3 syllables: s, r, c. Stress on s.
ES-ahr-see
/ˈɛs-ɑːr-si/
src is pronounced ES-ahr-see (/ˈɛs-ɑːr-si/). It has three syllables (s-r-c), with the stress on "s". src is an abbreviation often used in computing and web development to denote the source code or source directory. In spoken language, it is typically treated as a string of letters and read individually or as a clipped acronym, depending on context. It conveys technical specificity and brevity, and is usually encountered in informal or technical discourse rather than formal prose.
src is an abbreviation often used in computing and web development to denote the source code or source directory. In spoken language, it is typically treated as a string of letters and read individually or as a clipped acronym, depending on context. It conveys technical specificity and brevity, and is usually encountered in informal or technical discourse rather than formal prose.
"In the project, the src folder contains all the components you’ll need to build the app."
"For debugging, open the file located at src/utils/helpers.js."
"The build script copies assets from src to the dist directory."
Say the three letters distinctly: S, R, C. In careful speech, /ɛs ɑːr siː/ (US) or /ɛs ɑːʳ siː/ (UK) is common, but many speakers simply pronounce it as a single unit /sɛrk/ or /src/ with a brief, clipped vowel for the initial sound, depending on rhythm. IPA guidance: US: /ˈɛsˌɑːrˈsiː/ for the letter-by-letter form; when said as a sequence, the consonants typically stay voiceless and the vowels are reduced in rapid speech, producing a compact /ˈɛsɑːrsiː/ or /ˈɛsˈɑːs/. In practice, many developers use /src/ as a syllabic unit with a hard s followed by a quick r and k-like alveolar stop. Audio reference: listen for common tech talks where speakers say “src” as a word: /ˈsrc/ or /s ɛ r s/ depending on dialect.
Common errors include pronouncing it as a single syllable with a long vowel, e.g., /sark/ or /src/ with a full vowel in the middle, which muddles the intended letter sequence. Another mistake is eliding the middle consonant, turning it into /sk/ or /sr/ without the /r/ reach. A corrective tip is to articulate each consonant crisply: /s/ + /ɹ/ + /siː/ (or /siː/ as a syllable). Practice saying S, then quickly flick the tongue to /ɹ/ before releasing /siː/. Use minimal pairs: src vs. sR c vs. sK.
In US and UK, you’ll hear a concise /src/ sequence in fast speech, with the /ɹ/ rhotic in the US and a post-alveolar approximant in some UK speakers; the vowel in the final /siː/ tends to be long in both. Australian speakers often drop post-vocalic fullness and maintain a shorter, clipped /sɹiː/ or /sɹ sæ/ structure depending on tempo. The primary difference is vowel length and rhotic influence: US speakers typically keep the /ɹ/ clearly rhotic, UK speakers may reduce the final vowel slightly in casual speech, and AU tends toward a more clipped, flatter intonation. IPA references: US /ˈɛsˌɑːrsiː/ or /ˈɛsˌɑːsiː/, UK /ˈɛsˌɑːˈsiː/, AU /ˈɛsˌɑːˈsiː/.
The difficulty comes from the abrupt sequence of consonants S-R-C without an intervening vowel, which can disrupt typical CV syllable structure. The /ɹ/ is tricky for non-native speakers or in rapid speech, and the final /siː/ can be reduced in some dialects, making the ending less distinct. Focus on maintaining a clean /s/ onset, a precise /ɹ/ articulation, and a crisp /siː/ vowel, pausing ever so slightly between consonants to prevent clustering. This helps with clarity in technical contexts.
A common unique query is whether to vocalize the initial S as a hissy /s/ or as a clipped “ess.” The preferred approach is to treat it as a sharp /s/ onset before /ɹ/; keep the tongue close to the alveolar ridge without a strong tongue tip contact, then transition smoothly to /ɹ/ and finally to /siː/. This yields a natural, legible sequence in murky audio environments and avoids blending into a single syllable like /sark/.
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src is an abbreviation derived from the English word source, itself from Middle English sorg 'source, origin' and Old French source, from Latin. In computing, the abbreviation gained prominence in the late 20th century as programmers and Unix-like environments required compact, unambiguous labels for directory paths and data origins. The term “src” became conventional shorthand for the directory that houses source code, consistent with directory-naming patterns such as bin, lib, and docs. Its usage expands beyond file systems to refer to the source of data, assets, or information in software projects, APIs, and version control. First known uses appear in early programming manuals and software projects that adopted concise naming schemes to improve readability in shell commands and scripts. Over time, src has withstood changes in programming languages and tooling, remaining a stable convention across platforms, even as build systems and module resolvers evolved. Its meaning is anchored in its role as the origin or ancestry of code and resources within a software project.
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Words that rhyme with "src"
-erk sounds
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