4 syllables: A, pop, to, sis. Stress on to.
ap-awp-TOH-siz
/ˌæpɔˈptoʊsɪz/
Apoptosis is pronounced ap-awp-TOH-siz (/ˌæpɔˈptoʊsɪz/). It has four syllables (A-pop-to-sis), with the stress on "to". Apoptosis is a regulated cellular process of programmed cell death that occurs in multicellular organisms. It involves a sequence of biochemical events leading to characteristic cellular changes and death, serving to remove unwanted or damaged cells without triggering inflammation. In biology, apoptosis is essential for development, tissue homeostasis, and immune system function.
nounApoptosis is a regulated cellular process of programmed cell death that occurs in multicellular organisms. It involves a sequence of biochemical events leading to characteristic cellular changes and death, serving to remove unwanted or damaged cells without triggering inflammation. In biology, apoptosis is essential for development, tissue homeostasis, and immune system function.
"Researchers study apoptosis to understand how cancer cells avoid death."
"The drug induces apoptosis in malignant cells without harming healthy tissue."
"During development, apoptosis shapes fingers and toes by removing the cells between them."
Pronounce as /ˌæpəˈtoʊsɪs/ in US, /ˌæpəˈtəʊsɪs/ in UK, and /ˌæpəˈtəʊsɪs/ in Australian English. The primary stress falls on the second syllable, with a secondary stress on the first? Actually the primary stress is on the third syllable: a-pó-po-sis? Wait: breakdown: a-pop-tosis? The standard is ap-OP-tosis with the stress on the second syllable: ap-OP-tosis; IPA shows ˌæpəˈtoʊsɪs (US), ˌæpəˈtəʊsɪs (UK/AU). Start with a short a, then a light schwa, then strong long o in to, then sɪs. Focus on the 'to' as a stressed syllable and ensure the final 'sis' is crisp.
Common errors: 1) Stress on the first syllable (ap-OPtosis incorrect); 2) Pronouncing the 'to' as a short /tɪ/ or /tə/ instead of /toʊ/ or /təʊ/; 3) Slurring the final -sis or blending it with preceding consonant. Correction: keep a clear secondary sound in the first syllable, place primary stress on the 'to' syllable, use a long 'o' in the 'to' portion, and enunciate the final 'sis' as /sɪs/. Practice with slow deliberate repetition and minimal pairs focusing on stress and vowel quality.
In US English, it’s /ˌæpəˈtoʊsɪs/ with a rhotic /r/ absent in these vowels; in UK English, /ˌæpəˈtəʊsɪs/ with smoother /tə/ and a longer /əʊ/; Australian uses /ˌæpəˈtəʊsɪs/ similar to UK, but with vowel qualities nearer to /ə/ in non-stressed syllables and a slightly flatter diphthong in /əʊ/. The main differences lie in the vowel length and rhotacization (US is rhotic, AU/UK non-rhotic). Focus on the 'to' vowel: US /toʊ/, UK/AU /təʊ/.
Three factors: the multi-syllabic length with stress on the middle syllable, the 'to' vowel that shifts from /oʊ/ to /əʊ/ across accents, and the final cluster -sis where many speakers reduce to /sɪs/ but can blend with the preceding /s/. Also, the 'po' sequence has a light 'p' and a quick 'o', which can cause misplacement of the middle stress. Practice focusing on a distinct middle syllable and final -sis with clear, crisp /s/.
A unique feature is the secondary stress perception on the 'po' portion due to its role in the word's rhythm, though pronunciation dictionaries mark primary stress on the 'to' syllable. Also, the sequence 'p' and 't' adjacent can create an aspirated stop cluster that some learners shorten. Emphasize the 'to' as the nucleus of the word and keep the final /s/ crisp to avoid a 'z' sound.
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Apoptosis comes from the Greek prefix apo- meaning 'away from' and -ptosis meaning 'falling' or 'falling off', reflecting the process of cellular components breaking away and the cell dismantling itself. The term was coined in 1972 by John Kerr, Andrew Wyllie, and Alfeth Currie to describe a controlled, energy-dependent mode of cell death distinct from necrosis. The concept arose from observations of cells undergoing orderly fragmentation during development and immune responses, contrasted with the chaotic swelling and rupture seen in necrosis. Early literature framed apoptosis as essential for sculpting organs, such as digit formation, and maintaining tissue homeostasis. Over time, the molecular machinery—caspases, Bcl-2 family proteins, and mitochondrial signaling—was mapped, clarifying how intracellular signals trigger proteolytic cascades and DNA fragmentation. By the late 1990s and early 2000s, apoptosis was recognized as a conserved pathway across species, from C. elegans to humans, integral to cancer biology, neurodegenerative diseases, and immune regulation. The term remains foundational in biology, with ongoing research into crosstalk between apoptotic pathways and inflammation, autophagy, and cell survival signaling.
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Words that rhyme with "Apoptosis"
-sis sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
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