One syllable: cis.
SIZ
/ˈsɪz/
cis is pronounced SIZ (/ˈsɪz/). It has one syllable (cis), with the stress on "cis". Cis is a short, monosyllabic word used mainly as a prefix meaning 'on this side of' or, in social contexts, to describe someone whose gender identity matches their sex assigned at birth. It functions as a bound morpheme in compounds or, informally, as a standalone noun/adj in modern usage. Pronunciation is simple and follows a single sibilant consonant cluster: /sɪs/.
Cis is a short, monosyllabic word used mainly as a prefix meaning 'on this side of' or, in social contexts, to describe someone whose gender identity matches their sex assigned at birth. It functions as a bound morpheme in compounds or, informally, as a standalone noun/adj in modern usage. Pronunciation is simple and follows a single sibilant consonant cluster: /sɪs/.
"The prefix cis- is used in chemistry to denote molecules on the same side of a reaction vector, as in cis-1,2-dichloroethene."
"In gender studies, cis describes someone whose gender identity aligns with their birth sex."
"The cis-trans isomerism of a molecule depends on the orientation of substituents around a double bond (cis configuration)."
Pronounce it as /sɪs/ with a short, clipped “i” vowel as in 'sit' and a crisp final /s/. There is one syllable of stress, no secondary stress, and the consonants are simple sibilants. Mouth position is relaxed: tip of the tongue just behind the upper front teeth, with the tongue blade slightly raised for the /s/; the vowel should be lax and short. You’ll hear a clean hiss from the /s/ and a quick, light ending. IPA: US/UK/AU /sɪs/.
Common errors include elongating the vowel, turning /ɪ/ into a schwa (e.g., ‘suhs’), or voicing the final /s/ into /z/ in fast speech (sizz). Another slip is treating it as “kiss” without the final consonant difference, or inserting a vowel between the sibilants. Correct by keeping a short, lax /ɪ/ as in 'kit', crisp /s/ initiation, and ending with a sharp /s/ rather than a voiced /z/. Listen for the hiss and keep the tongue close to the alveolar ridge.
Across US/UK/AU, /sɪs/ stays similar, but you can notice subtle rhotic influence and vowel quality differences. In US English, the /ɪ/ tends to be a slightly higher, tenser vowel depending on speaker, and the preceding consonant may be realized with more airstream energy. UK speakers often have a shorter, more clipped /ɪ/ in unstressed segments; AU speakers may show a slightly lowered, centralized /ɪ/ and softer sibilant. Overall, the segmental pattern is the same: a short /ɪ/ followed by a voiceless /s/.
It’s challenging because you must balance a short, tense vowel with a sharp, unreleased final /s/ without voicing. The mouth must stay relaxed while the tongue is near the alveolar ridge for the /s/, producing a clean hiss. Beginners often lengthen the vowel or accidentally voice the final /s/ as /z/. Focusing on a crisp stop at the end and keeping the jaw relaxed helps; imagine a quick exhale as you release the /s/.
In standard usage, no. cis is pronounced with a short /ɪ/ as in sit, not a long /aɪ/ as in “sigh.” A long vowel would alter the word’s meaning and make it sound unfamiliar in most contexts. If you hear someone stretching the vowel in casual speech, it’s likely an affectation or emphasis in a phrase rather than a canonical pronunciation. Stick to /sɪs/ for accuracy.
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Cis comes from Latin cis, meaning on this side, near, or on the same side. In chemistry, you’ll see cis- as a prefix to denote substituents on the same side of a double bond or ring system (cis-1,2-dichloroethene). In biology and gender studies, the term cis- is used as a combining form to describe alignment or sameness with a reference point, notably “cisgender.” This usage expands in social discourse to describe people whose gender identity matches their sex assigned at birth. Because “cis” is a prefix from Latin, its meaning has shifted through specialized domains; its first widespread appearance as a standalone descriptor in gender contexts is relatively recent, gaining prominence in the late 20th to early 21st century to articulate a precise alternative to “trans.” The word’s compact form and clear contrast to “trans” make it easy to adopt in discussions about identity, policy, and representation. While Latin roots persist in scientific language, the social meaning relies on modern definitions of gender and identity, and its acceptance varies across communities and languages that borrow medical or academic vocabulary. The evolution reflects a broader trend toward explicit language in gender discourse, with “cis” functioning as a precise, descriptive term rather than a value judgment. First known use in the gender context appears in academic and advocacy literature in the late 20th century, though its prefix usage in science predates it by centuries.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "cis" and can often be used interchangeably.
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Words that rhyme with "cis"
-his sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
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