How to pronounce CoCa

CoCa is most commonly pronounced "KOH kuh" (/ˈkoʊkə/). This is one of several readings in active use; the developer community hasn't converged on a single answer.

Google Research's image-text foundation model; the name packs 'COntrastive CAptioner'. The CoCa casing reads naturally as KOH-kuh — a homograph of 'coca' (Coca-Cola / coca leaf) — which is the most common way it's said. Because it's an acronym, some letter it out C-O-C-A (see-oh-see-AY). Stress on the first syllable: KOH-kuh. No author statement fixes the pronunciation, so usage is unsettled. The hazard: the obvious reading collides with a loaded everyday word, making speakers second-guess and switch to spelling it out.

Alternate readings you might hear:

• "see oh see AY" /ˌsiːoʊˌsiːˈeɪ/

Source: CoCa paper, 'Contrastive Captioners are Image-Text Foundation Models' (Google Research, arXiv:2205.01917)

Pronouncing project and product names correctly avoids the small but persistent friction of being gently corrected during standups, conference Q&As, and team calls. Hearing the word a few times locks in the right reading better than reading IPA ever will. Pronounce is a community-maintained dictionary — every entry tagged with a confidence level and (where possible) a citable source.