SUR-voh
/ˈsɝvoʊ/
servo is pronounced SUR-voh (/ˈsɝvoʊ/). A short device or mechanism that uses feedback to control motion or position, often part of larger systems such as robotics or industrial machinery. In biology or keyboards, it can refer to a servo motor that converts electrical signals into precise mechanical movement. The term is widely used in engineering, electronics, and automation contexts, with emphasis on controlled, repeatable position or speed.
A short device or mechanism that uses feedback to control motion or position, often part of larger systems such as robotics or industrial machinery. In biology or keyboards, it can refer to a servo motor that converts electrical signals into precise mechanical movement. The term is widely used in engineering, electronics, and automation contexts, with emphasis on controlled, repeatable position or speed.
"The robotic arm uses a precision servo to position the gripper accurately."
"We installed a servo-controlled valve to regulate fluid flow."
"The hobbyist built a small RC model with servo steering."
SER-vo. In IPA for US: /ˈsɜrˌvoʊ/; UK: /ˈsɜː.vəʊ/; AU: /ˈsəː.vəʊ/. Stress is on the first syllable, with a clear /ɜː/ or /ɜ/ vowel in the first syllable. The second syllable uses /voʊ/ in US, /vəʊ/ in UK/AU. Ensure the /s/ is crisp, the /ɜ/ or /ɜː/ is centralized, and the /r/ is either rhotic in American speech or a non-rhotic variant slightly reducing the 'r' sound in non-American varieties. Finish with a rounded, closed /oʊ/ or /əʊ/ depending on accent.
Common mistakes: shying away from the first syllable vowel, saying /ˈsɪəɹvoʊ/ or /ˈsɜːrvoʊ/ with an overly long first vowel; and mispronouncing the second syllable as /siːvɒ/ or /ˈsɜːrvoʊ/ with an incorrect vowel. Correction: keep the first syllable as /ˈsɜː/ (US /ˈsɜr/), avoid combining the “r” into a heavy rhotic drawl; end with /voʊ/ (US) or /vəʊ/ (UK/AU). Practice by isolating /ˈsɜː/ + /voʊ/ and then blend smoothly without extra vowels.
US pronunciation tends to be /ˈsɜːrˌvoʊ/ with a rhotic /r/ and a light final /voʊ/. UK/AU reduce the rhotic after non-rhotic vowels; UK/AU often render the second syllable as /vəʊ/ with a more centralized vowel in the first syllable. Stress remains on the first syllable across regions. The main difference is the rhoticity and the ending vowel quality: US ends with a clear /oʊ/, while UK/AU lean toward /əʊ/ in many speakers.
The difficulty lies in the short, tense first syllable /ˈsɜː/ with potential vowel reduction between speakers, plus the rapid, rounded second syllable /voʊ/ or /vəʊ/. Non-native speakers often blend the vowels or insert extra consonants. Mastery requires practicing the crisp, non-syllabic /ɹ/ in rhotic dialects and aligning the mouth for a tight /v/ followed by a clear, rounded high back vowel in the second syllable.
An important nuance is the subtle length and lip rounding changes between /voʊ/ and /vəʊ/ across dialects; some speakers reduce the second syllable to /vo/ with a silent final vowel in rapid speech. To address this, pace the end: end with a short, controlled /oʊ/ (US) or a longer /əʊ/ (UK/AU) depending on your accent. Awareness of /ɜː/ length can help you avoid over-shortening the first vowel.
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The noun servo derives from the Latin servus meaning ‘slave’ and from the concept of service or control. In engineering, ‘servo’ was coined as shorthand for ‘servomechanism,’ a portmanteau of ‘service’ and ‘automatic’ or ‘servomechanism,’ which describes a closed-loop feedback system used to control force, velocity, or position. The first widely cited use in English appeared in early 20th-century technical texts discussing automatic control and servomechanisms in electrical and mechanical engineering. The term quickly broadened beyond pure control theory to include devices marketed as servo motors and actuators in robotics, CNC machinery, and RC applications. Over time, servo has come to denote both the motor itself and the broader class of feedback-controlled actuators, commonly used in hobbyist and industrial contexts. The language transition reflects the emphasis on precision, repeatability, and automated correction that defines modern mechatronics.
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Words that rhyme with "servo"
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