3 syllables: com, pil, ing. Stress on pil.
kuhm-PEYE-ling
/kəˈmpaɪlɪŋ/
compiling is pronounced kuhm-PEYE-ling (/kəˈmpaɪlɪŋ/). It has three syllables (com-pil-ing), with the stress on "pil". Compiling refers to the process of gathering, organizing, and assembling information or code from various sources into a coherent whole. In computing, it specifically means translating source code into executable machine code or an intermediate representation, often preceding linking. The term emphasizes methodical collection and construction, rather than spontaneous creation, and is commonly used in software development and research contexts.
Compiling refers to the process of gathering, organizing, and assembling information or code from various sources into a coherent whole. In computing, it specifically means translating source code into executable machine code or an intermediate representation, often preceding linking. The term emphasizes methodical collection and construction, rather than spontaneous creation, and is commonly used in software development and research contexts.
"The developer is compiling the latest version of the software from multiple modules."
"She spent the afternoon compiling a bibliography for her thesis."
"The compiler will flag syntax errors as it’s compiling the program."
Pronounce as /kəmˈpaɪlɪŋ/. The primary stress is on the second syllable, with the vowel sound in /paɪ/ like ‘eye’ plus a light /l/ and the final /ɪŋ/ as in 'sing'. Start with a schwa in the first syllable, then a clear /aɪ/ diphthong, followed by /l/ and /ɪŋ/. Audio references: you can compare with dictionary audio for ‘compile’ and listen for the shift in stress from com- to -pell- in -pling.
Two frequent errors are misplacing the stress (giving it to the first syllable com- instead of -PELL-) and mispronouncing the /aɪ/ diphthong as a short /ɪ/ or /iː/. Another error is adding an extra syllable like ‘com-pile-ing’ with a full /ɪ/ before the ng. Correct by ensuring the /aɪ/ is the nucleus of the second syllable, keeping the /l/ light, and finishing with a crisp /ŋ/ without an extra vowel.
In US/UK/AU, the word remains /kəmˈpaɪlɪŋ/, with the main difference being vowel quality and rhoticity. US often r-colors final syllables less; UK tends to less vowel reduction in function words, but the stress stays on -PELL-. AU shares rhoticity with US; however, Australian speakers may have reduced vowel length and sharper consonant release. Overall, the vowel in /aɪ/ and the /l/ quality can vary slightly, but the stress pattern is consistent.
The challenge lies in the /aɪ/ diphthong combining with a single /l/ and the final /ŋ/ cluster after a stressed syllable, which can lead to vowel-length misperception or an extra schwa. The sequence /-paɪl-/ requires careful jaw closure and tongue position to avoid blending into /paɪlɪn/ or /paɪlɪŋ/. Focusing on keeping the /ɪ/ short before /ŋ/ and not adding an extra vowel helps clarity.
A unique aspect is maintaining stable secondary articulation between /ɪ/ and /ŋ/; the -ing ending is not a separate syllable but a nasalized velar nasal that follows /l/. The transition from /l/ to /ɪŋ/ should be smooth, not creating a separate syllable chunk. You’ll hear a quick, clean /ɪŋ/ without sparkling extra vowels, especially in rapid speech. IPA guidance: /kəmˈpaɪlɪŋ/.
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Compiling comes from the Latin compilare, meaning to pile together, from com- (together) + pilare (to pile, to feel; related to pile). The sense originally referred to folding or packing items together. In medieval Latin, compilare denoted to fold up or plait; by the 15th-16th centuries in English, it broadened to mean collecting and arranging information or materials. In computing, the term emerged in the 1950s–1960s as programmers needed a formal process to translate high-level code into executable form. From there, compiling gained prominence with the rise of compilers in programming languages, evolving to cover assembly of code into intermediate representations and binaries. The word’s core idea—assembling components into a whole—remains constant, even as the specific technical steps have changed with modern software architectures.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "compiling" and can often be used interchangeably.
🔄 These words have opposite meanings to "compiling" and show contrast in usage.
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Words that rhyme with "compiling"
-ing sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
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