2 syllables: com, pute. Stress on pute.
kuhm-PYOOT
/kəmˈpjut/
compute is pronounced kuhm-PYOOT (/kəmˈpjut/). It has two syllables (com-pute), with the stress on "pute". Compute is a verb meaning to calculate or determine a numerical result, often using logic or mathematics. It can also function as a noun in computing contexts to refer to a processor or the act of computing. The term is common in technical and academic language and carries a formal tone when describing data processing or algorithmic tasks.
Compute is a verb meaning to calculate or determine a numerical result, often using logic or mathematics. It can also function as a noun in computing contexts to refer to a processor or the act of computing. The term is common in technical and academic language and carries a formal tone when describing data processing or algorithmic tasks.
- Common phonetic challenges: 1) Weak first syllable: reduce to schwa /kə/; keep intention of stress on the second syllable with /ˈmjuː/ or /ˈmjuːt/. 2) Palatal glide /j/ before /uː/: ensure a smooth transition from /m/ to /j/ and then to /uː/; avoid conflating /juː/ with /uː/. 3) Final /t/: in rapid speech, /t/ can be unreleased or softened; maintain a light aspirated release for clarity in careful speech. Practice tips: record yourself saying 'compute' in isolation and in sentences; exaggerate the /j/ slightly to train the tongue movement; use minimal pairs like 'come/ compute' to hear the glide transition.
"She will compute the total cost after including taxes and discounts."
"The computer science instructor asked us to compute the running average for the data set."
"Researchers used a specialized algorithm to compute the likelihood of rare events."
Pronounce as kəm-PYUT. The first syllable is a schwa followed by a soft 'm'; the second syllable carries primary stress with the diphthong /ˈpyuː/ or /ˈpjuː/ depending on speaker. IPA: US/UK/AU /kəˈmjuːt/ or /kəˈpjuːt/ (more traditional American /kəmˈpyuːt/). Mouth: start with relaxed lips, place the tongue mid-high for /m/, then raise the lips into a rounded position for the /juː/ glide, and finish with a clear /t/ unless context makes it unreleased. Listen for subtle schwa in the first syllable and a crisp yod before the final t.
Common mistakes: 1) Saying /ˈkɒmˌpjuːt/ with British short o in the first syllable, which makes it sound like 'kom-pyoot' instead of the unstressed schwa. Correction: use /kə/ in the first syllable. 2) Stressing the second syllable incorrectly as /ˈkɔːm.pjuːt/; correct stress is on the second syllable: /kəˈmjuːt/ or /kəmˈpjuːt/ depending on dialect. 3) Mispronouncing /juː/ as a simple /uː/ without the y-glide, leading to /kəˈmuːt/; ensure the /j/ is heard as a palatal glide before the vowel. Practice with minimal pairs to fix: /kəˈmjuːt/ vs /kəˈmuːt/.
US: often /kəˈmjuːt/ with a clear /j/ before the /uː/ vowel; UK/AU may have a slightly weaker /j/ or merge to /kəmˈpjuːt/ depending on speaker; AU tends to be broader with a slightly longer vowel in /juː/ and strong non-rhotic tendencies influencing accompanying syllable vowels. Rhoticity is generally not the main factor here since /r/ is not present in compute, but surrounding vowels can vary. Overall, the main difference is the realization of the /juː/ glide and the extent of vowel rounding in the /uː/. IPA references align: US /kəˈmjuːt/, UK /kəˈmjuːt/, AU /kəˈmjuːt/.
Difficulty stems from the cluster /m/ followed by a palatalized /j/ before the /uː/ vowel, creating a strong yod-like articulation. Non-native speakers often reduce the /j/ or replace /juː/ with /uː/ or /juː/ without the proper palatal transition. Also, the unstressed first syllable reduces to a weak schwa, which can lead to misplacement of stress and rhythm. Focus on maintaining the y-glide into the /juː/ and a crisp /t/ at the end to avoid a trailing vowel. IPA guidance: /kəˈmjuːt/.
What is the precise mouth position for the /juː/ in 'compute', and does it differ if the word is spoken in rapid speech?
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US: rhotic but does not affect compute; maintain a strong /juː/ glide. UK: may show a subtler /j/ and a crisper /t/. AU: tends to be less flapped and more fully enunciated; you may hear a longer /uː/ with a clearer /j/ before it. Phoneme-by-phoneme: /k/ with the front of the tongue then alveolar alveolar contact; /ə/ schwa in the first syllable; /m/ bilabial nasal; /j/ palatal approximant; /uː/ close back rounded vowel; /t/ voiceless alveolar stop. IPA references: /kəˈmjuːt/ in standard IPA across dialects. Tips: in US and Canada, use a slight extra tip of the tongue toward the alveolar ridge for /t/ at the end. Keep the lips rounded for /uː/ but not so tight that the /j/ loses its glide.
Compute comes from Latin computare, meaning to reckon or count together, from the roots com- (together) and putare (to prune, settle, think). The Latin form computare was used in mathematical and accounting contexts to describe counting and calculating; over time, this sense broadened to include systematic reasoning and determination of numerical results. In Medieval Latin, computare appeared in mathematical treatises and legal documents, indicating precise calculation. The term entered English through Old French or directly from Latin comics traditions, with early attestations in the late 15th to 16th centuries in scholarly or clerical works discussing arithmetic. With the rise of computing technology in the 20th century, the verb to compute broadened further to encompass algorithmic processing and data analysis, eventually becoming a staple in computer science, statistics, and analytics. The noun sense—referring to calculation or a processor’s capability—emerges in later decades as computational theory and computing hardware advanced. Modern usage often pairs compute with data, algorithms, and computational workflows, reflecting its historical shift from manual reckoning to automated processing.
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Words that rhyme with "compute"
-ote sounds
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