Sorrel is a close relative of buckwheat. It belongs to the buckwheat family and is part of the Polygonoideae subfamily. The Latin name of the plant is Rumex acetosa, or sorrel.
This is a shrub that reaches a height of about a meter. Its name in Latin translates as “spear”. Indeed, the resilient stalk of sorrel, ending with a panicle of small flowers, looks like this ancient weapon. And the oblong leaves themselves also look like spears in shape.
Already in ancient times they knew about the beneficial properties of this plant. Greeks and Romans used it as a medicine. It was first used in food in France in the 12th century. In the XIV century, during the pandemic of the plague in Europe, sorrel was used as a protective agent against the disease. As for Russia, here they began to eat it later than other countries. For a long time he was considered an ordinary weed. Now the undoubted benefit of the sorrel, as well as its spicy sour taste, has led to the fact that it is grown in almost every household plot, cottage or garden.
origin of name
Sorrel (the stress in the word makes many people difficult) derives its name from the old Russian “shavn”, which means “sour”. Most linguists suggest that the word "sorrel" is directly related to the name of the Russian dish "cabbage soup". It is not possible to establish the exact time the name of the plant appears. A related word is Polish szczawa (sorrel).
Variable (miscellaneous) stress
We continue to understand how to put the stress in the word "sorrel". Russian language is one of the most difficult in the world. But this is not an excuse for making mistakes in it. It may be excusable to a foreigner, but not to a native speaker. So, sorrel. Many emphasize the word on the first syllable, and some on the second. Which option will be right? Here you need to remember that in Russian the stress is variable. It can stand on any syllable. Equal stress options are sometimes allowed.
Stressing on different syllables leads to the fact that a word can have different lexical meanings. For example, if you transfer the stress to another syllable in the word Flawless, you get a word with a new lexical meaning - Flawless.
Normative and permissible stress
The Russian language develops and changes along with its native speakers, and in the 20th century, great changes took place in it. For example, emphasis in some words on different syllables has become allowed. It touched on such words as cottage cheese, treaty, shell and some others.
How to find the correct stress in the word "sorrel"
The modern Russian language admits that the emphasis in some words can be put on different syllables. However, in order to be considered a cultured and educated person, one must remember what stress in the word "sorrel" is considered correct (normative). Most often in colloquial stress the emphasis in this word is put on the first syllable. So it seems more familiar, more correct and more convenient. But if you turn to any dictionary of the Russian language, then the answer will be unequivocal - you can’t do this. If we consider the name "sorrel", the stress in the word is allowed only on the second syllable. All other options will be considered erroneous.
We turn to orthoepic dictionaries, which will always help if there are doubts about the correctness of the accent in the word. They show, like explanatory and spelling dictionaries, that the correct stress in the word "sorrel" is on the second syllable.
When changing the ending, the stress will also stand on the second syllable: sorrel, sorrel.
In order to make it easier to remember the right option, a lot of funny expressions were invented. With them it is very convenient and quick to help your child learn the correct pronunciation of the word. For example, such a phrase is easily remembered: "They cut down the spruce, plucked the sorrel."
The colloquial use of the word is very common, and for a long time no one considers the incorrect pronunciation of the word "sorrel" a gross mistake. But when meeting with a person who is knowledgeable in this matter, his interlocutor risks being branded as illiterate and ruining his reputation. The misuse of stress is simply unacceptable for educators and educators.
A little about the benefits of sorrel
Modern herbal medicine uses sorrel as an anti-zingotic and choleretic agent. It is also used to normalize the liver and digestion. Sorrel helps with rheumatism, skin rashes and cystitis. And as a source of minerals and vitamins valuable for the body (especially C), this wonderful plant is unparalleled.
However, it should be remembered that it is contraindicated in many diseases. Frequent consumption of sorrel in food can lead to the formation of kidney stones due to oxalic acid contained in the plant .