VUR-teks
/ˈvɝˌtɛks/
vertex is pronounced VUR-teks (/ˈvɝˌtɛks/). Vertex is a two-syllable noun borrowed from Latin, meaning the point where two lines meet or the highest point. In mathematics and geometry it denotes a corner or apex of a shape, or a point on a graph where certain properties occur. The term is used across science disciplines and in everyday discussion of shapes, angles, and peaks.
Vertex is a two-syllable noun borrowed from Latin, meaning the point where two lines meet or the highest point. In mathematics and geometry it denotes a corner or apex of a shape, or a point on a graph where certain properties occur. The term is used across science disciplines and in everyday discussion of shapes, angles, and peaks.
- You might misplace stress on the second syllable (VEN-ter). Keep the stress on the first syllable: VERT-ex. • The ending /ks/ can blur; practice releasing the stop /t/ sharply into /ɛ/ then /ks/; avoid a rushed or muffled final consonant. • Some speakers blend /ɜr/ with a reduced vowel; maintain /ɜr/ for US, /ɜː/ for UK/AU, to keep the rhotic or non-rhotic distinction clear. Remember: crisp consonants, precise vowel quality, and a clean /ks/ at the end.
"The vertex of a triangle is the point where two sides intersect."
"In the graph, the vertex represents the peak of the parabola."
"Astronomers observed the vertex of the satellite's orbit."
Pronounce as VUR-teks with two syllables. Primary stress on VERT-, IPA US /ˈvɜrˌtɛks/; UK /ˈvɜːtɛks/; Australian /ˈvɜːtɛks/. Begin with an open-mid back unrounded vowel in the first syllable, then a clear /t/ followed by a short /ɛ/ before final /ks/. Place your tongue high and backward for /ɜ/ or /ɜː/, keep lips neutral, and release the /t/ quickly into /ɛ/ before /ks/.
Common mistakes: misplacing stress as VEN-ter (second syllable stress), pronouncing the /r/ in non-rhotic accents too strongly, or blending /t/ and /e/ into a slurred /tə/ sequence. Correction: keep primary stress on the first syllable /ˈvɜr-/, clearly articulate /t/ as a stop, then bite into /ɛ/ before /ks/. Practice with isolated syllables VUR-tek-s, then VUR-teks. Use minimal pairs like ‘verge’ vs ‘vertex’ to feel the final /ks/ cluster.
In US and UK, initial vowel is /ɜː/ or /ɜr/ with rhoticity playing a role in American English; US often lands closer to /ˈvɜːrˌtɛks/ or /ˈvɜr tɛks/, UK tends toward /ˈvɜːtɛks/ without rhotic consonant influence on the vowel; Australian typically mirrors UK but with slightly flatter vowel height and a rounded /ɜː/ into /ɜ/; overall, stress on the first syllable remains stable. Final /ks/ is a voiceless cluster and should be crisp in all accents.
The difficulty lies in the two-tricky clusters: the rhotacized /ɜr/ in many accents and the /tɛks/ sequence at the end. People often substitute a simpler /vɜrtɪks/ or drop the /r/ in non-rhotic speech. The key is maintaining the two clear syllables with a strong, short /t/ immediately before /ɛ/ and ensuring a distinct /ks/ ending. Practice by isolating the two clusters: VUR-tek + ks, then blend.
Focus on first-syllable stress and crisp ending: /ˈvɜːrˌtɛks/. In search queries you’ll often see ‘how to say vertex’ or ‘vertex pronunciation’, so include the two-syllable breakdown and the /ks/ ending in your head. Also include IPA and examples like ‘vertex of a polygon’ to reinforce the form. This precise pattern helps SEO by matching natural queries and providing actionable guidance.
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- US: rhotic /ɜr/, keep /r/ pronounced; /ˈvɜrˌtɛks/. - UK: non-rhotic bias, but the /r/ is silent except before vowels; emphasize /ˈvɜːtɛks/. - AU: similar to UK with slightly broader, flatter vowels; /ˈvɜːtɛks/. Use IPA guides to tune the exact vowel height: /ɜː/ vs /ɜ/. Differences in linking and intonation: you may hear slight vowel length differences before /t/.
Vertex comes from Latin vertex, meaning ‘a turning or bending point’, ‘top of the head’, or ‘peak’. The word is from the root ver- ‘to turn’ or ‘to bend’, associated with turning points and apex. In Latin, vertex also carried mathematical usage related to turning points and vertices of polygons. English usage adopted vertex in geometry and astronomy to denote the point where lines meet or a pinnacle. The sense of ‘highest point’ or ‘apex’ developed through Latin and medieval Latin scientific treatises, where precise terminology for polygons, polyhedra, and graphing was formalized. By the 16th–17th centuries, vertex was firmly established in mathematical lexicon in English, used in Euclidean geometry and, later, in analytic geometry and graph theory. The word’s evolution reflects its geometric role: a fixed point where two edges converge (a vertex of a polygon) or a point where a function attains a local maximum or minimum in a graph sense. Its cross-disciplinary adoption remains stable: in biology, astronomy, and computer graphics, vertex consistently designates a key point of intersection or peak.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "vertex" and can often be used interchangeably.
🔄 These words have opposite meanings to "vertex" and show contrast in usage.
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Words that rhyme with "vertex"
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