4 syllables: An, ti, bod, ies. Stress on An.
AN-tib-ah-deez
/ˈæntɪˌbɑdiz/
Antibodies is pronounced AN-tib-ah-deez (/ˈæntɪˌbɑdiz/). It has four syllables (An-ti-bod-ies), with the stress on "An". Antibodies are specialized proteins produced by the immune system that recognize and neutralize foreign substances. They bind to antigens, tagging them for attack by other parts of the immune system. This noun plural is used in immunology, medicine, and biology contexts to describe these Y-shaped molecules present in blood and tissues.
nounAntibodies are specialized proteins produced by the immune system that recognize and neutralize foreign substances. They bind to antigens, tagging them for attack by other parts of the immune system. This noun plural is used in immunology, medicine, and biology contexts to describe these Y-shaped molecules present in blood and tissues.
"Researchers measured antibody levels after vaccination."
"The patient’s antibodies neutralized the virus in laboratory tests."
"Hybridoma technology produces monoclonal antibodies for therapy."
Pronounce as /ˈæn.təˌbɒ.diz/ in US and UK. The primary stress lands on the first syllable ‘AN-’ and a secondary stress on the 'bod' segment; the final 'ies' is voiced as /ɪz/ (d͡ɪz). Mouth positions: start with a front open vowel /æ/ then a schwa-like /ə/ in the second syllable, then /ɒ/ (UK) or /ɑː/ (US) in the third, and finish with a voiced z sound /z/. Audio references: standard dictionaries and lab talks typically provide model pronunciations to mimic. Practicing slowly, then increasing speed will help you lock the rhythm.
Common errors: 1) Stress on the second syllable (an-TI-bodies) instead of the first. 2) Merging the ‘ti’ with a ‘to’ sound or pronouncing as /ˈæntiˌboʊdiz/ with /oʊ/ instead of /ɒ/ or /ɑː/. 3) Final plural pronunciation as /-iz/ instead of /-ɪz/ or mispronounced as /-iz/? The correction is to keep central vowel /ə/ in the second syllable, use /ɒ/ (UK) or /ɑː/ (US) for the third, and end with /diz/ or /diz/ with a clear z. Listen to native medical speakers and mimic their cadence.
US: /ˈæn.tiˌbɒ.diz/ with rhotic r? No r after d; UK: /ˈæn.tɪˌbɒ.diz/ with shorter first vowel and non-rhotic ending; AU: /ˈæntaˌbɒːdiz/ or /ˈæntɪˌbɒdiz/ depending on speaker, often with a more clipped /ɪ/ in the second syllable. The main differences: placement of stress remains near the first syllable; vowel quality in /æ/ and /ɒ/ can shift; rhoticity is minimal in UK/AU, US retains /r/ only in rhotic dialects, which may affect adjacent vowels slightly.
Difficult parts: 1) The sequence /tiˌbɒ/ with a light /t/ followed by a syllable break can trap the tongue; 2) The final -ies becomes /iz/ or /iːz/ in some contexts but typically /ɪz/, which varies by speaker. 3) The early /æ/ can shift toward /æ/ or /a/ depending on speed. Key tips: practice the three-syllable rhythm, emphasize the first syllable, and use a light /t/ with a quick transition to /ə/ before /bɒ/.
Unique question: Are there silent letters in 'antibodies'? No, all letters represent sounds, but the sequence /tiˌbɒ/ might cause a brief consonant blend across syllable boundary. The t is released lightly, and the i often reduces to a schwa in rapid speech. Focus on keeping the /t/ gentle and the /i/ reduced in the second syllable to maintain the correct rhythm.
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US: rhotic but not heavily; /ˈæntɪˌbɒ.dɪz/; UK: non-rhotic, /ˈæntɪˌbɒ.dɪz/ with shorter vowels; AU: often /ˈæntɪˌbɒːdiz/ or /ˈæntɪˌbɒdiz/; Vowels: US /ɒ/ often /ɑː/ or /ɒ/ in stressed syllable; AU /ɒ/ more open; Consonants: /t/ as tapped or alveolar stop; final /z/ crisp; IPA references included for precision.
Antibody comes from the combination of anti- (against) and body (body) and was first used in the early 20th century as scientists described substances that act against invading pathogens. The term literally means ‘against body’ in the sense of antibodies acting against foreign bodies. The concept arose from studies in immunology as researchers identified proteins produced by the body that recognize specific antigens. Over time, the term expanded to cover a large class of gamma globulins known as immunoglobulins, and by the mid-20th century, antibodies were central to vaccine science and therapeutic research. The word antibodies appeared in English medical literature around the 1930s, with increasing usage as techniques for measuring immune response became standard in laboratories. Today, antibodies denote both polyclonal collections and monoclonal commercially developed antibodies used in diagnostics, treatment, and research, and the term is widely recognized across biology, medicine, and biotechnology.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "Antibodies" and can often be used interchangeably.
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Words that rhyme with "Antibodies"
-ies sounds
-des sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
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