4 syllables: an, ti, bod, y. Stress on an.
AN-tib-ah-dee
/ˈæntɪˌbɑdi/
antibody is pronounced AN-tib-ah-dee (/ˈæntɪˌbɑdi/). It has four syllables (an-ti-bod-y), with the stress on "an". An antibody is a large, Y-shaped protein produced mainly by plasma cells that identifies and neutralizes foreign objects such as bacteria and viruses. The term refers to a specific immune molecule that binds to antigens, facilitating their destruction or removal. In lab contexts, antibodies are used as reagents in diagnostic and research applications.
An antibody is a large, Y-shaped protein produced mainly by plasma cells that identifies and neutralizes foreign objects such as bacteria and viruses. The term refers to a specific immune molecule that binds to antigens, facilitating their destruction or removal. In lab contexts, antibodies are used as reagents in diagnostic and research applications.
- You may pronounce it as ‘an-TEE-bo-dee’ by moving the primary stress to the second syllable; instead keep primary stress on AN and a crisp, separate BY before di. - The middle consonant can blur into a “d” if you don’t release the preceding /t/ cleanly; ensure a short pause after AN and distinct /t/ before /ɪ/. - Final syllable often shortens; avoid turning ‘di’ into a syllabic or silent ending. Instead say /ˈæn.tiˌbɑː.di/ or /ˈæn.tɪˌbɒ.di/ with full vowel. Practice with careful articulation and slow tempo.
"The patient’s antibody levels were measured to assess immune response."
"Scientists designed monoclonal antibodies to target cancer cells."
"You’ll find antibodies in blood serum that help fight infections."
You pronounce it as /ˈæn.tiˌbɒ.di/ in UK English or /ˈæn.tiˌbɑː.di/ in US English, with primary stress on the first syllable and a secondary stress on the third syllable. The middle vowel is a short “i” as in 'sit', and the final ‘body’ carries a clear /bɒ/ or /bɑː/ depending on accent. Mouth positions: start with a relaxed but tense ‘a’ in AN, then an easy ‘ti’ with a light palatal release, and finish with a rounded ‘bo’ transitioning to ‘di’. Audio resources: you can hear precise pronunciations on Pronounce or Forvo.
Common errors include saying ‘an-tea-bo-dee’ or flattening the middle syllable to /tɪ/ without the secondary stress. Another pitfall is misplacing the primary stress or merging /ti/ with /d/ in rapid speech, giving /ˈæntɪboʊdi/. Correction: keep the syllables clearly separated: AN-ti-BY-dee, with a brief, crisp /t/ followed by a strong /di/ at the end; practice slow with a metronome until the rhythm feels natural.
US tends to have /ˈæn.tiˌbɑː.di/ with a longer /ɑː/ in ‘body’; UK often shortens to /ˈæn.tɪˌbɒ.di/ with a shorter 'a' in ‘ant’ and a shorter ‘body’; Australian generally aligns with US on the second syllable but may reduce the final /i/ slightly. Note rhoticity: US is rhotic, so /ˈbɑː.di/ rhymes with ‘bar/di’; UK non-rhotic speakers may assimilate the final vowel differently. Reference IPA in Cambridge/Oxford dictionaries for precise variant marks.
The difficulty lies in the triplet rhythm: AN-ti-BY-di, with the middle syllable containing a short, tense /ɪ/ and the final /di/ requiring precise lip opening to avoid blending with the preceding vowel. The ‘ti’ cluster can sound like a quick /tɪ/ or a syllabic pause if you rush. Also, the difference between /ɑː/ versus /ɒ/ in ‘body’ across dialects challenges consistent production. Focus on crisp consonants and clear syllable boundaries.
Is the stress pattern fixed or does antibody occasionally carry stress shift in technical text? Typical usage places primary stress on the first syllable (AN-ti-), with secondary emphasis on the final syllable in spoken language, mimicking English noun morphology where primary stress often lands early. In faster contexts, you may hear a more even rhythm, but the core pattern remains: strong on AN, lighter on ti, and a clear final di.
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Antibody derives from the combination of two roots: the prefix anti- meaning against, and body, originally used in immunology to describe a substance that binds to an antigen. The word entered English in the early 20th century as immunology formalized its vocabulary. The internal structure of antibodies—heavy and light chains forming a Y-shaped molecule—was clarified through mid-20th-century biochemistry and immunology research. The term consolidated into common scientific usage as techniques like serology, ELISA, and monoclonal antibody production emerged in the 1950s–1980s. Its contemporaneous usage extends beyond medicine into diagnostics, research, and therapy, with “antibody” serving as a generic class name for antigen-binding immunoglobulins across species.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "antibody" and can often be used interchangeably.
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Words that rhyme with "antibody"
-ody sounds
-ddy sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
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