5 syllables: A, mi, no A, ci, d. Stress on A.
AM-in-oh AS-id
/ˈæmɪnoʊ ˈæsɪd/
Amino Acid is pronounced AM-in-oh AS-id (/ˈæmɪnoʊ ˈæsɪd/). It has five syllables (A-mi-no A-ci-d), with the stress on "A". Amino acid is a basic building block of proteins, comprising an amino group, a carboxyl group, a side chain (R-group), and a central carbon. They are organic compounds essential for countless biological processes, including enzyme function and metabolism. In biology and chemistry contexts, “amino acid” refers to the 20 standard residues that combine to form proteins, each with a distinct side chain.
nounAmino acid is a basic building block of proteins, comprising an amino group, a carboxyl group, a side chain (R-group), and a central carbon. They are organic compounds essential for countless biological processes, including enzyme function and metabolism. In biology and chemistry contexts, “amino acid” refers to the 20 standard residues that combine to form proteins, each with a distinct side chain.
How to Pronounce Amino Acid
"The sequence of amino acids determines a protein’s structure and function."
"Essential amino acids must be obtained from the diet because the body cannot synthesize them."
"Researchers studied the transport of amino acids across cell membranes."
Pronounce as a-MEE-no AH-sid (US) or AM-ih-no AS-id (UK). The primary stress is on the second syllable of amino and on the first syllable of acid when spoken in fast scientific speech. IPA: US: ˌæ.miˈnoʊ ˈæs.ɪd; UK: ˌæ.mɪˈnəʊ ˈæs.ɪd. In careful speech, you’ll use /ˌæˈmiː.noʊ ˈæ.sɪd/; in connected speech, reduce vowel length slightly. Audio references: consult Cambridge/Oxford pronunciation entries and Forvo recordings for specialists saying “amino acid.”
Two frequent errors: (1) Misplacing stress, saying a-MEE-no-a-SID or AM-i-no-AC-id; fix by stressing amino’s second syllable and acid’s first, with clear separation between words. (2) Vowel quality, turning /ɪ/ or /iː/ into a dull vowel or over-treating /æ/ in amino; aim for a relaxed /æ/ to /iː/ glide in US, or /æ/ to /ɪ/ in UK depending on rhythm. Practice with minimal pairs and slow pacing, then speed up. Reference IPA forms: US ˌæ.miˈnoʊ ˈæs.ɪd; UK ˌæ.mɪˈnəʊ ˈæs.ɪd.
Across accents, the main differences lie in vowel length and rhoticity. US typically uses /ˌæ.miˈnoʊ ˈæs.ɪd/ with a rhotic, long final /oʊ/ in amino, and /sɪd/ for acid. UK often uses /ˌæ.mɪˈnəʊ ˈæs.ɪd/ with a shorter, clipped second syllable and non-rhotic /r/ absence. Australian tends toward /ˌæˈmiː.nəʊ ˈæs.ɪd/ with some vowel broadening and a slightly flatter intonation. Check native speaker recordings for subtleties in vowel quality and consonant release.
The challenge lies in two adjacent phonetic patterns: the 'amino' cluster’s vowel transitions (often a quick /ɪ/ to /iː/ or /ɪ/ to /ə/ depending on dialect) and the clear onset of /æ/ in both words, which can blur in fast speech. Additionally, the word pair requires precise word boundary management, especially in dialogue-heavy or technical narration. Practicing with phrases and deliberate slow speech helps anchor correct tongue placement and rhythm.
Yes, in standard pronunciation you do articulate the 'n' clearly before the 'o' in amino, producing /ˌæ.miˈnoʊ/. In rapid speech, some speakers may slightly reduce the nasal onset, but the phoneme still appears as a distinct /n/ in careful enunciation and scientific narration. Ensure the alveolar contact is clean, with the tongue tip at the alveolar ridge just behind the teeth, preventing assimilation that could blur into /m/ or /ŋ/ sounds.
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The term amino acid traces to the combination of two roots: amino- from Latin amīn- via French amine, referring to the presence of an amino group (NH2) in the molecule; and -acid from Latin acidus, meaning sour or acidic. The concept emerged in the early 19th century as chemists identified organic acids containing amino groups. The foundational work of Emil Fischer in the late 19th century established the amino acids as the essential components of proteins, coining terms that reflect their dual functional groups: an amino group (–NH2) and a carboxyl group (–COOH). The standard set of 20 proteinogenic amino acids was solidified through mid-20th century protein chemistry and genetic code research, with the term amino acid becoming a fixed label in biochemistry textbooks. Over time, “amino acid” evolved from a general class of compounds to a precise subset critical to metabolism, signaling, and nutrition. First known use in English appears in the late 19th to early 20th century biochemical literature as chemists described amino derivatives of carboxylic acids, and the term gained universal adoption as protein structure and function were elucidated. The word structure reflects its chemical features: amino- + acid, indicating the presence of the amino functional group adjacent to a carboxyl group within each molecule, a pattern retained in modern nomenclature across scientific languages.
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Words that rhyme with "Amino Acid"
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