2 syllables: con, vex. Stress on vex.
/kəˈnvɛks/
convex is pronounced /kəˈnvɛks/. It has two syllables (con-vex), with the stress on "vex". Convex is an adjective describing a surface curved outward, bulging there, like the exterior of a sphere. It denotes a shape that curves away from its interior, opposite of concave. In mathematics and geometry it specifies a line or surface where any line segment between two points on it remains on the surface. The term is also used metaphorically to describe outward-facing or uplifting features.
Say it backConvex is an adjective describing a surface curved outward, bulging there, like the exterior of a sphere. It denotes a shape that curves away from its interior, opposite of concave. In mathematics and geometry it specifies a line or surface where any line segment between two points on it remains on the surface. The term is also used metaphorically to describe outward-facing or uplifting features.
"The convex lens concentrates light rays to a focal point."
"A convex hull is the smallest convex polygon that encloses all the points in a set."
"The exterior of the dome is a smooth convex surface."
Pronounce as /ˈkɒn.vɛks/ in UK and /ˈkɑːn.vɛks/ in US (often simplified to /ˈkɑnˌvɛks/ in fast speech). The stress is on the first syllable: CON-vex. Start with a clear /k/ and a short, open vowel in the first syllable, then an /v/ and a short /ɛ/ before /ks/. Imagine saying CON as in “con” followed quickly by VEX as in “vex.” Listen for a single, crisp /n/ before the /v/ and a light, unreleased /ks/ ending.
Common errors include reducing the first syllable vowel too much (saying /kən/ instead of /ˈkɒn/ or /ˈkɑːn/), and slurring the final /ks/ so it sounds like /kɛks/ or /ks/ without the /v/ transition. Some speakers insert an extra syllable (con- vex) or misplace stress. Correct by practicing the tight, two-syllable rhythm CON-vex with an evident /n/ and a crisp /v/ before /ɛ/ and /ks/; keep the /ɛ/ short and avoid turning it into /iː/ or /eɪ/.
In US English you’ll hear /ˈkɑnˌvɛks/ with a rhotacized or non-rhotacized /ɑ/ depending on speaker, typically two syllables and strong /v/. UK English tends toward /ˈkɒn.vɛks/ with shorter /ɒ/ and a crisper /v/ and /ks/ cluster; the first syllable often has more rounded quality. Australian English mirrors UK vowels but can show a slightly broader vowel in /ɒ/ and a more relaxed final consonant cluster, still keeping stress on the first syllable. The main difference is vowel quality and vowel length, not the consonant sequence.
The difficulty lies in the tight two-syllable structure with a stressed first syllable and a rapid transition from /n/ to /v/ into the /ɛ/ before /ks/. The /v/ in particular can blur with surrounding alveolar or bilabial sounds if your mouth isn’t prepared. Practicing the /n/–/v/ transition in isolation and then as a syllable pair helps fix the timing and get a clean /v/ plus /ks/ ending. Focus on the precise tongue position for /v/ and the short, lax /ɛ/ before /ks/.
Convex features a strong initial consonant cluster (k + on) followed by a voiced labiodental /v/, then a short front vowel /ɛ/ before the /ks/ cluster. The unique challenge is maintaining the sharp boundary between /n/ and /v/ and ensuring the /ɛ/ remains short rather than gliding into /eɪ/. Visualize a quick, precise release: /k/ + /ɒ/ or /ɑ/ with a clean /n/, then /v/ and /ɛ/ and finally /ks/.
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Convex comes from the Latin convexus, meaning ‘arched, vaulted, bending outward,’ from combō (to bend, shape) + flectere (to bend). The root flect- yields many English derivatives such as reflect, flex, and inflect. The Latin convexus describes outward curvature, distinguishing from concavus ‘hollow, indented.’ The word entered English via late Latin or Old French during the medieval period when Latin geometry terms spread into science and scholastic discourse. In mathematics and optics, convex preserves a precise geometric sense: any line segment between two points on the surface lies entirely on or inside the surface, contrasting with concave notions. Over time, convex broadened into everyday usage for outward-facing, smoothly curved surfaces in architecture and product design. The term’s semantic trajectory mirrors the rise of descriptive geometry in Europe during the 15th–17th centuries and the expansion of geometric vocabulary in science, navigation, and art. Its first known uses in English documents appear in scientific treatises of the 17th–18th centuries, aligning with the era’s emphasis on precise curvature and convex shapes in optics and mechanics.
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Words that rhyme with "convex"
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