4 syllables: con, vo, lu, tion. Stress on con.
KAHN-vuh-loo-shuhn
/ˈkɑnvəˌluʃən/
convolution is pronounced KAHN-vuh-loo-shuhn (/ˈkɑnvəˌluʃən/). It has four syllables (con-vo-lu-tion), with the stress on "con". Convolution refers to a complex, winding or folded form or shape, often used metaphorically for intricate processes or patterns. In mathematics and signal processing, it denotes a specific integral transform that blends two functions to produce a third, reflecting how one function modifies another. The term conveys layered complexity and interwoven structure in both literal and abstract contexts.
Convolution refers to a complex, winding or folded form or shape, often used metaphorically for intricate processes or patterns. In mathematics and signal processing, it denotes a specific integral transform that blends two functions to produce a third, reflecting how one function modifies another. The term conveys layered complexity and interwoven structure in both literal and abstract contexts.
"The convolution of the signal with the kernel smoothed out rapid fluctuations."
"She described the city’s street layout as a convolution of alleys and plazas, making navigation a puzzle."
"In mathematics, convolution helps express systems that integrate inputs over time."
Pronounce it ko(n)-VŌ-l(y)oo-shuhn with primary stress on the third syllable. IPA: US kənˈvɒljuːʃən, UK kənˈvɒljuːʃən, AU kənˈvɒljʊˈʃən. Focus on the /vɒl/ cluster and the /ʃən/ ending. Listen for the long 'o' in the third syllable and a clear, gentle 'sh' before the final schwa.
Common mistakes: (1) Stumbling over the /v/ and /l/ cluster—don’t skip or merge them; (2) Pronouncing /ˈvɒl/ as /ˈvɒl/ with a short, clipped vowel; use a clear, long /ɒ/ before /l/; (3) Ending with a hard 'tion' as /sion/; correct is /ʃən/. Practicing the sequence kən-ˈvɒ-ljuː-ʃən helps maintain accuracy, with attention to the intersyllabic transitions and the /j/ glide before /uː/.
US/UK/AU share the /ˈkɒn.vəˌluː.ʃən/ pattern, but vowel length and rhoticity vary. US tends toward rhotic /ɹ/ and a slightly longer /ɒ/ in the stressed syllable, UK often has a shorter /ɒ/ and non-rhoticity in many dialects (object to /ˈkɒn.vəˈluː.ʃən/). Australian tends to a broader /ə/ in the second syllable and a more centralized /ɫ/ sequence. Maintain /ˈkɒn.vəˌluː.ʃən/ with attention to the placement of the /j/ glide before /uː/.
The difficulty lies in the consonant cluster and vowel length: the /l/ following a strong /v/ and the rapid /uː/ vowel before /ʃ/ + /ən/ can blur. Also, the medial syllable /vəl/ requires a crisp /v/ + light /l/ transition. Practice controlled transitions between the /v/ and /l/ and the /j/ glide into /uː/ to avoid breaking the /ˈkɒn.vəˌluː.ʃən/ rhythm.
A unique point is the /j/ sound before the final /uː/ in many accents, a subtle /lj/ cluster as the /l/ phases into the /juː/ glide. This small glide creates a three-part syllabic rhythm that can be overlooked in quick speech. Paying attention to the /j/ and /uː/ linkage helps prevent a mispronunciation like /kənˈvɒl.juːˈʃən/ where the glide is dropped.
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Convolution comes from the Latin convoluere, meaning to roll together or coil. The root con- ‘together’ plus volvere ‘to roll’. The sense shift from physical rolling to spiraled or folded forms occurred in the 16th–17th centuries, initially in geometry and optics to describe curved folds and the bending of surfaces. By the 19th century, mathematical usage expanded as integral transforms blended functions over an interval, capturing how one function “wraps around” or convolves with another. In engineering and signal processing, convolution represents the process of applying a filter or kernel to a signal, effectively integrating past and present values. The word’s metaphorical flexibility has grown to include complex, layered systems and processes, reinforcing its association with interwoven structure and interdependence. First known uses appear in mathematical texts and descriptive geometry where surfaces are described as convoluted, then extended to broader technical and theoretical contexts.
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Words that rhyme with "convolution"
-ion sounds
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