3 syllables: chro, mo, some. Stress on chro.
KROH-muh-sohm
/ˈkɹoʊməˌsoʊm/
chromosome is pronounced KROH-muh-sohm (/ˈkɹoʊməˌsoʊm/). It has three syllables (chro-mo-some), with the stress on "chro". Chromosome: a thread-like structure of nucleic acids and protein found in the nucleus of most living cells, carrying genetic information in the form of genes. In biology, chromosomes organize DNA during cell division and influence inheritance and development. The term is used across genetics, molecular biology, and medicine, often in discussions of chromosomal abnormalities and evolution.
Chromosome: a thread-like structure of nucleic acids and protein found in the nucleus of most living cells, carrying genetic information in the form of genes. In biology, chromosomes organize DNA during cell division and influence inheritance and development. The term is used across genetics, molecular biology, and medicine, often in discussions of chromosomal abnormalities and evolution.
- Confusing vowel length and quality in the middle syllable: syllable 2 should be /oʊ/ (US) or /əʊ/ (UK); avoid reducing it to /ə/ in careful speech. - Slurring /s/ into the final /m/: keep /s/ crisp before the final /m/; practice with three-syllable enunciation: /ˈkroʊ-moʊ-soʊm/. - Misplacing the primary stress: ensure initial stress on /ˈkroʊ/; in casual speech some may shift the emphasis, which slightly weakens intelligibility in technical contexts. - Final consonants: many learners drop the final /m/ or reduce to /n/. Keep the final bilabial nasal clear, finishing with lip closure. - The middle consonant sequence /m/ and /z/ or /s/ can be confused; practice the /mz/ or /sm/ sequence as a lightly blended cluster; keep the /m/ before the final /s/ or /z/ audible.
"The human genome comprises 23 pairs of chromosomes."
"During meiosis, homologous chromosomes pair up and exchange genetic material."
"Abnormal chromosomes can lead to conditions such as Down syndrome."
Stress falls on the first syllable: /ˈkroʊˌmoʊˌzəʊm/ in British notation, but common US pronunciation renders it /ˈkroʊˌmoʊˌsoʊm/ or /ˈkroʊˌmoʊˌziːm/. Break it into three parts: 'chro' (start with /kro/ with rounded lips), 'mos' (ɪ or o as a short vowel depending on dialect), 'ome' (m/om ending). For most listeners, the key is the clear /ˈkroʊ/ at the start and the final /soʊm/ or /zəʊm/ chunk; you’ll want to keep the final syllable crisp.
Two frequent errors: 1) Say /ˈkroʊməˌsoʊm/ with a reduced middle vowel (/mə/ instead of /mo/ or /moʊ/). 2) Slurring the /z/ into the following vowel, giving /ˈkroʊmoʊzəm/ or /ˈkroʊˌmoʊˌzəm/. To correct, keep the middle syllable as a full vowel in /mo/ or /moʊ/ and articulate the final /m/ clearly. Practice with slow syllables: /ˈkroʊ-moʊ-zom/ and then /ˈkroʊ-moʊ-zoʊm/.
In US English, stress is on the first syllable: /ˈkroʊ.moʊˌsoʊm/ (some speakers pronounce /ˈkroʊˌmoʊˌsoʊm/). UK tends to a two- or three-syllable rhythm with clearer /ə/ in the second syllable and sometimes non-rhoticity affecting the 'r' in connected speech, yielding /ˈkrəʊ.məˌsəʊm/. Australian often follows US vowel quality with /ˈkɹɒm.əˌsoʊm/ in broader terms but can be closer to US patterns in careful speech. Focus on the /kr/ onset and the final /soʊm/ cluster.
The challenge lies in the three-syllable cadence with the ‘-some’ ending where many languages produce varying vowels (soʊm vs zəʊm). The cluster /chr-/ can be tricky for non-natives; also, the mid syllable can reduce to schwa (/ə/) in rapid speech, obscuring the /moʊ/ contrast. Focus on maintaining a distinct /k-/ initial, a strong mid vowel, and a crisp final /m/ with a clear /soʊm/.
No. The final 'e' in chromosome is not pronounced as a separate vowel; the final syllable is /soʊm/ in many dialects, with the preceding /mo/ carrying the vowel sound. In careful or American pronunciation you’ll hear /ˈkroʊ.moʊˌsoʊm/; the ending is a voiced bilabial nasal followed by a close back rounded vowel.
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- US: emphasize rhoticity less relevant; focus on clear /oʊ/ vowels in all stressed syllables; ensure /k/ is forceful and the /s/ is a clean sibilant before /oʊm/. IPA: /ˈkroʊ.moʊˌsoʊm/. - UK: often flatter vowels; may produce /ˈkrəʊ.məˌsəʊm/ with a slightly reduced second syllable; non-rhoticity affects r-signal; IPA: /ˈkrəʊ.məˌsəʊm/. - AU: blends US and UK patterns; tends to /ˈkɹɒm.əˌsoʊm/ or /ˈkroʊ.məˌsoʊm/ depending on speaker; maintain the three-syllable rhythm; IPA: /ˈkɹɒː.məˌsoʊm/. - General tips: keep lips rounded for /oʊ/; keep the tongue high-mid for /oʊ/; avoid turning /soʊm/ into /sm/ without the /oʊ/ first; ensure the /k/ release isn’t swallowed.
Chromosome comes from the Greek roots chroma (color) and soma (body). The term originated in the 19th century following observations that certain cellular structures retained color after staining, which allowed scientists to visualize them under the microscope. Early chromosomal theory connected colored bodies to heredity, but it wasn’t until the 20th century that their role in carrying genes was established, especially after the discovery of DNA’s molecular structure and the realization that chromosomes house genetic material. First used in the scientific literature in the 1880s-1890s, the term evolved from the descriptive phrase for “colored body” to a precise descriptor for a cellular structure containing DNA and proteins. Over time, as cytogenetics matured, even non-biologists started using it metaphorically to discuss hereditary traits and chromosomal disorders. In modern usage, chromosome denotes the fundamental units of heredity in nearly all organisms, with canonical counts and structures varying among species. The word’s prominence rose with advances in genetics, sequencing, and human genome projects, cementing its place in both scientific discourse and popular science.
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Words that rhyme with "chromosome"
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