5 exercises on commonly mispronounced tech vocabulary.
0 / 5 completed
1 / 5
How is "facade" (as in the facade design pattern) pronounced?
facade = "fuh-SAHD" (/fəˈsɑːd/): the "c" takes a soft "s" sound (it's often written with a cedilla, "façade"), and stress lands on the second syllable "SAHD" with a long "ah". This French loanword is common in design patterns. Avoid the hard-c "fuh-KAYD" - the "c" here is "s". So "the facade pattern wraps a subsystem" is "fuh-SAHD". The final "-ade" rhymes with "spa" plus "d", not "made".
2 / 5
How is "paradigm" pronounced?
paradigm = "PA-ruh-dime" (/ˈpærədaɪm/): three syllables, stress on the first, and the "g" is SILENT - the ending is "-dime" (rhyming with "time"). A frequent error is pronouncing the "g" ("para-dig-m"). The "g" only resurfaces in the adjective "paradigmatic" (para-dig-MAT-ic). You'll say "programming paradigm", "a paradigm shift", "functional paradigm". Remember: silent "g", ending sounds like the coin "dime". Stress the opening "PA".
3 / 5
Where is the stress in "hierarchy"?
HIGH-er-ar-kee (/ˈhaɪərɑːki/): four syllables, primary stress on the first ("HIGH"). The word opens with "high-er" (like "higher"), then "-ar-kee". The "ch" sounds like "k". You discuss "class hierarchy", "component hierarchy", "folder hierarchy" often. Avoid stressing the middle ("high-ER-archy"). Note the related "hierarchical" shifts stress to "hi-er-AR-chi-cal". For the noun, keep stress firmly on the opening "HIGH" and pronounce "ch" as "k".
4 / 5
Where is the stress in "asynchronous"?
ay-SIN-kruh-nus (/eɪˈsɪŋkrənəs/): five syllables, stress on the second ("SIN"). The "a-" prefix is "ay", the "ch" is a hard "k", and the ending reduces to "-kruh-nus". You'll constantly say "asynchronous calls", "async/await". The clipping "async" is usually "AY-sink" or "uh-SINK". For the full word, lock stress on "SIN": ay-SIN-kruh-nus. Note that even in "synchronous" the stress sits on "SIN" - the "a-" prefix simply adds a syllable in front.
5 / 5
How is "parameterise/parameterize" pronounced?
puh-RAM-uh-tuh-ryze (/pəˈræmɪtəraɪz/): stress on the second syllable "RAM" (inherited from "pa-RAM-eter"), then the "-ize" ending (/aɪz/). British "-ise" and American "-ize" sound identical. You say "parameterise the function", "parameterised tests". The base noun "parameter" is "puh-RAM-i-ter" with stress on "RAM" - keep that stress when adding "-ise". Don't shift to "para-MEE-ter". The full verb is five syllables ending in a clear "-ryze" (eyes-z).