2 syllables: Con, vince. Stress on vince.
kuhn-VINS
/kəˈnvɪns/
Convince is pronounced kuhn-VINS (/kəˈnvɪns/). It has two syllables (Con-vince), with the stress on "vince". Convince is a verb meaning to persuade someone to believe or do something, often by presenting reasons or arguments. It implies guiding a listener toward acceptance through logical or emotional appeal. The term conveys achieving assent rather than merely tipping opinions, typically involving verbal justification and credible delivery.
verbConvince is a verb meaning to persuade someone to believe or do something, often by presenting reasons or arguments. It implies guiding a listener toward acceptance through logical or emotional appeal. The term conveys achieving assent rather than merely tipping opinions, typically involving verbal justification and credible delivery.
"She managed to convince the committee to approve the new budget."
"He tried to convince his friend to join the volunteer project."
"The salesman used data and anecdotes to convince the client of the product’s value."
Pronounce as /kənˈvɪns/. Start with a schwa-reduced /kən/ on the first syllable, then a stressed /ˈvɪns/ with a clear /v/ followed by a short, crisp /ɪ/ and ending with /ns/. Mouth: lips come together for /v/, top teeth touch bottom lip, then move to a neutral vowel for /ɪ/, and close with a light /n/ before the final /s/. In careful speech, the vowel in the first syllable is reduced; in careful or emphatic speech you may hear /kənˈvɪns/ with full vowels in both syllables. Audio reference: listen for the secondary auditory cue of the /v/–/ɪ/ transition and the unvoiced /s/ at the end.
Two common errors: (1) Over-articulating the first syllable so it sounds like /ˈkɒn-ˈvɪns/ or the second syllable becomes /-ɪnz/ with a voiced ending; instead keep /kən/ as a reduced syllable and /ˈvɪns/ clearly. (2) Slurring the /v/ into /w/ or dropping the final /s/, producing /kənˈvɪn/ or /kənˈvɪns/ with a glottal stop; ensure the final /s/ is crisp and unvoiced. Practice by isolating /kən/ and /ˈvɪns/, then blending.
In US and UK, /kənˈvɪns/ is similar, with US rhoticity affecting the initial schwa if followed by a rhotic sound; however, the word rarely bears noticeable /r/ in any position. Australian speakers typically maintain /kənˈvɪns/ but may have a slightly sharper /ɪ/ and faster transition between /v/ and /ɪ/, influenced by Australian vowel tendencies. Overall, rhoticity has minimal impact here; the key differences are vowel quality and tempo.
Difficulty centers on maintaining a short, tense vowel in the second syllable /ɪ/ while keeping the /v/ and /s/ sequences distinct. The combination of /v/+ /s/ at the end can blur in rapid speech, and the reduced first syllable /kən/ may leak into neighboring sounds if not anchored. Slow practice with phoneme isolation helps; then build speed while preserving distinct voicing of /v/ and unvoiced /s/.
A common search-specific quirk is how the final -ince might be misperceived as /ɪns/ versus /ɪns/; to be precise, emphasize the /n/ and /s/ as separate phonemes, not as a fused /ns/ in some dialects. The primary stress remains on the second syllable, making the word sound like kon-VINS; ensuring clarity of /v/ and /s/ prevents conflation with similar-looking words.
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Convince comes from the Latin convincere, formed from con- (together) and vincere (to conquer, win). The verb entered English through Old French, aligning with senses of overcoming resistance or belief, akin to conquering objections. Early usages around the 15th century describe overcoming skepticism by argument or proof. The sense evolved to emphasize the act of persuading someone to adopt a belief or course of action rather than simply offering evidence. The term’s semantic field expanded into everyday speech, where it captures the social dynamics of belief, persuasion, and force of reasoning. In modern English, convince often appears in business, politics, and persuasive communication, maintaining its core implication of transforming belief or intention rather than merely supplying information. The word’s phonetic form settled into the common English pattern of /kənˈvɪns/ in general usage, with stress on the second syllable and the final -ce pronounced as /s/ or /z/ depending on surrounding phonology, though the articulation remains consistent across dialects. First known use is documented in early modern English writings, with the root idea of conquering doubt repeatedly echoed in rhetorical contexts and legal arguments. Overall, convince encapsulates a deliberate, often goal-oriented act of changing someone’s mind through argument, evidence, and credibility.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "Convince" and can often be used interchangeably.
🔄 These words have opposite meanings to "Convince" and show contrast in usage.
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Words that rhyme with "Convince"
-nce sounds
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