3 syllables: Blast, o, cyst. Stress on Blast.
BLAS-tuh-sist
/ˈblæstəsɪst/
Blastocyst is pronounced BLAS-tuh-sist (/ˈblæstəsɪst/). It has three syllables (Blast-o-cyst), with the stress on "Blast". Blastocyst is a fertilized egg in early development that has begun to divide into multiple cell layers and will implant in the uterine wall. In mammals, it typically reaches the blastocyst stage about five days after fertilization and marks the transition from morula to a form capable of greater differentiation. The term is used mainly in embryology and reproductive biology.
nounBlastocyst is a fertilized egg in early development that has begun to divide into multiple cell layers and will implant in the uterine wall. In mammals, it typically reaches the blastocyst stage about five days after fertilization and marks the transition from morula to a form capable of greater differentiation. The term is used mainly in embryology and reproductive biology.
"The embryo at the blastocyst stage implants into the uterine lining."
"Researchers studied gene expression patterns in the blastocyst during early development."
"A blastocyst can be cultured in vitro for assisted reproductive technologies."
You say it as /ˈblæstəˌsɪst/. The primary stress is on the first syllable: BLAS-tō-sist, with a secondary stress on the third syllable in many speakers: blas-TO-sist. Break it into three parts: /ˈblæs/ as in blast, /tə/ as a quick, unstressed schwa, and /sɪst/ like cyst but with an s sound. If you’re new, start slow: BLAS - tə - SIST, then blend for a natural flow. Audio references: Cambridge/Oxford pronunciation entries or Forvo show native speakers producing the hallmark /ˈblæstəˌsɪst/.”,
Common errors include: 1) compressing the middle syllable into a quick /tə/ and misplacing stress, 2) confusing the ending with /sɪst/ to /zɪst/ due to voicing differences, and 3) mispronouncing /æ/ as /e/ in the first syllable. Correction: emphasize /æ/ in /blæst/ like the word 'blast', ensure the middle is a short, relaxed /ə/, and finish with /sɪst/ clearly, keeping the /s/ sound at the start of the final syllable. Practical practice with minimal pairs helps: blast vs. blest, cyst vs. sis-timit. Audio check on Pronounce or Forvo confirms the clean /ˈblæstəˌsɪst/ sound.
In US English, you’ll hear /ˈblæstəˌsɪst/ with a rhotic /r/ absent, a clear first syllable /æ/ and a short /ɪ/ in the final word. UK English typically presents /ˈblɑːstəˌsɪst/ with a longer broad /ɑː/ in the first syllable and non-rhotic r, while Australian English sits closer to US in rhoticity but may feature a slightly broader /æ/ and a clipped /tə/. The main differences are vowel quality in the first syllable and the presence or absence of r in coda positions. IPA references: US /ˈblæstəˌsɪst/, UK /ˈblɑːstəˌsɪst/, AU /ˈblæstəˌsɪst/ with mid-to-low onset vowels depending on speaker.
It combines a fast sequence of three syllables with a mix of a stressed initial syllable and a mid syllable that can easily reduce to schwa, plus a final consonant cluster /sɪst/ that can be mispronounced. The vowels /æ/ and /ɪ/ are distinct but can shift in rapid speech, and the /bl/ onset requires a clean stop release. Focus on starting with a clear /blæ/ and then a crisp /tə/ before finishing with /sɪst/ without voicing the final /t/ more than needed. IPA cues and slow rehearsals help.
Unique to this term is balancing the short, stressed first syllable with a crisp final /sɪst/. Practice by isolating syllables: /blæst/ + /ə/ + /sɪst/. Put emphasis on the initial /blæst/ and keep the middle /ə/ short and relaxed. You’ll find better stability by using a slow-to-normal tempo, then gradually speed up while keeping the final /sɪst/ clear. Listening to native speakers through Pronounce and Forvo can guide subtle timing and mouth positions.
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Blastocyst comes from the Greek blastos, meaning bud or germ, and kustis/ cystis meaning hollow vesicle or sac. The word was adopted into scientific English in the late 19th to early 20th century as embryology formalized its stages of development. Blastos- indicates budding or sprouting, aligning with the rapid cellular divisions that create a multicellular sphere, while -cyst denotes a sac-like structure. The term reflects the concept of a hollow ball of cells capable of differentiation, formed after fertilization. First uses in scientific literature appear in discussions of mammalian fertilization and early embryogenesis, with increasing usage as in vitro fertilization and embryo transfer technologies popularized research from the mid-20th century onward. Over time, blastocyst has become a standard term in reproductive biology, developmental biology, and medical literature, signifying the stage at which the embryo implants into the uterine lining and begins more complex development.
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Words that rhyme with "Blastocyst"
-ist sounds
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