One syllable: code.
kohd
/koʊd/
code is pronounced kohd (/koʊd/). It has one syllable (code), with the stress on "code". Code is a compact set of instructions or symbols that conveys instructions to a computer or system. It can also refer to a system of signals, rules, or conventions used for communication, encryption, or organization. In everyday use, it often denotes computer programming languages, scripts, or a coded message. The term spans technical, mathematical, and communicative contexts, emphasizing precise, interpretable structures.
Code is a compact set of instructions or symbols that conveys instructions to a computer or system. It can also refer to a system of signals, rules, or conventions used for communication, encryption, or organization. In everyday use, it often denotes computer programming languages, scripts, or a coded message. The term spans technical, mathematical, and communicative contexts, emphasizing precise, interpretable structures.
"- The software runs the code you wrote in Python."
"- He cracked the code and read the hidden message."
"- The hospital followed a strict color code for emergencies."
Code is pronounced with a long O sound: /koʊd/ in US, UK, and AU. The primary stress falls on the single syllable. Start with a rounded lip position for /k/ then glide into a long /oʊ/ followed by a /d/. Imagine saying “co” as in coat, but end with a clear /d/—the final consonant should be released softly but firmly. Reference audio examples can be found in pronunciation resources for verification.
Common errors include shortening the /oʊ/ diphthong to a shorter /o/ or /oʊ/ in isolation and voicing issues where the /d/ is under-delivered or devoiced at the end. Another frequent error is adding an extra vowel before /d/ (co-de). To correct, maintain a clean onset with /k/ followed by the diphthong /oʊ/ and finish with a crisp /d/. Practice by saying ‘coat’ and then drop the /t/ quickly to feel the /d/ release.
In US and UK, /koʊd/ is similar, with US rhoticity adding a stronger /r/ presence in adjacent words but not in code itself; the /oʊ/ vowel quality is slightly more fronted in some UK varieties. Australian English maintains /əʊ/ in many speakers, with a slightly more centralized starting position and a less tense /d/ release. Overall, the core is the same long /o/ diphthong, but vowel height and vowel duration can subtly shift by dialect.
The difficulty lies in producing the distinct /oʊ/ diphthong cleanly and transitioning to a final /d/ without adding an extra vowel or dropping the consonant. For some speakers, the tongue must move from a high back position to a mid-back glide while keeping lips rounded, then rapidly release into a voiceless or voiced ending depending on context. Mastery requires precise timing across the diphthong and final stop.
A unique feature is the strong, clear /d/ at the end, which can sometimes be softened in rapid speech or after a voiced context. Ensure you don’t elide the final consonant in fluent speech; this helps maintain word boundary and intelligibility, especially in quick conversations or in sentences where ‘code’ leads into a vowel sound (e.g., code and decode).
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The word code originates from the Latin codex, meaning an entry book or notebook. In the late Latin and medieval periods, codex referred to a systematic collection of laws, rules, or documents bound into a book. The term entered Old French as code, retaining the sense of a written set of rules. By the 17th–18th centuries, code expanded to describe systems of symbolic instructions used for letters, ships, and cryptography, then culminating in its modern sense of computer programming instructions in the 20th century. First known uses flourish in legal and cryptographic contexts, where a codeset establishes consistent procedures. As computing emerged, code evolved to mean source instructions that a machine can interpret, aligning with software development practices and algorithmic representation. This semantic shift mirrors broader moves from human-readable rulebooks to machine-executable instructions, while retaining the broader sense of a codified, systematic plan.
💡 Etymology tip: Understanding word origins can help you remember pronunciation patterns and recognize related words in the same language family.
Help others use "code" correctly by contributing grammar tips, common mistakes, and context guidance.
💡 These words have similar meanings to "code" and can often be used interchangeably.
🔄 These words have opposite meanings to "code" and show contrast in usage.
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Words that rhyme with "code"
-oad sounds
-ode sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
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