3 syllables: Ce, ta, cean. Stress on ta.
sit-AY-shuhn
/sɪˈteɪʃən/
Cetacean is pronounced sit-AY-shuhn (/sɪˈteɪʃən/). It has three syllables (Ce-ta-cean), with the stress on "ta". Cetacean is a noun referring to a member of the infraorder Cetacea, which includes whales, dolphins, and porpoises. It covers both living species and their fossil relatives, characterized by streamlined bodies and aquatic adaptation. The term is used in scientific, ecological, and conservation contexts to discuss these marine mammals as a group rather than individuals.
nounCetacean is a noun referring to a member of the infraorder Cetacea, which includes whales, dolphins, and porpoises. It covers both living species and their fossil relatives, characterized by streamlined bodies and aquatic adaptation. The term is used in scientific, ecological, and conservation contexts to discuss these marine mammals as a group rather than individuals.
"The cetacean genome has provided insights into the evolution of vocalization in whales."
"Researchers tagged several cetaceans to study migratory patterns and feeding habits."
"Conservationists monitor cetacean populations to assess the impact of shipping noise on communication."
Pronounced sə-ˈteɪ-ʃən in US, with primary stress on the second syllable: ce-TA-cean. IPA US: səˈteɪʃən. UK: səˈteɪʃən. AU: səˈteɪʃən. Start with a light schwa, then TEI as in 'bait' without the 'b', and end with -shən. Audio references: YouGlish and Cambridge Dictionary provide native pronunciations you can listen to for confirmation.
Common errors include stressing the first syllable (CE-ta-cean) or mispronouncing the middle vowel as /eɪ/ in all contexts. The correct primary stress is on the second syllable: ce-TA-cean, with the middle vowel as /eɪ/ (like ‘say’) and the ending as /ʃən/. Practice by isolating the middle syllable and pairing it with a light final -ən. Visualize lips rounding slightly for the /ʃ/ and keep the tongue high for /eɪ/ to avoid dropping the vowel or misplacing stress.
US/UK/AU share /səˈteɪʃən/ with primary stress on -teɪ-, but rhotics affect the leading syllable resonance: US tends to a slightly stronger rhotic schwa onset (sə-), UK is less rhotic and may sound tighter in the first syllable, while AU often mirrors UK with a crisp /ə/ before /ˈteɪ/. The middle /eɪ/ vowel remains consistent; the ending /ʃən/ is generally the same, though some speakers may reduce it a touch in fast speech.
The difficulty lies in the multisyllabic structure and the mid syllable /ˈteɪ/ that requires a precise, sustained /eɪ/ vowel combined with the post-stress /ʃən/ ending. Learners often misplace the stress on the first or third syllable or glide into a /t/ or /d/ instead of the /t/ + /eɪ/ combination. Focus on a sharp /ˈteɪ/ and a clear, separate /ʃən/ to avoid conflation with similar terms like ‘cetaceous’ or ‘season’.
A distinctive aspect is the mid-syllable /ˈteɪ/ stress that sits between a light initial schwa and a final /ʃən/. The consonant cluster /t/ followed by a clear /eɪ/ diphthong requires you to maintain a tight jaw and elevated tongue toward the palate for the /eɪ/, then release into the alveolar /t/ without flapping. Emphasize the separation between /teɪ/ and /ʃən/ to preserve the word’s precise rhythm.
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Cetacean derives from the Latin word cetus, meaning ‘whale’. The scientific term Cetacea originated from late 18th to early 19th century taxonomy, combining Greek ketos (sea monster, whale) with the scientific suffix -acea to form a taxonomic group name. The root ketos appeared in classical texts describing large sea creatures, and in zoological language it evolved into Cetacea to denote the clade comprising whales, dolphins, and porpoises. Early usage pinpoints cetacean in comparative anatomy and marine biology, with 19th-century naturalists formalizing the grouping based on shared anatomical features such as vestigial hind limbs in some lineages and cetacean skull morphology. Over time, cetacean has become a standard term in ecology and conservation to discuss population dynamics, behavior, and evolution of these marine mammals as a distinct lineage from pinnipeds and sirenians. The word’s meaning broadened from “whale-like creature” to a precise scientific category encompassing both baleen and toothed whales, reflecting advances in phylogenetics and fossil records that clarified the evolutionary pathways of ocean-dwelling mammals.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "Cetacean" and can often be used interchangeably.
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Words that rhyme with "Cetacean"
-ion sounds
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