3 syllables: Chlo, ro, plast. Stress on Chlo.
KLAW-ruh-plast
/ˈklɔɹəˌplæst/
Chloroplast is pronounced KLAW-ruh-plast (/ˈklɔɹəˌplæst/). It has three syllables (Chlo-ro-plast), with the stress on "Chlo". Chloroplast is a membrane-bound organelle found in plant and algal cells that carries out photosynthesis by converting light energy into chemical energy. It contains chlorophyll, the pigment that gives plants their green color, and its internal structure includes thylakoids and stroma. In biology, it is essential for producing glucose and sustaining the plant’s energy needs through photosynthetic processes.
nounChloroplast is a membrane-bound organelle found in plant and algal cells that carries out photosynthesis by converting light energy into chemical energy. It contains chlorophyll, the pigment that gives plants their green color, and its internal structure includes thylakoids and stroma. In biology, it is essential for producing glucose and sustaining the plant’s energy needs through photosynthetic processes.
"Researchers isolated chloroplasts to study photosynthetic mechanisms."
"Chloroplast development is regulated by light conditions and cellular signals."
"Mutations in chloroplast DNA can affect pigment production and photosynthesis."
You say it as /ˈklɔːr.əˌplæst/. Primary stress on the first syllable CHLO- (KLAWR), secondary stress on -plast. Break it into three parts: CHLOR- (KLAWR) + O- (ə) + PLAST (plæst). Start with a rounded, back tongue position for /ɔː/ and finish with a crisp /st/. Audio references: Cambridge or Oxford dictionaries provide speaker audio: listen for the flat, non-rhotic US/UK variants and mimic the closing consonant cluster /st/ without extra vowel between /t/ and /s/.”,
Two frequent errors: (1) Misplacing the /r/ after /l/ by saying /ˈklɒr.ə.plæst/ with British short /ɒ/ or an American /r/ too strongly before the /ɔː/. Correct by keeping /ɔː/ as a long vowel in CHLO- and keeping /r/ as a light, rhotic release only if your accent uses rhotics; (2) Slurring the final -plast into /plæ/ or /plæst/ with a weak /t/. Practice segmenting as CHLO- (klɔːr) + ə (ə) + PLAST (plæst) and emphasize the final /st/ cluster clearly. Use slow, deliberate repetition and then speed up while maintaining clean /st/.
In US English you’ll hear /ˈklɔːr.əˌplæst/ with rhotic /r/ and a clear /æ/ in plast; UK English often shifts to /ˈklɒr.əˌplɑːst/ with non-rhotic /r/ and a longer /ɑː/ in plast; Australian varieties tend to /ˈklɒː.rəˌplæst/ with mild rhoticity and a longer, rounded /ɔː/ in CHLO- depending on speaker, sometimes more centralized vowel quality. The main differences: rhoticity of /r/ (US rhotic vs UK non-rhotic), vowel length and quality in CHLO- and PLAST, and the presence or reduction of the schwa between syllables.
The difficulty stems from the tri-syllabic structure with a stressed first syllable and a consonant cluster at the end. The /ɔː/ in CHLO- followed by /r/ in US variants, plus the abrupt -plast cluster /plæst/ or /plɑːst/ can be tricky. Also, the non-syllabic schwa between CHLO- and plast in some accents adds an extra, subtle vowel. Finally, the final /st/ cluster requires crisp release without following vowel sound, which is challenging in rapid speech.
A distinctive feature is the combination of CHLO- with an open fronted vowel in plast, producing a strong /klɔːr/ onset followed by a light /ə/ before the stressed /plæst/ or /plɑːst/. The sequencing requires maintaining a clear separation between the schwa or /ə/ and the following /pl/ cluster, ensuring the /r/ in rhotic varieties doesn’t bleed into the following consonants. Practicing with slow tempo helps锁—ensuring accurate consonant timing and accurate vowel lengths.
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Chloroplast traces its roots to early 19th-century German and Greek. The prefix chlor- comes from chloros, Greek for green, reflecting the pigment chlorophyll contained within. -plast derives from the Greek plastēs meaning formed or molded, used in biology to denote cellular structures (e.g., plastid, leucoplast). The term chloroplast was coined in the late 19th to early 20th century as microscopy allowed clearer visualization of photosynthetic organelles within plant cells. The word’s first appearances clustered around studies of chlorophyll-containing structures and their role in energy capture. Over time, as the understanding of cell organelles deepened, chloroplasts were distinguished from mitochondria and other plastids, with the modern name cemented in botanical and biological lexicons. The etymology mirrors the historical shift from observing green pigment to recognizing a distinct, functional organelle with a complex internal architecture that coordinates photosynthesis and metabolic pathways.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "Chloroplast" and can often be used interchangeably.
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Words that rhyme with "Chloroplast"
-rop sounds
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