5 syllables: Cho, le, cysto, kin, in. Stress on in.
koh-lis-is-tuh-KEYE-nin
/ˌkoʊlɪˌsɪstəˈkaɪnɪn/
Cholecystokinin is pronounced koh-lis-is-tuh-KEYE-nin (/ˌkoʊlɪˌsɪstəˈkaɪnɪn/). It has five syllables (Cho-le-cysto-kin-in), with the stress on "in". Cholecystokinin is a peptide hormone produced by the small intestine, released in response to fat and protein in the digestive tract. It stimulates digestion by triggering bile and pancreatic enzyme secretion and helps regulate gastric emptying. In scientific contexts, it is discussed as a signaling molecule with complex extracellular receptors and physiological roles. The term is primarily encountered in medical, physiological, and biochemical discourse.
nounCholecystokinin is a peptide hormone produced by the small intestine, released in response to fat and protein in the digestive tract. It stimulates digestion by triggering bile and pancreatic enzyme secretion and helps regulate gastric emptying. In scientific contexts, it is discussed as a signaling molecule with complex extracellular receptors and physiological roles. The term is primarily encountered in medical, physiological, and biochemical discourse.
How to Pronounce Cholecystokinin
"The study measured cholecystokinin levels in response to a lipid infusion."
"Cholecystokinin acts on the pancreas to release digestive enzymes."
"Researchers explored how cholecystokinin modulates gastric motility."
Break it into four primary syllable blocks: cho-le-cys-to-kin-in; with primary stress on the third syllable: /ˌkoʊləˌsɪstəˈkaɪnɪn/ in US. Specifically: chole- AWS is /koʊ/ like 'co' in 'vote'; cysto- sounds /ˈsɪs- / the 'cis' is /sɪs/; -kinin ends with /kaɪnɪn/ where 'ki' is /kaɪ/ and the final 'nin' is /nɪn/. In fast speech, you may compress slightly but keep the /kaɪnɪn/ integrity. Audio reference: consult medical pronunciation resources or Forvo entries for 'cholecystokinin'.
Common errors: (1) Misplacing stress, often stressing the 'cho' or 'cysto' incorrectly; (2) pronouncing 'g' sounds as hard 'g' where it should be soft, or misarticulating 'chole' as /tʃoʊ/ instead of /koʊ/; (3) slurring the long sequence /ˌkaɪnɪn/ into a quick /kaɪnɪn/ with reduced vowel clarity. Correction: emphasize the /ˈkaɪ/ at the fourth block, slow down the middle 'st' cluster, and ensure 'cysto' part uses /ˈsɪst o/ or /ˈsɪs.to/ if needed, then finish with /kaɪnɪn/.
US typically has non-rhotic-ish but retains r-less endings; stress pattern slightly different due to unfamiliar multi-syllables: /ˌkoʊləˌsɪstəˈkaɪnɪn/. UK tends to maintain full vowel quality with /ˈkəʊlɪsɪstəˈkaɪnɪn/ and clearer 'o' vowels; AU may exhibit broader /kɒləˌsɪstəˈkaɪnɪn/ with more rounded vowels and faster tempo; all share /kaɪnɪn/ at the end, but rhoticity is less in non-American varieties; listen to regional medical voice recordings for exact realizations.
Because it combines several hard-to-articulate clusters: ch- sound, cysto- with the /s/ followed by an unstressed vowel, and a long, high-front diphthong in /kaɪnɪn/. The sequence /ˌkaɪnɪn/ is fast and tone-heavy due to scientific contexts; the multi-syllable length and unrounded 'o' in the initial syllable can trip listeners. Practicing slow, deliberate syllables and highlighting the stressed /kaɪ/ helps readability and retention.
A notable feature is the 'cysto-' prefix before a 'kinin' ending: the term includes both gallbladder-related root and a stimulant-action suffix, creating a long, high-ASCII-like word; learners often misplace stress because the word’s morphology visually splits into meaningful medical parts. Focus on the stressed syllable around 'kaɪn' and practice syllable-by-syllable decoding to master fluency.
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US: /ˌkoʊləˌsɪstəˈkaɪnɪn/ with rhotic tendencies and slightly reduced vowels in 'ko' and 's'; UK: /ˌkəʊləˌsɪstəˈkaɪnɪn/ with clearer 'o' vowels; AU: /ˌkɒləˌsɪstəˈkaɪnɪn/ tending to broader vowels, less vowel reduction and more clipped syllables in rapid speech. Vowel differences: US uses /oʊ/ vs UK /əʊ/ vs AU /ɒ/; 'st' cluster assimilation and 'kaɪnɪn' remains consistent. Consonants: keep /k/ hard, /s/ crisp, avoid flapping in US on the 's' between vowels. IPA references: /ˌkoʊləˌsɪstəˈkaɪnɪn/ (US).
Cholecystokinin originates from Greek roots: chole- meaning bile, cysto- meaning bladder (referring to the gallbladder), and -kinin from kinēn meaning to move or stimulate. The term reflects its role in stimulating bile release from the gallbladder via signaling in the small intestine. First used in the mid-20th century as researchers isolated and characterized the peptide hormone responsible for gallbladder contraction and pancreatic enzyme secretion in response to dietary fats. Over time, the name stabilized in scientific literature as a defined hormone with specific receptor interactions and physiologic effects. The construction mirrors a tradition in endocrinology of naming hormones by combining organ- and function-related morphemes to convey both origin (gallbladder/bile) and action (stimulatory peptide).
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "Cholecystokinin" and can often be used interchangeably.
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Words that rhyme with "Cholecystokinin"
-hin sounds
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