/kəmˈpjuts/
computes is pronounced /kəmˈpjuts/. Computes is a present-tense verb meaning to perform mathematical calculations or to determine a result using a computer or calculation device. It can also function as a noun in some contexts, though in most uses it remains verb-centric. The pronunciation is a two-syllable word with primary stress on the second syllable, and it often appears in technical, computing, or analytical prose and discussion.
Say it backComputes is a present-tense verb meaning to perform mathematical calculations or to determine a result using a computer or calculation device. It can also function as a noun in some contexts, though in most uses it remains verb-centric. The pronunciation is a two-syllable word with primary stress on the second syllable, and it often appears in technical, computing, or analytical prose and discussion.
"The software computes the total bill after applying discounts."
"The calculator computes results instantly, even for complex equations."
"He computes a rough estimate based on available data before the full report."
Pronunciation: /kəmˈpjuːts/ (US) or /kəmˈpjuːts/ (UK). Primary stress on the second syllable: com-PUTES. Start with /k/ then a schwa /ə/ in the first syllable, followed by /p/ + /j/ glide into the /uː/ vowel, ending with /ts/. In rapid speech the /j/ can be weaker, yielding /kəˈpjuts/ for some speakers. Audio reference: you can compare with ‘computer’” where stress shifts, and use Forvo or YouGlish to hear multiple speakers. Keywords: computation, stress, /juː/ glide, final /ts/.
Common errors include misplacing stress (saying com-PUTES with primary stress on ‘com’), losing the /j/ glide (pronouncing /kəˈmputs/ instead of /kəmˈpjuːts/), and pronouncing the final /ts/ as a hard /t/ or /d/ instead of /ts/. To fix: keep a clear /j/ after /p/ as in /pjuː/ and maintain the final /ts/ cluster. Practice with minimal pairs like ‘compute’ vs ‘computes’ and record yourself. Focus on the vowel length for /uː/ and maintain the secondary schwa in the first syllable for natural rhythm.
In US English, /kəmˈpjuːts/ with a rhotic hint in some speakers is common, sometimes realized as /kəmˈpjuːts/. UK English typically retains the /juː/ and may have a less pronounced /r/ in surrounding words; final /ts/ is crisp. Australian English keeps /juː/ and final /ts/ similar to UK, sometimes with a shorter /uː/ and more flapped t-like quality in rapid speech. Across all, the main variations are rhoticity and the vowel quality of /uː/; Australians may have a slightly flatter /juː/ onset. Refer to IPA: US /kəmˈpjuːts/, UK /kəmˈpjuːts/, AU /kəmˈpyuts/ or /kəmˈpjuːts/ depending on speaker.
Difficulties include the /pjuː/ cluster after /m/ and the two-segment transition from /p/ to /juː/ to /ts/. The /juː/ glide blends with the preceding /p/ into a single soft /pj/ sequence for many speakers, which can cause slurring if not clearly enunciated. The final /ts/ can be produced as a simple /t/ or /s/ by fast talkers, making the word sound like /kəmˈputs/ instead of /kəmˈpjuːts/. Slow it down, practice the glide, and record yourself to ensure the /ts/ is audible.
Focus on the strong, clear /pj/ transition in the second syllable, and keep the final /ts/ distinct. The word increases in perceptual syllable boundary between /m/ and /p/, so ensure a small, controlled pause or release to separate /m/ from /p/. Also, maintain the long /uː/ vowel quality in /pjuː/ instead of reducing it to /pju/ in casual speech. Consistent practice with tape-recorded samples will help you hear and refine these transitions.
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Computes derives from the Latin computare, meaning to count, reckon, or calculate. The root comput- comes from com- (together) and putare (to reckon, prune, think). In late Latin, computare meant to calculate or to reckon up accounts. The word entered Old French as compter, which shifted into English as compter and computer-time variations, eventually yielding compute in Early Modern English (c. 15th–16th centuries). The verb compute appears in texts alongside mathematical treatises and navigational manuals, reflecting its association with computation and calculation. As computational devices evolved, the verb broadened to include any automated or algorithmic calculation, including software programs and processors. In contemporary usage, compute frequently collocates with data, results, and algorithms, particularly in scientific, statistical, and technical contexts. The noun sense is less common but appears in phrases like “the computes” in certain informal or erroneous usages; standard usage treats compute as a verb, with “computes” as the third-person singular present. The evolution mirrors the shift from manual counting to machine-assisted processing, encapsulating the democratization of computing power across disciplines.
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Words that rhyme with "computes"
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