3 syllables: ba, cil, lus. Stress on cil.
buh-SIL-uhs
/bəˈsɪləs/
bacillus is pronounced buh-SIL-uhs (/bəˈsɪləs/). It has three syllables (ba-cil-lus), with the stress on "cil". Bacillus refers to a rod-shaped bacterium, typically single-celled, that can occur singly or in chains. It is used in biology and medicine to describe a class of bacteria that are often Gram-positive or Gram-variable. The term is also used in microbiology to denote multiple bacterium species and strains.
Bacillus refers to a rod-shaped bacterium, typically single-celled, that can occur singly or in chains. It is used in biology and medicine to describe a class of bacteria that are often Gram-positive or Gram-variable. The term is also used in microbiology to denote multiple bacterium species and strains.
"The scientist cultured Bacillus subtilis to study spore formation."
"Anthrax is caused by Bacillus anthracis, a renowned pathogenic bacterium."
"Some Bacillus species are used in industrial applications, such as enzyme production."
Pronounce it bə-SIL-ləs, with the primary stress on the second syllable. The first syllable is a light 'be' sound, the middle is a clear 'SIL' with an /ɪ/ vowel, and the final is a schwa /ə/ or a light /ɬ/ depending on speaker. IPA: US/UK/AU: /bəˈsɪl.əs/. In careful scientific speech you may hear /bəˈsɪl.ɜːs/ in some variants? Most standard is /bəˈsɪl.əs/, but keep stress on the second syllable.
Common errors include stressing the first syllable (ba-SIL-lus) and pronouncing the middle as /ˈsiːl/ or as /ˈsaɪl/. To correct: keep the primary stress on the second syllable, use a short /ɪ/ in the middle, and end with a soft /əs/ or /əs/ sound. Avoid a hard final consonant; the final is a light schwa. Practice with minimal pairs like /bəˈsɪl.əs/ vs /ˈbeɪ.sɪl.əs/ to reinforce the correct rhythm.
US/UK/AU all share /bəˈsɪl.əs/ with the stress on the second syllable. The main differences lie in rhoticity and vowel quality: US tends to have rhotic r subtly in connected speech and a slightly tenser /ɪ/; UK often reduces rhotic influence and may sound crisper; AU tends to a more relaxed vowel quality and vowel length is less marked. In all, the middle vowel remains /ɪ/ and the final is /əs/; the key is the second-syllable stress.
The difficulty stems from the two close vowels and the unstressed final syllable, which becomes a schwa. The /ɪ/ and /ɪ/ sound in the middle must be careful not to lengthen into /iː/ or reduce to /ɪ/ without still maintaining the correct stress. Additionally, the 'c' in the middle has an /s/ sound rather than /k/; learners often misplace the stress and mispronounce the final /əs/.
A unique aspect is the strong middle syllable with /ɪ/, which is easy to mispronounce as /iː/ or merge with /l/ sounds if not careful. The correct articulation is /bəˈsɪl.əs/ with a clear /l/ and a light, unstressed final /əs/. The mouth position emphasizes a relaxed jaw and tongue near the alveolar ridge for the /s/ transition, with a crisp stop before the final schwa.
🗣️ Voice search tip: These questions are optimized for voice search. Try asking your voice assistant any of these questions about "bacillus"!
The word bacillus comes from Latin bacillus, meaning a small staff or rod, diminutive of baculus ‘staff, rod.’ In medieval and early scientific usage, bacillus referred to a stick-like bacterium shape observed under the microscope. The term was extended in the 19th century with the rise of microbiology to categorize rod-shaped bacteria, as opposed to cocci (spherical) and spirilla (spiral) forms. The suffix -us denotes a masculine noun in Latin, common in scientific taxonomy. Over time, bacillus acquired its specific biological sense as a genus- or shape-based designation, used in phrases like ‘bacillus species’ and ‘bacillus spores.’ First known use in English traces to the late 18th or early 19th century scientific writings describing microscopic rod-shaped organisms; by the mid-1800s, the term was established in microbiology and remains in use worldwide, especially in taxonomic and clinical contexts.
💡 Etymology tip: Understanding word origins can help you remember pronunciation patterns and recognize related words in the same language family.
Help others use "bacillus" correctly by contributing grammar tips, common mistakes, and context guidance.
💡 These words have similar meanings to "bacillus" and can often be used interchangeably.
🔄 These words have opposite meanings to "bacillus" and show contrast in usage.
📚 Vocabulary tip: Learning synonyms and antonyms helps you understand nuanced differences in meaning and improves your word choice in speaking and writing.
Words that rhyme with "bacillus"
-zle sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
🎵 Rhyme tip: Practicing with rhyming words helps you master similar sound patterns and improves your overall pronunciation accuracy.
