4 syllables: Pa, ra, bo, la. Stress on ra.
pur-AB-uh-luh
/pɚˈæbələ/
Parabola is pronounced pur-AB-uh-luh (/pɚˈæbələ/). It has four syllables (Pa-ra-bo-la), with the stress on "ra". Parabola is a symmetrical, open plane curve formed by the set of points equidistant from a fixed point (focus) and a fixed line (directrix); in mathematics, it also describes the graph of a quadratic function. It has a distinctive U-shaped bend and appears in physics, engineering, and computer graphics. The term can also refer to the parabolic trajectory of projectiles under gravity.
nounParabola is a symmetrical, open plane curve formed by the set of points equidistant from a fixed point (focus) and a fixed line (directrix); in mathematics, it also describes the graph of a quadratic function. It has a distinctive U-shaped bend and appears in physics, engineering, and computer graphics. The term can also refer to the parabolic trajectory of projectiles under gravity.
"In algebra, we study the parabola y = x^2 to understand quadratic functions."
"The satellite dish uses a parabola to reflect signals to the focal receiver."
"The ball follows a parabolic path when you throw it, assuming negligible air resistance."
Parabola is pronounced /ˌpær.əˈboʊ.lə/ in US English, with the primary stress on the third syllable (bo) and a secondary, lighter stress on the first syllable. In UK English, it's /ˌpær.əˈbəʊ.lə/ with a similar rhythm, but the vowel in the second syllable is a schwa. In Australian English, you’ll hear /ˌpær.əˈbɒ.lə/ with a short O in the final syllable. Visualize: pa-ruh-BO-lah.
Common mistakes include stressing the wrong syllable and turning the middle 'a' into an 'ay' sound. Another pitfall is mispronouncing the final -ola as 'oh-lah' instead of 'ə-lə' or 'ɔ-lə' depending on accent. Correct by stressing the third syllable: pa-ra-BO-la, keep the middle vowel as a neutral schwa, and end with a soft, reduced 'lə'.
In US English, primary stress on the third syllable with /ˈboʊ/ as the long O. In UK English, /ˈbəʊ/ can be less tense in the second syllable and final /lə/ remains. In Australian English, the final vowel tends to be more open, and there's a tendency for vowel reduction in connected speech. Across all, the consonants p, r, b are clear but the vowel qualities and rhoticity influence the overall rhythm.
The challenge lies in maintaining two weak syllables around a strong, stress-shifted syllable and producing a clean 'bo' vowel before a light, unstressed 'la'. The 'pa' is a lighter initial onset, the 'bo' must be crisp, and the final 'la' requires a short, neutral schwa-like sound. Also, the 'r' in non-rhotic accents can be subtle, changing the perceived rhythm.
Parabola features a tri-syllabic rhythm with alternating stress that can be inconsistent in quick speech. The 'bo' vowel is long in US (boʊ) but shorter and tensed in some UK pronunciations. Additionally, the final '-la' often reduces to a light 'lə' in connected speech, which can make the ending sound like 'bɹə' if spoken rapidly. Practice slow, then accelerate while keeping the final syllable reduced.
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Parabola derives from the Greek word παραβολή (parabolē), meaning 'comparison' or 'a throwing beside' from para- 'beside' + ballō 'to throw'. In Greek geometry, parabola referred to a comparison or juxtaposition of lines and curves; later, in Renaissance mathematics, it was adopted to denote the conic section formed by slicing a cone with a plane parallel to a generating line. The term entered Latin as parabola, maintaining its geometric sense. The historical development traces back to early conic section studies by Apollonius of Perga (Ancient Greece), whose works influenced later European mathematicians. By the 17th century, parabola became crucial in the study of projectiles (gravity-based trajectories), optics (reflective properties of parabolic mirrors), and analytic geometry with equations y = ax^2 + bx + c representing the parabola in Cartesian coordinates. First known English usage emerged during the scientific revolution as coordinate geometry matured, though the concept existed in various cultures earlier via studies of conic sections and quadratic forms.
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Words that rhyme with "Parabola"
-ct) sounds
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