2 syllables: Tu, ple. Stress on Tu.
TOO-puhl
/ˈtuː.pəl/
Tuple is pronounced TOO-puhl (/ˈtuː.pəl/). It has two syllables (Tu-ple), with the stress on "Tu". Tuple is a noun in mathematics and computer science denoting a finite ordered list of elements, typically of fixed size. In practice, it underpins data structures and function arguments, highlighting that order and arity matter. The term appears in programming languages and databases, where a tuple might be paired or tripled, reflecting its core concept of an ordered collection.
nounTuple is a noun in mathematics and computer science denoting a finite ordered list of elements, typically of fixed size. In practice, it underpins data structures and function arguments, highlighting that order and arity matter. The term appears in programming languages and databases, where a tuple might be paired or tripled, reflecting its core concept of an ordered collection.
"In SQL, you can select a tuple containing a name and an age."
"Python returns a 3-tuple when you unpack three values from a function."
"The function accepts a 2-tuple (x, y) as its parameter."
Commonly pronounced as /ˈtuːpəl/ in US/UK/AU, with the first syllable stressed. Start with a clear /t/ release, then a long /uː/ like 'too', followed by a schwa or reduced /ə/ before the final /l/. IPA: US/UK/AU: /ˈtjuː.pəl/ or /ˈtuː.pəl/. Some speakers reduce to /ˈtuː.pəl/ without the middle consonant cluster; aim for /ˈtjuː.pəl/ in careful speech.
Two frequent errors: 1) Pronouncing it as two distinct syllables with a hard /k/ or dropping the vowel: say /ˈtuːkəl/ or /ˈtuːl/; 2) Misplacing the stress and producing an ambiguous /ˈtjuːpəl/ instead of a clean /ˈtuː.pəl/. Corrections: keep /tuː/ (or /tjuː/) as a single peak syllable, then lightly vocalize the final /pəl/ with a short schwa and clear /l/. Practice by saying “too-pull” slowly, then speed up, ensuring the stress remains on the first syllable.
Across accents, the initial vowel can shift: US often /ˈtuː.pəl/ or /ˈtjuː.pəl/, UK similar with /ˈtuː.pəl/, and AU commonly /ˈtjoo.pəl/ or /ˈtjuː.pəl/. The rhoticity doesn’t affect Tuple much since the word ends with /l/. The main variation is the rhotic vowel quality and the treatment of /juː/ vs /uː/. In broader accents, you may hear a more fronted vowel or a slightly shorter second syllable; aim for a steady long /uː/ or /juː/ plus a crisp /pəl/.
Tuple is challenging because it blends a long back vowel or glide (/uː/ or /juː/) with a light, unstressed final /əl/. The cluster /p/ before a vowel-like /əl/ requires precise timing to avoid swallowing the /p/ and creating /tjuːpəl/ or /tuːl/. The subtle vowel length and the final -le syllable demand careful articulation, especially in fast speech. Practice with syllable-tulse rhythm drills and focus on releasing the /p/ cleanly before the /əl/.
Tuple has a strong primary stress on the first syllable: TU-ple. Unlike two-beat words where both syllables carry weight, Tuple’s second syllable is lighter and often reduced to /əl/ or /l/. This makes the word feel punchy at the start in technical contexts. For clarity in speech, emphasize the initial /tuː/ with a brief hold before moving to the softer /pəl/.
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Tuple originates from the concept of a mathematical ordered n-tuple, derived from the Latin taula meaning board or table, and the Greek ‘tup’ idea of placement in a list. The term gained traction in the 1960s with computer science and formal logic to describe a finite sequence of elements with a fixed length (arity). Early use framed tuples as a convenient representation for multi-argument data in programming languages, distinguishing them from general lists by their fixed size. In many programming languages, tuples are represented as a sequence type with a defined cardinality, enabling compile-time guarantees about the number of components. The first known usages appear in academic papers on relational data models and early programming language documentation where tuples were used to model records with a fixed number of fields. Over time, the concept broadened beyond mathematics to inform data structures and APIs, where tuples convey structured, positional data rather than just sets or lists. Today, the term is common in databases, functional programming, and data science, often with language-specific syntax and immutability conventions.
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Words that rhyme with "Tuple"
-oup sounds
-oop sounds
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