2 syllables: com, pton. Stress on com.
KAHMP-tuhn
/ˈkɑmptən/
compton is pronounced KAHMP-tuhn (/ˈkɑmptən/). It has two syllables (com-pton), with the stress on "com". Compton is a proper noun most commonly referring to a place name (as in Compton, California). It can denote a surname or be used in various brand or fictional contexts. The word is two syllables, with primary stress on the first syllable in most English pronunciations, and it’s typically pronounced as /ˈkɒmptən/ in British English and /ˈkɑːmp.tən/ in many American varieties, though some speakers reduce to /ˈkɒmp.tən/ or /ˈkɑːm(p)tən/.
Compton is a proper noun most commonly referring to a place name (as in Compton, California). It can denote a surname or be used in various brand or fictional contexts. The word is two syllables, with primary stress on the first syllable in most English pronunciations, and it’s typically pronounced as /ˈkɒmptən/ in British English and /ˈkɑːmp.tən/ in many American varieties, though some speakers reduce to /ˈkɒmp.tən/ or /ˈkɑːm(p)tən/.
"I drove through Compton on my way to the city center."
"The documentary features residents from Compton and nearby neighborhoods."
"A new housing project was announced in Compton, California."
Pronounce as two syllables with primary stress on the first: /ˈkɒmp.tən/ (UK) or /ˈkɑːmp.tən/ (US). Start with /k/ + /ɒ/ or /ɑː/ followed by /mp/ (a bilabial+plosive blend), then a schwa /ə/ in the second syllable and final /n/. Emphasize the first syllable, keeping the second light and quick. Audio reference: listen to native speakers saying 'Compton' in place-name contexts.
Common errors include misplacing the stress (treating as 'COMpton'), overpronouncing the second syllable with a full vowel, or confusing the /p/ with /b/ in rapid speech. Correct by maintaining strong initial stress, using a short /ə/ in the second syllable, and clearly articulating the /mp/ cluster without adding extra vowels after /p/. Practice with minimal pairs like /ˈkɑːmp.tən/ vs /ˈkɒmp.tən/ to feel the native rhythm.
In US English, /ˈkɑːmp.tən/ with a broad a and a rhotacized or nonrhotic ending depending on locale; in UK English, /ˈkɒmp.tən/ with a shorter, rounded /ɒ/ and a softer, quicker second syllable; in Australian English, /ˈkɒmp.tən/ or /ˈkɒmptən/ with a flatter vowel and less pronounced /r/ influence, if any. Overall, the second syllable remains unstressed and reduced, but vowel qualities and rhoticity vary by region.
The difficulty often lies in the consonant cluster /mp/ after /k/ and the quick, reduced second syllable /tən/. Speakers may insert an extra vowel, say /ˈkɒmpəntən/ or mispronounce as /ˈkɒmp.tən/ by altering the stop closure timing. Focus on the precise /mp/ release and a short, lax second syllable to land cleanly on native rhythm. IPA cues help you isolate and practice the cluster.
In most standard English pronunciations, the /p/ in /ˈkɒmp.tən/ or /ˈkɑːmp.tən/ is aspirated when it begins a stressed syllable: clearly released with a puff of air after the /k/, before the /m/. In rapid or connected speech, it can be lightly released or partially de-emphasized, but you should maintain a perceptible aspiration on /p/ to avoid blending it with /m/.
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Compton is a toponym derived from Old English elements meaning “homestead, village” (cēmp) and “farm, enclosed ground” (tun). The place-name construction resembles other Anglo-Saxon toponyms such as Hampton, Campton, and Blast: often indicating a farm or settlement at a particular location. The first element is typically a person-orplace-based descriptor that has become a stable proper noun over time. In Britain, numerous villages and parishes bear the name, and in the United States these names spread via colonization and migration, becoming city district identifiers and surnames. The earliest attested forms of Compton are found in medieval charters and land grants written in Old English and Latin, with documentation of various Compton loci appearing in the Domesday-era records and later medieval maps. Over centuries, as English-speaking populations expanded, the name seated itself in multiple regions, especially in England and later in the American West, where several towns adopted Compton as an homage to early settlers or landowners. In modern usage, Compton most often signals a location, with occasional references to individuals bearing Compton as a surname. The evolution reflects a common pattern: a descriptive place-name becomes a familial surname, then a geographical identifier in contemporary discourse. First known use as a location name stems from the Old English roots long before standardized spelling, with the contemporary form stabilizing in post-medieval English and persisting in modern toponymy and onomastics.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "compton" and can often be used interchangeably.
🔄 These words have opposite meanings to "compton" and show contrast in usage.
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Words that rhyme with "compton"
-ton sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
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