3 syllables: Chi, tin, ous. Stress on Chi.
KEYE-tuh-nuhs
/ˈkaɪtənəs/
Chitinous is pronounced KEYE-tuh-nuhs (/ˈkaɪtənəs/). It has three syllables (Chi-tin-ous), with the stress on "Chi". Chitinous is an adjective describing something made of chitin or relating to chitin. It also characterizes skeletons or structures that resemble or consist of this tough, nitrogen-containing polysaccharide. The term is common in biology and anatomy, especially when discussing arthropods and their exoskeletons. In everyday use, it emphasizes the material composition rather than color or size alone.
adjectiveChitinous is an adjective describing something made of chitin or relating to chitin. It also characterizes skeletons or structures that resemble or consist of this tough, nitrogen-containing polysaccharide. The term is common in biology and anatomy, especially when discussing arthropods and their exoskeletons. In everyday use, it emphasizes the material composition rather than color or size alone.
"The insect’s chitinous exoskeleton provides both protection and support."
"Researchers examined the chitinous walls of fungal hyphae under the microscope."
"Some mollusks have chitinous plates embedded in their shells for added rigidity."
Chitinous is pronounced /ˈkɪtɪnəs/ in US and /ˈkaɪtɪnəs/ in UK/AU. Primary stress is on the first syllable: CHI-tin-ous. Start with a crisp initial consonant cluster: /k/ followed by a short /ɪ/ vowel, then /t/, another schwa-like /ɪ/ or /ɪ/ depending on accent, then /n/, and end with /əs/. Audio resources: Cambridge and Oxford dictionaries provide listenable pronunciations; Forvo and YouGlish can give native examples.
Common mistakes include: 1) Slurring the first vowel into /ɪ/ or misplacing the /ɪ/ as a long vowel; 2) Pronouncing the initial cluster as /tʃ/ (as in cheap) instead of /k/; 3) Ending with a clipped /s/ instead of the /əs/ ending. Correct by: keeping /k/ then a short /ɪ/ for the first vowel, clearly enunciating /t/ before /n/, and letting the final /əs/ be a relaxed, unstressed schwa + s. Listen to native samples and practice the exact /ˈkɪtɪnəs/ or /ˈkaɪtɪnəs/ forms.
In US, /ˈkɪtɪnəs/ with a short /ɪ/ and non-rhoticity doesn’t apply to this word, but the first vowel is short; in UK and AU, /ˈkaɪtɪnəs/ tends to use a higher backness in the first vowel and a clear /ɪ/; The second syllable is usually unstressed across varieties; the final /əs/ is often reduced to /s/ in rapid speech, but keep it as /əs/ in careful speech.
The difficulty comes from the contrasting vowel qualities in the first syllable and the need to keep the /t/ crisp before the /n/; many speakers misplace the stress or blur the /ɪ/ into a lax vowel, producing /ˈkɪtənəs/ or /ˈkaɪtənəs/. Emphasize a distinct /t/ before /n/ and maintain a light, relaxed final /əs/. Practice with minimal pairs to stabilize the vowel and consonant timing.
In standard pronunciation, the 'ti' is /tɪ/, not /tiː/. The sequence is /k/ or /k/ + /ɪ/ + /t/ + /ɪ/ + /n/ + /əs/. The second syllable uses a short front vowel /ɪ/. This avoids a mispronunciation like /kaɪtiːnəs/ and keeps the rhythm of two light, quick syllables before the final /əs/.
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The word chitinous derives from chitin, a long-chain polymer of N-acetylglucosamine, a derivative of glucose. The root chitin comes from French chitin, which in turn traces to Greek khētí̄n (κῑ́τινη), reflecting a natural substance found in the exoskeletons of arthropods and cell walls of fungi. The suffix -ous comes from Latin -osus, meaning “full of” or “possessing.” The term first appeared in biological contexts in the 19th century as scientists described materials and structures composed of chitin. Over time, chitinous has been used to specify tissues and parts that are rigid due to the chitin polymer, distinguishing them from proteins, keratin, or calcified tissues. In typology, chitinous layers are contrasted with calcified or sclerotized components, highlighting the material science aspect of taxonomy in arthropods, mollusks, and fungal organisms. The word’s usage has expanded as molecular biology clarified chitin’s role in defense, support, and architecture of organisms, while in paleontology it helps describe fossilized exoskeletal remnants where chitinous structures may be preserved or inferred.
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Words that rhyme with "Chitinous"
-te) sounds
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