Etymology

From late Middle English compteroller, a spelling variant of countreroller (from which controller) due to folk etymology: the word was thought to have an etymological connection with Middle French compte ‎(“account”) (Middle French compteroleur is attested circa 1375). Originally the two spellings were equivalent and pronounced identically; the modern pronunciation with [mp] is based on the spelling.

Pronunciation

• either as controller or as IPA^(key): [kəmpˈtroʊləɹ], [kəmˈtroʊləɹ]
• Homophone: controller