3 syllables: Mo, du, lo. Stress on Mo.
MAW-joo-loh
/ˈmɔdʒuˌloʊ/
Modulo is pronounced MAW-joo-loh (/ˈmɔdʒuˌloʊ/). It has three syllables (Mo-du-lo), with the stress on "Mo". Modulo is a noun used mainly in mathematics and computer science to denote the remainder after division, or to describe a modulo operation. It can also appear in some programming contexts to indicate a remainder operator. In everyday usage, think of it as “the remainder.” The term is technical but widely recognized in intermediate discussions of algorithms and number theory.
nounModulo is a noun used mainly in mathematics and computer science to denote the remainder after division, or to describe a modulo operation. It can also appear in some programming contexts to indicate a remainder operator. In everyday usage, think of it as “the remainder.” The term is technical but widely recognized in intermediate discussions of algorithms and number theory.
- You often misplace stress, saying MOduLO or MO-DO-lo. Solution: feel a strong beat on the first syllable and lightly release the second syllable. - The middle /dʒ/ can blend with a /d/ or /j/? sound; ensure you produce the affricate /dʒ/ clearly, then glide into /uː/ or /juː/. - The final /loʊ/ may be reduced to /lə/ in quick speech; practice a full /loʊ/ with a crisp L to keep it distinct.
"In Python, n % d computes the remainder when n is divided by d, i.e., the modulo operation."
"The problem asks for the value of x modulo 7."
"We examined modular arithmetic, where modular reductions simplify large numbers."
In English pronunciation, modulo is typically stressed on the first syllable: MO-du-lo. IPA: US/UK/AU: /ˈmɒ.dʊ.lə/ or /ˈmɒ.djuː.loʊ/ depending on speaker. Commonly you’ll hear /ˈmɒ.djuː.loʊ/ in American and British tech circles, with the final -lo often reduced to a lighter “loh.” To practice, start with /ˈmɒ.djuː.loʊ/ and ensure the middle vowel is a crisp /u/ or /juː/ sound before the final /lo/.”,
Two frequent errors: (1) Misplacing stress, saying MO-du-lo with equal emphasis on all syllables; (2) Vowel quality drift, producing a murky /mɑː.də.low/ instead of a tight /ˈmɒ.djuː.loʊ/. Correction: keep primary stress on the first syllable, use a rounded /uː/ or /juː/ in the middle, and clearly articulate the final /loʊ/ with a light, quick release. Practice with minimal pairs like MO-DO-LO vs MO-DO-LO with a final tight /loʊ/.
US tends toward /ˈmɒ.djuːˌloʊ/ with a rhotic quality and a clear /juː/ middle. UK often uses /ˈmɒ.dʒuː.ləʊ/ with slightly less vowel rounding in the final syllable. Australian typically /ˈmɒː.dʒuːˈloʊ/ or /ˈmɒ.djuː.ləʊ/, with a flatter vowel in the second syllable and a more clipped final /loʊ/. In all, the key differences are rhoticity and the middle vowel duration; emphasis remains on the first syllable.
Two challenges: the middle /dʒ/ cluster (like ‘dj’ sound in ‘jungle’) combined with a subsequent /uː/ or /juː/ vowel, and the final /loʊ/ sequence with potential vowel reduction in fast speech. Beginners may flatten the diphthong in the middle or misplace stress, saying /ˈmɒ.djuː.lɒ/ or /ˈmɒ.dʒʊ.lə/. Focus on maintaining crisp middle /dʒ/ plus /uː/ and a clear final /loʊ/. Practice with slow repeats and recording to hear the difference.
If you’re listening for silent letters, modulo is fully pronounced in standard English, with all phonemes voiced. The middle is /dʒuː/ or /djuː/ and the final is /loʊ/. Some speakers may devoice or reduce the final vowel slightly in rapid talk, sounding like /ˈmɒ.dʒuː.lə/; to avoid this, consciously articulate the final /loʊ/ with a distinct /l/ and rounded /oʊ/.
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- US: rhotic /ɹ/ is present; middle vowel tends to be /uː/ or /juː/. - UK: non-rhotic; middle often /dʒuː/ with a slightly longer /ə/ in the final syllable. - AU: similar to UK but with more relaxed jaw, sometimes a shorter final /loʊ/ or /ləʊ/. IPA references: /ˈmɒ.djuː.loʊ/ US/UK; /ˈmɒ.djuː.ləʊ/ AU. - Focus on tightening lips for /uː/ and rounding for /oʊ/ in final.
Modulo derives from the mathematical term modulus, from Latin modulus meaning “small measure, scale, standard.” The root is Latin modulo ‘small measure’ formed from modus ‘measure, manner’ with the suffix -ulus. The concept of modulus emerged in number theory and modular arithmetic in the 19th and 20th centuries as mathematicians formalized arithmetic under cyclic groups and congruences. The notation a mod m to denote the remainder became common in early programming and mathematics, with various languages adopting this operator to express the same idea. First known uses appear in mathematical texts exploring divisibility and congruence relations, long before modern computer science popularized modulo operations in algorithms and hash functions. Over time, modulo has become a standard term in programming languages (C, Python, SQL, and more), used to describe both the operation and the resulting residue class modulo m. Today, modulo is universally understood in math and CS contexts, bridging theoretical concepts with concrete code implementations.
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Words that rhyme with "Modulo"
-ugh sounds
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