3 syllables: Syn, chron, ous. Stress on Syn.
SING-kruh-nuhs
/ˈsɪŋkɹənəs/
Synchronous is pronounced SING-kruh-nuhs (/ˈsɪŋkɹənəs/). It has three syllables (Syn-chron-ous), with the stress on "Syn". Synchronous is an adjective describing events or processes occurring at the same time or in exact coordination. It implies simultaneity and coordinated timing, often in technical or formal contexts. The term is used across science, engineering, and computing to denote aligned or parallel timing relationships.
adjectiveSynchronous is an adjective describing events or processes occurring at the same time or in exact coordination. It implies simultaneity and coordinated timing, often in technical or formal contexts. The term is used across science, engineering, and computing to denote aligned or parallel timing relationships.
"The robots operate in synchronous cycles to ensure precise assembly lines."
"In a classroom, students participate in synchronous online sessions with the instructor."
"The system relies on synchronous clocks to maintain data integrity."
Synchronous is stressed on the first syllable: SYN-kro-nus. Phonemic transcription: /ˈsɪŋ.krə.nəs/ (US/UK). The middle vowel is a schwa in many accents, so the sequence becomes /ˈsɪŋ.krə.nəs/. Ensure the 'ng' sound flows into a light /k/ rather than a hard break, and keep the final unstressed -us as /-əs/ or /-əs/ depending on accent. Listen for a crisp initial /s/ followed by a dental-alveolar /ŋ/ before /k/. Audio reference: imagine a quick, even rhythm from SYN to-kro to-nus.
Common errors: 1) Misplacing stress or mispronouncing the first syllable as 'sin-JRO-nus' instead of /ˈsɪŋ.krə.nəs/. 2) Slurring the /ŋk/ cluster into a single sound; you should maintain the nasal /ŋ/ before the hard /k/ with a short transition. 3) Reducing the second syllable too much, making it /kroʊ/ or /krəʊ/ instead of /krə.nəs/. Correction: practice the sequence /ˈsɪŋ.krə.nəs/ with a brief pause between syllables and a light, rapid transition from /ŋ/ to /k/.
US/UK/AU share /ˈsɪŋ.krə.nəs/, but rhotics and vowel quality vary: US tends to pronounce the /r/ in related words and a slightly shorter /ə/ reduction in the second syllable; UK often features a crisper /ˈsɪŋ.krə.nəs/ with less pronounced rhoticity in non-rhotic variants; AU mirrors UK patterns but with a flatter intonation and sometimes a broader /æ/ or /ə/ in the second syllable. The main visible difference is the r-coloring and vowel quality in the unstressed syllables, while the consonants /ŋ/ and /k/ remain steady across accents.
Two main challenges: a) the /ŋk/ cluster requires a clean transition from nasal to stop without adding a vowel in between, which can create a 'n+k' blend that sounds separate. b) the unstressed second syllable /krə.nəs/ features a reduced vowel and a light, quick cadence; beginners overemphasize /rə/ or /nəs/. Focus on maintaining a tight /ŋ/ into /k/ and keep the final /əs/ as a short, clipped ending. IPA cues: /ˈsɪŋ.krə.nəs/.
A distinctive feature is the clear, rapid linking between syllables in /ŋ/ and /k/: you should avoid creating a pause between /ŋ/ and /k/, which many learners do. Instead, glide from the velar nasal into the velar stop smoothly. Also, maintain the short, neutral schwa in the second syllable; over-pronouncing /ə/ as /əː/ slows you down. Practice with a focus on fluent, even rhythm: /ˈsɪŋ.krə.nəs/.
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Synchronous comes from the Greek roots sun- meaning 'together' and -chronous from chrônos meaning 'time.' The term entered English in the early to mid-20th century with technical adoption in mathematics, engineering, and the emerging computer sciences to describe events that occur at the same time. The spelling and pronunciation reflect the combination of Latinized Greek elements: the prefix sun- became syn- in many coinages, while -chronous preserves the notion of time. Early uses framed synchronous operations in mechanical, then electrical and later digital systems, where precise timing is critical. Today, synchronous is common in contexts like synchronous motors, synchronous clocks, and synchronous data transfer, often contrasted with asynchronous to emphasize real-time coordinated timing. First known uses appear in scientific literature around the 1930s–1950s, paralleling advances in telecommunications and computing that demanded strict simultaneity and timing alignment.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "Synchronous" and can often be used interchangeably.
🔄 These words have opposite meanings to "Synchronous" and show contrast in usage.
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Words that rhyme with "Synchronous"
-ous sounds
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