Coitus is a formal anatomical term for sexual intercourse between a male and female. It designates the act itself rather than the participants, and is typically used in clinical, academic, or theological contexts. The word carries a clinical tone and appears mostly in written form or in precise discussions of human reproduction.
"During medical education, students learn about coitus as part of reproductive health."
"The study cites the history of attitudes toward coitus in different cultures."
"In the textbook, coitus is contrasted with other sexual behaviors."
"The ethical discussion references consent and safety during coitus."
Coitus comes from the Latin coitus, from coire meaning 'to come together' (co- ‘together’ + ire ‘to go’). In Latin, coitus referred to a coming together or union, and over time the term specialized in medical and biological contexts to denote sexual intercourse. The term entered English via medical and scholarly literature in the 16th–17th centuries, retaining a formal, clinical register. Its usage has remained largely technical, often appearing in textbooks, research articles, and theological discussions that require precise terminology. The word’s first known uses appear in Latin medical texts and early Modern Latin scientific works, where it was used alongside terms like copulatio and coniux. Though not a term used in everyday speech, coitus has endured in anatomy and reproductive health to describe the act with neutrality and specificity, as opposed to colloquial alternatives which carry different connotations or levels of formality.
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Words that rhyme with "Coitus"
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Coitus is pronounced as /ˈkoʊ.ɪ.təs/ in US English, with primary stress on the first syllable. The 'oi' digraph sounds like the long 'o' as in 'go,' followed by a short 'i' as in 'sit,' and ends with a schwa-less 'tus' where the final 's' is pronounced. In careful speech you’ll hear three distinct syllables: KOY-ih-tuhs, with clear articulation of the middle vowel.
Common errors include misplacing stress (pronouncing it as coitus with a weak first syllable), pronouncing the middle 'oi' as a long 'o' as in 'coat' instead of the /ɔɪ/ diphthong, and softening the final -t- into a quick 't' or 'd' in rapid speech. To correct: emphasize the first syllable KOY, keep the middle /ɪ/ as a short, crisp vowel, and end with a clear /təs/ rather than rushing the -t-.
In US and UK accents, the initial vowel reduces to a clear /oʊ/ or /ɔɪ/ diphthong: US /ˈkoʊ.ɪ.təs/ and UK /ˈkɔɪ.ɪ.təs/. Australian English preserves similar diphthongs but can show a more centralized vowel in the first syllable and sometimes a less pronounced /ɪ/ in the middle. The final -s remains voiceless /s/ in all three, though some speakers may voice it in rapid speech due to phrase-level phonation.
The difficulty lies in the /ɔɪ/ diphthong in the second letter cluster and the three-syllable rhythm with a non-stressed second syllable. English learners often mis-homogenize the middle vowel or misplace stress, turning it into KOI-tus or COI-tuss. Focusing on a crisp B2B articulation for the middle /ɪ/ and ending with a precise /təs/ helps maintain accuracy across accents.
Coitus has no silent letters; every letter participates in the syllabic structure. The challenge is not silent letters but correct vowel quality and syllable stress: /ˈkoʊ.ɪ.təs/. You’ll want to avoid reducing any consonants and ensure the final /s/ is unvoiced unless linked to a voiced sound in connected speech.
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