2 syllables: con, vinced. Stress on vinced.
kuhn-VINST
/kəˈnvɪnst/
convinced is pronounced kuhn-VINST (/kəˈnvɪnst/). It has two syllables (con-vinced), with the stress on "vinced". Convinced is the state of being certain or persuaded that something is true or right. It denotes a strong, firmly held belief or assurance, often following reasoning or evidence. In usage, it describes a speaker’s confidence or conviction about a proposition, decision, or outcome.
Convinced is the state of being certain or persuaded that something is true or right. It denotes a strong, firmly held belief or assurance, often following reasoning or evidence. In usage, it describes a speaker’s confidence or conviction about a proposition, decision, or outcome.
"I’m convinced you’ll enjoy the concert if you give it a try."
"She was convinced by the data that the project would succeed."
"Are you convinced this is the best policy to adopt?"
Pronounce as /kənˈvɪnst/. The primary stress lands on the second syllable: con-VINCED. Start with a schwa /kə/ or /kən/ before a clear /ˈvɪnst/. The /v/ blends into /ɪ/ quickly, then a crisp /n/ and a clear /t/ with a lightly released end. In connected speech, you may hear a subtle /t/ delay or a slight d-like ending through the compensatory vowel length. Audio reference: imagine saying ‘con-’ softly, then ‘VINCT’ with a short, strong vowel.
Two common mistakes: (1) Overemphasizing the second syllable with an elongated /ɪ/ turning it into con-VI-NCED; keep it /ˈvɪnst/ with a short, clipped vowel. (2) Mispronouncing the final cluster as /zd/ or /dɪs/; keep a clean /nst/ ending with a voiceless /t/ release. Practice by isolating /vɪn/ and ensuring the /v/ and /ɪ/ stay connected, then finish with /st/ promptly.
US/UK/AU share /kənˈvɪnst/ with a similar stressed nucleus, but /ɪ/ quality can drift toward a shorter, tenser vowel in faster US speech and a slightly more rounded vowel in some UK varieties. Rhoticity mainly affects preceding syllables in connected speech; the /r/ is not present in convinced, so focus on the lack of rhotic influence and the crisp /st/ ending in all three. Australian pronunciation tends to be slightly broader with subtle vowel length differences but the /ˈvɪnst/ remains stable.
The challenge lies in the rapid, tight /ˈvɪnst/ sequence, especially the transition from /v/ to /ɪ/ and the final /nst/ cluster. The /ɪ/ vowel is short and centered, and the /t/ may be unreleased in faster speech, causing a softer finish. Also, ensuring the alveolar /n/ and /s/ do not merge is subtle. Focus on a clean, brief /ɪ/ plus a precise /nst/ tail to avoid slurring.
No. Every letter corresponds to a sound in standard pronunciation. The sequence is /kənˈvɪnst/, with the letters c-o-n forming /kən/ and the rest forming /ˈvɪnst/. The key is not silent letters but the quick, percussive /t/ at the end and the cluster /nst/ that can be devoiced in rapid speech.
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Convinced derives from the Latin convincire, formed from con- (together, with) and vincere (to conquer, overcome). The root vinc- relates to victory and overcoming resistance. In Latin, convincere meant to overcome or to convict, in the sense of proving someone’s point or overcoming doubt. The word entered Middle English via Old French convaincre and Latin influence, gradually taking the sense of being persuaded or brought to belief by evidence or argument. Over time, convinced in English settled into its modern sense of a deeply held belief or certainty, often implying logical or emotional justification. The transition from “to conquer a doubt” to “to be persuaded” reflects a shift from external conquest imagery to internal conviction. First known usages date back to the 14th-15th centuries in legal and rhetorical contexts, where convincing arguments or evidence could produce belief or assent. By the 17th-18th centuries, the adjective form “convinced” became common in both formal and colloquial speech, retaining its core sense of settled certainty achieved through reason or evidence. Today, convinced is widely used across academic, legal, political, and everyday prose to denote strong assurance or persuasion.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "convinced" and can often be used interchangeably.
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Words that rhyme with "convinced"
-ced sounds
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