3 syllables: An, hy, drous. Stress on hy.
uhn-HEYE-druhs
/ənˈhaɪdrəs/
Anhydrous is pronounced uhn-HEYE-druhs (/ənˈhaɪdrəs/). It has three syllables (An-hy-drous), with the stress on "hy". Anhydrous is an adjective describing a substance or environment that contains no water or has had water removed. It is used in chemistry and related fields to denote dryness beyond ordinary moisture control. The term emphasizes the absence of H2O, often implying a reaction or storage condition under strictly anhydrous circumstances.
adjectiveAnhydrous is an adjective describing a substance or environment that contains no water or has had water removed. It is used in chemistry and related fields to denote dryness beyond ordinary moisture control. The term emphasizes the absence of H2O, often implying a reaction or storage condition under strictly anhydrous circumstances.
"The laboratory used anhydrous ammonia to prevent water-sensitive reactions."
"Anhydrous copper sulfate acts as a drying agent by absorbing moisture."
"The sample was stored under anhydrous conditions to avoid hydrolysis."
Pronounce as an- HY-drous, with primary stress on the second syllable. IPA: US an-ˈhaɪ.drəs, UK an-ˈhaɪ.drəs, AU an-ˈhaɪ.drəs. The first syllable sounds like “an” in “ant,” the second like “high” without the long e, and the final “drous” as “druhs” with a soft 'r' and schwa in the final. Audio reference you can check: use an online dictionary audio for the word to model the glide from the second to third syllable.
Common errors: (1) misplacing the stress, saying an-HI-drous with wrong emphasis. (2) Pronouncing -hyd- as ‘hid’ instead of ‘hy’ as in ‘high’. (3) De-emphasizing the final -ous; pronounce as -rous with a schwa-like ending. Correction: stress the second syllable, sound -hy- as /haɪ/, and end with /drəs/ or /drəs/ depending on accent. Listen to credible dictionaries and imitate the rhythm of the word.
In US/UK/AU, the core is /ˈhaɪ/ for the second syllable, with rhoticity affecting the /r/ in the final syllable US vs UK. US: rhotic /ɹ/ in -rous, mid-central vowel in the final, overall perceived more rounded vowels. UK and AU often have non-rhotic tendencies; final /ərəs/ may reduce to /ərəs/ or /rəz/ depending on speaker; AU leans toward a more centralized vowel in the final syllable. Overall: primary stress on 2nd syllable; /haɪ/ remains consistent. Use a good pronunciation guide to model the exact vowels.
The difficulty lies in the cluster -hydrous, where the /haɪ/ diphthong must be delivered clearly followed by the /drəs/ sequence. The second syllable carries the main stress, but the transition from /a/ to /haɪ/ can be tricky if you’re not careful with vowel length and pitch. Also, the final -ous can sound like /əs/ or /uəs/ depending on influence; maintaining a crisp schwa or a reduced vowel keeps the word natural in technical speech.
A unique point is the separation between the prefix an- and hydro- root: ensure you do not attach the 'n' too closely to the /haɪ/; maintain a light boundary so the second syllable clearly carries the /haɪ/ diphthong. This clarity helps avoid blending into ‘anhyd’ or ‘anhydr-’ and keeps the word crisp in technical discourse.
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Anhydrous derives from the Greek prefix an- meaning without, paired with hydro- meaning water, and the suffix -ous indicating a state or condition. The root hydro- entered English through Latin and French adaptations, ultimately tracing to Greek hydor. The combined form an-hydrous was established in scientific usage in the 19th century as chemistry and mineralogy standardized terminology for moisture absence. The early usage often appeared in contexts describing reagents, solvents, or environments that must be free of water to prevent hydrolysis or side reactions. First known uses appear in technical treatises and laboratory manuals as scholars described drying agents and desiccation procedures, with the term becoming commonplace in organic synthesis, inorganic chemistry, and geology to differentiate from hydrated or aqueous forms. Over time, “anhydrous” has maintained precise, formal connotations and remains a staple in academic and industry settings where moisture control is critical, including pharmaceutical manufacturing and analytical chemistry. The semantic trajectory reflects a shift from general dryness toward a rigorous chemical state definition, reinforcing the importance of water absence in experimental reproducibility and material stability.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "Anhydrous" and can often be used interchangeably.
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Words that rhyme with "Anhydrous"
-ous sounds
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