3 syllables: a, ni, ons. Stress on a.
AN-eye-awnz
/ˈæˌnaɪɔnz/
anions is pronounced AN-eye-awnz (/ˈæˌnaɪɔnz/). It has three syllables (a-ni-ons), with the stress on "a". Anions are negatively charged ions formed when an atom or molecule gains one or more electrons. They commonly occur in chemistry and biochemistry contexts, often as reactive species in solution or during redox processes. The term contrasts with cations, which are positively charged ions.
Anions are negatively charged ions formed when an atom or molecule gains one or more electrons. They commonly occur in chemistry and biochemistry contexts, often as reactive species in solution or during redox processes. The term contrasts with cations, which are positively charged ions.
- You often misplace the stress or flatten the second syllable. To fix: practice saying AN-i-onz with primary stress on the first syllable and a crisp /nz/ at the end. - The second syllable sound can slip from /ɒ/ to /ɔː/ depending on your dialect. Aim for a clear, rounded back vowel /ɒ/ or its close equivalent in your accent. - The final /nz/ consonant cluster may weaken; keep a short, voiced /n/ before /z/ and avoid devoicing the /z/.
"The solution contained several chloride anions and cations."
"Researchers studied the behavior of anions in organic solvents."
"The electrolyte solution relies on the movement of anions under an electric field."
Pronounce as /ˈæniˌɒnz/ (US) or /ˈænaɪɒnz/ (UK/AU). Stress falls on the first syllable, with a secondary stress on the second: 'AN-i-onz' where 'ni' is pronounced as a short /n/ vowel sequence. The final 'ons' sounds like /ɒnz/ in US and /ɒnz/ in UK/AU. Tip: keep the i-vowel short and avoid turning the second syllable into a long syllable. You’ll hear the contrast between the second vowel sound depending on accent.
Common errors: 1) Saying /ˈænaɪənz/ with a long 'i' in the second syllable; correct is /ˈæniˌɒnz/ with a short 'i' or /ˈænaɪɒnz/ depending on accent. 2) Slurring the /nz/ into a single sound; ensure you release a clear /nz/ cluster. 3) Misplacing stress, saying 'AN-ions' or spreading stress evenly. Correction: keep primary stress on the first syllable and maintain a crisp /nz/ ending by lightly voicing the /n/ before /z/.
In US: /ˈæniˌɒnz/ with a more American /ɒ/ in the second syllable and a rhotic-like vowel quality. In UK/AU: /ˈænaɪɒnz/ or /ˈæniənz/ depending on speaker; the second syllable may diphthongize to /aɪ/ or stay with /iɒ/. The rhoticity is less relevant in non-rhotic varieties; the /ɒ/ may be realized as a rounded back vowel. Final consonant often voiced as /nz/ in careful speech; elided or devoiced in rapid speech.
Difficulties stem from the two-syllable pattern with distinct vowel qualities and the /nz/ cluster at the end. The first syllable carries primary stress and uses a short front vowel, while the second syllable involves a rounded back vowel with a tense quality. The coda /nz/ cluster requires precise tongue blade contact and voicing. For non-native speakers, approximating the /n/ before /z/ and the subtle vowel shifts across accents can be challenging.
Does the word ever reduce the syllables in fast speech (e.g., /ˈæniˌɒnz/ to /ˈæniɒnz/)? In careful speech you may hear two clear syllables, but in fast scientific talk, speakers might reduce to a pseudo two-syllable rhythm with a more compact second syllable; however, the primary stress and coda /nz/ usually remain distinct to avoid confusion with related terms.
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US: keep /ɒ/ closer to an open back vowel; final /nz/ is often voiced. UK: more fronted /æ/, second syllable may show /ɪə/ or /ɒ/. AU: tendency to raise the second vowel slightly; /nz/ remains voiced. IPA anchors: /ˈæ ni ˌɒnz/ (US) vs /ˈæ nɪ ɒnz/ or /ˈæ naɪɒnz/ (UK/AU). Focus on maintaining rhythm with 2-3 syllables and the contrastive /nz/ ending.
The word anion comes from the combination of the Greek prefix ana- meaning up, again, or apart, and the suffix -ion, from Latin ion- and Greek -ion, signifying action or condition, borrowed into modern scientific vocabulary in the 19th century. The term was popularized as chemistry disciplines formalized ion theory following Faraday’s electrochemistry work. In early 19th-century electrolysis literature, researchers distinguished negatively charged ions as anions and positively charged ions as cations. Over time, the sense of anion broadened from specific ions to any negatively charged ion in aqueous and non-aqueous media. The photograph of the ionic model and subsequent ionic theories cemented “anion” as a general class, with “anions” as the plural form. First known uses appear in 1830s-1840s chemistry texts, aligning with the broader adoption of ionic theory and the naming convention for oppositely charged ions.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "anions" and can often be used interchangeably.
🔄 These words have opposite meanings to "anions" and show contrast in usage.
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Words that rhyme with "anions"
-ion sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
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