VYOO-poynt
/ˈvjuˌpɔɪnt/
viewpoint is pronounced VYOO-poynt (/ˈvjuˌpɔɪnt/). Viewpoint refers to a particular attitude or perspective from which something is considered. It combines the noun view with point, signaling a specific stance or angle on an issue. In discourse, your viewpoint frames interpretation and guides the reception of information, often shaping arguments and conclusions. The term is widely used in academic, professional, and everyday contexts to denote a stance or evaluative position.
Viewpoint refers to a particular attitude or perspective from which something is considered. It combines the noun view with point, signaling a specific stance or angle on an issue. In discourse, your viewpoint frames interpretation and guides the reception of information, often shaping arguments and conclusions. The term is widely used in academic, professional, and everyday contexts to denote a stance or evaluative position.
"From my viewpoint, the project will succeed if we increase collaboration."
"The columnist presented a skeptical viewpoint on the policy change."
"In debates, it's helpful to acknowledge multiple viewpoints before arguing your case."
Viewpoint is pronounced with two syllables: /ˈvjuːˌpɔɪnt/. Start with a strong stressed 'VIEW' syllable where the long 'ee' sound glides into /juː/ (as in 'view'). The second syllable is /pɔɪnt/ with a diphthong that moves from /ɔ/ to /ɪ/ toward /nt/. Emphasize the first syllable, then lightly articulate the rounded 'point' ending. Practically: VIEW-POINT. You’ll hear a clear contrast between /juː/ and the following /ɔɪ/ in fluent speech.
Two common errors are flattening the diphthong in the first syllable and mispronouncing the /ɔɪ/ in the second syllable. You might say /ˈviːˌpɔɪnt/ by prolonging the first vowel too much or replacing /ɔɪ/ with a simple /o/ or /iː/. To correct: keep the first syllable /ˈvjuː/ with a precise /juː/ glide, and ensure the second syllable has the /ɔɪ/ diphthong by rounding the lips for /ɔ/ and then gliding toward /ɪ/ before the /nt/. Practice slowly as VIEW-POINT, then speed up while maintaining the glide.
In US, UK, and AU, the core /ˈvjuː/ onset remains stable, but rhoticity primarily affects the surrounding vowels in connected speech. The /juː/ sequence is typically a tight glide in US and UK; AU may exhibit a slightly more centralized articulation in rapid speech. The second syllable /pɔɪnt/ is generally consistent across accents, but a subtle vowel height difference may occur before /nt/ in fast speech. Overall, the main differences are reduced rhotic influence and vowel quality shifts in linked phrases.
The difficulty lies in the two consecutive vowel-diphthong sequences /juː/ and /ɔɪ/ within a tight two-syllable word. You must maintain distinct lip rounding and tongue position for /juː/ while transitioning smoothly into the /ɔɪ/ glide without inserting extra syllables. Additionally, closing the final /nt/ after a prominent diphthong requires precise timing to avoid slurring. Practicing the exact tongue height and lip shape for each vowel helps stabilize the overall rhythm.
A useful angle is whether the /j/ in /ˈvjuː/ is tightly attached to the preceding vowel or forms a separate glide. In careful speech, /ˈvjuː/ is a distinct, contiguous sequence where the /j/ acts as a palatal glide flowing into /uː/. In fast or casual speech, the /j/ may be less prominent, giving a slightly more centralized /vju/ or even merging toward /vjuːpɔɪnt/ with a reduced pause. Keep the /j/ clear but not exaggerated.
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Viewpoint is a compound of two Middle English elements: view (from Old French veue, from Latin videre ‘to see’) and point (from Old French point, from Latin punctus ‘dot, tip’). The noun view emerged in Middle English as ‘a looking at or sight’; point added the sense of a particular position or direction. The modern sense of viewpoint as a figurative stance or attitude crystallized by the 19th century as discussions on perspective in philosophy, rhetoric, and social commentary intensified. In contemporary usage, viewpoint often emphasizes a subjective stance anchored in what one considers relevant or salient, rather than an objective fact. The word’s first known uses appear in scholarly and journalistic texts from the 1800s, with “viewpoint” appearing in print in contexts describing someone’s angle on a matter. Over time, it has become a common, neutral term across disciplines, frequently paired with terms like opposing viewpoints, broad viewpoints, or personal viewpoints. The compound structure remains productive in English, with many speakers treating it as a single lexical item rather than two separate words in everyday speech.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "viewpoint" and can often be used interchangeably.
🔄 These words have opposite meanings to "viewpoint" and show contrast in usage.
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Words that rhyme with "viewpoint"
-int sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
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