4 syllables: Coe, lo, phy, sis. Stress on phy.
see-luh-FEYE-sis
/siːləˈfaɪsɪs/
Coelophysis is pronounced see-luh-FEYE-sis (/siːləˈfaɪsɪs/). It has four syllables (Coe-lo-phy-sis), with the stress on "phy". Coelophysis is a small, early theropod dinosaur genus that lived in the Late Triassic. It is known for its slender body, long tail, and light build, suggesting it was a fast runner. The name combines Greek roots for “hollow” and “form,” reflecting features of its skeleton.
nounCoelophysis is a small, early theropod dinosaur genus that lived in the Late Triassic. It is known for its slender body, long tail, and light build, suggesting it was a fast runner. The name combines Greek roots for “hollow” and “form,” reflecting features of its skeleton.
- You may default to a flat vowel in the second syllable; instead, articulate the /oʊ/ as a true diphthong and clearly separate /f/ from /əs/ to avoid running them together. - Avoid turning the ending into a forced /ɪs/ immediately after /fəs/ by keeping the unstressed schwa /ə/ before the final /s/. - Don’t rush the second syllable; sustain /loʊ/ long enough to hear the diphthong’s glide. - Keep the initial /siː/ crisp so listeners don’t misplace the stress on the first or final syllable.
"The fossil remains of Coelophysis were discovered in the southwestern United States."
"Paleontologists often discuss Coelophysis when explaining Triassic dinosaur diversity."
"A well-preserved skull shows the distinctive jaw shape of Coelophysis."
Coelophysis is pronounced /siːˈloʊfəsɪs/ in US English, with primary stress on the second syllable. Break it as see-LO-fuh-sis. The middle vowel is a long o in the second syllable, and the ending is a weak -sis. Mouth position: start with a long /iː/ in “see,” glide to a mid-back /oʊ/ in “lo,” then a reduced /ə/ in “fuh” before /sɪs/. Audio references: you can compare with dictionaries; hearing it in YouTube paleontology pronunciations can help.
Common errors include misplacing the stress (trying co-LO-fa-sis), mispronouncing the middle vowel as a short /a/ or /æ/ instead of /oʊ/, and blending syllables too tightly so it sounds like ‘see-LOF-uh-sis’ or ‘see-LO-fuh-sis’ without the correct /f/ + /əs/ sequence. Correct by ensuring the /oʊ/ is a clear diphthong, separating the /f/ from the following unstressed syllable, and enunciating the final /ɪs/ clearly.
In US English, the second syllable carries primary stress: /siːˈloʊfəsɪs/. UK and Australian variants maintain similar stress but may display slight vowel shifts: UK often features a slightly shorter /iː/ in the first syllable and a broader /ɒ/ or /əʊ/ in the second vowel; AU tends toward a clearer /ɪ/ in the final syllable and a more non-rhotic r-less quality in connected speech. Core consonants and syllable boundaries remain consistent across accents.
It's challenging due to multi-syllable structure, unusual phoneme sequence co-e-lo-phy-sis, and a non-intuitive stress pattern with a secondary pull on the second syllable. The combination of a long diphthong /oʊ/ and the /f/ followed by a reduced /əs/ can trip up speakers. Tying the syllables smoothly while preserving the stress and keeping the /f/ distinct helps prevent common slippage into ilke ‘see-LO-fis-is’ or ‘see-EL-oh-fie-sis.’
Coelophysis sometimes invites confusion about the initial ‘Coe-’ spelling. It is pronounced See-LOH-fuh-sis, with /siː/ for the first syllable and a distinct /loʊ/ as the second, followed by /fəsɪs/ for the ending. The tricky part is holding the long diphthong in the second syllable while maintaining a crisp /f/ before the unstressed /ə/ and /sɪs/.
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- US: rhoticity affects linking? Generally pronounced /siːˈloʊfəsɪs/ with rhotic/non-rhotic contexts not strongly affecting the word; focus on the central diphthong /oʊ/ and clear /f/ before /əsɪs/. - UK: slight vowel shortening of /iː/ and /oʊ/ may approach /əʊ/ or /oʊ/ depending on speaker; maintain stress on syllable 2 and crisp /f/; non-rhotic influence makes post-vocalic r irrelevant. - AU: similar to UK, but you may hear a slightly more open /ɒ/ or /ɔː/ in some speakers; keep final /ɪs/ crisp, ensure non-rhotic T-voice.
Coelophysis derives from Greek koilos (meaning hollow, chambered) and physis (nature, form) with the typical theropod genus suffix -s. The name was coined by paleontologist Edward Drinker Cope in 1900s-era dinosaur taxonomy work to reflect hollow cavities within bones or the hollow nature of certain skeletal features, combined with the -physis ending used in many dinosaur names. The first fossil material was described from New Mexico and surrounding regions, leading to early debates about whether it represented multiple species or a single genus. Over time, more complete fossils clarified its anatomy and placed Coelophysis as a small, agile predator from the Triassic, with a long history of classification revisions as new specimens were found. The genus name has appeared in scientific literature since the early 20th century and remains a standard reference in discussions of Triassic biodiversity and early dinosaur evolution.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "Coelophysis" and can often be used interchangeably.
🔄 These words have opposite meanings to "Coelophysis" and show contrast in usage.
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Words that rhyme with "Coelophysis"
-sis sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
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