3 syllables: A, ci, nus. Stress on A.
AS-in-uhs
/ˈæsɪnəs/
Acinus is pronounced AS-in-uhs (/ˈæsɪnəs/). It has three syllables (A-ci-nus), with the stress on "A". Acinus is a small sac-like cavity in an organ, especially in a gland or the lung, where secretions are produced or gas exchange occurs. Often used in anatomy to denote microscopic sacs connected to ducts. The term is common in medical and biological contexts and carries a precise, technical tone.
nounAcinus is a small sac-like cavity in an organ, especially in a gland or the lung, where secretions are produced or gas exchange occurs. Often used in anatomy to denote microscopic sacs connected to ducts. The term is common in medical and biological contexts and carries a precise, technical tone.
"The acinus of the mammary gland contributes to milk production."
"Histological slides reveal alveolar acini lined with secretory epithelium."
"Pathologists noted dilation of the acini in the pancreatic tissue."
You say AC-i-nus, with stress on the first syllable. Phonetically: /ˈæsɪnəs/. Start with the short ‘a’ as in cat, then a soft ‘si’ like '-si' in sin, and finish with a clear ‘nus.’ For audio reference, compare to standard medical pronunciations in dictionaries; the key is stressing the first syllable and keeping the final -us as /əs/.
Common pitfalls are over-emphasizing the second syllable or mispronouncing the initial vowel as /eɪ/ or /e/. Some say ‘a-SEE-nus’ with incorrect stress and a long vowel in the first syllable. Correct it by delivering a crisp /ˈæs/ with a short, clipped ‘a’ and keeping /ɪ/ in the second syllable. Finally, end with a neutral schwa /ə/ and a clear /s/. Practice slow, then speed up while maintaining the vowel quality.
Across US/UK/AU, the initial /æ/ vowel in the first syllable remains common, but some UK speakers may reduce the second syllable slightly and maintain tighter vowel quality, producing /ˈæsɪnəs/. Australian speakers generally mirror US vowel timings but may show a more centralized /ɪ/ in the second vowel. All variations keep the primary stress on the first syllable; the final /əs/ remains a light, unstressed schwa. Accent differences are subtle but noticeable with rhythm.
It challenges non-native speakers due to the sequence /ˈæsɪnəs/ that combines a short front vowel, a mid-short /ɪ/ in the second syllable, and a final unstressed /əs/ that can drift into /ɪs/ or /əs/ without careful focus. The subtle reduction in the final syllable and maintaining crisp consonant /s/ demands good syllable-timing and breath control. Practice with slow, precise articulation, then steadily increase tempo while preserving the phonetic contrasts.
A unique aspect is maintaining a clean, short first syllable /ˈæs/ without a drawn-out vowel, which many speakers tend to lengthen. Ensure the second syllable begins with a crisp /ɪ/ and ends with a light /nəs/, avoiding a heavy /ɪnz/ or /ənz/ ending. Visualize the mouth forming a quick, precise cluster: jaw low, lips relaxed, tongue tip near the alveolar ridge for the /s/.
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Acinus comes from Latin acinus, meaning ‘grape’ or ‘berry,’ diminutive of ac- from Greek oinos ‘wine,’ referencing a cluster-like shape. The term entered anatomical usage in the 17th–18th centuries as microscopists described small sac-like structures resembling a cluster of grapes. In anatomy, acini refer to the secretory units of glands (e.g., pancreatic, salivary) and the alveolar sacs in lungs. The plural acini retains Latin form. Over time, the word broadened to any small sac-like cavity, but in modern usage remains a precise term indicating microscopic sacs with ducts, or the cluster-like arrangement of secretory cells within tissues. First known scientific use appears in early histological works describing glandular tissue and alveolar structures, with formalized definitions appearing in anatomy texts of the 1800s as microscopy advanced and cell-level descriptions became standard.
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Words that rhyme with "Acinus"
-nus sounds
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