2 syllables: Cyst, ine. Stress on Cyst.
SIS-teyen
/ˈsɪstaɪn/
Cystine is pronounced SIS-teyen (/ˈsɪstaɪn/). It has two syllables (Cyst-ine), with the stress on "Cyst". Cystine is an amino acid formed by the dimerization of two cysteine molecules via a disulfide bond. It is a nonessential metabolic intermediate involved in protein structure and metabolism. In biochemistry contexts, it is discussed as part of sulfur-containing amino acids and redox biology.
nounCystine is an amino acid formed by the dimerization of two cysteine molecules via a disulfide bond. It is a nonessential metabolic intermediate involved in protein structure and metabolism. In biochemistry contexts, it is discussed as part of sulfur-containing amino acids and redox biology.
- Misplacing stress: You might say CY-stine or cyst-INE. Fix: keep primary stress on the first syllable, /ˈsɪsˌtiːn/. - Shortening the second syllable: Avoid 'tin'—make it /tiːn/, with a long e sound. Use a light but firm tongue raise for /iː/. - Blending syllables too quickly: Pause slightly between syllables to avoid a run-on. Practice with deliberate tempo, then speed up.
"The enzyme catalyzes the formation of cystine from two cysteine residues."
"Cystine levels can be elevated in certain metabolic disorders."
"Researchers studied how cystine transport influences cellular redox balance."
You say cystine as SUS-tyn? Actually it’s SIS-teen, with primary stress on the first syllable: /ˈsɪsˌtiːn/. The first syllable rhyme sounds like 'sis' and the second syllable sounds like 'teen.' The 't' is a crisp alveolar stop, and the 'i' in the second syllable is a long /iː/. Audiovisual cues: Listen for a clear break after the first syllable and then a prolonged 'teen' vowel. You’ll find good references on pronunciation sites or video tutorials.
Two common errors are misplacing the stress (saying sir-STEEN) and shortening the second syllable to a short /ɪ/ or /ɪn/. To correct: keep primary stress on the first syllable and pronounce the second as /tiːn/ with a long 'ee' sound. Avoid turning the second syllable into a rapid, clipped 'tin'—that changes the meaning and makes you sound uncertain. Focus on a clean hiatus between syllables, not a blended syllable.
Across US/UK/AU, cystine stays fairly consistent: US /ˈsɪsˌtiːn/, UK /ˈsɪsˌtiːn/, AU /ˈsɪsˌtiːn/. The rhoticity in US accents does not alter the word, but vowel length and afterglide can vary slightly in fast speech. In some Australian speech, you may hear a slightly broader vowel in the first syllable, but the overall IPA remains ˈsɪsˌtiːn. Emphasis remains on the first syllable in all three.
The difficulty comes from the two-syllable structure with contrasting vowel qualities: a short, crisp first syllable /ˈsɪs/ followed by a long, tense second syllable /tiːn/. This creates a need for precise vowel length and a clear boundary between syllables. Non-native speakers may bite the second vowel too short or blend the syllables. Focusing on separating the syllables and sustaining the /iː/ in the second syllable helps reduce hesitation.
There is no silent letter in cystine. All letters are pronounced: the first syllable has a clear /s/ and /ɪ/ sounds, the second syllable closes with /tiːn/. A common slip is dropping the final /n/ or not fully releasing the /t/. Practice by saying 'cis' then 'teen' separately, then blend.
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- US: rhotic sound doesn't affect cystine; focus on /ˈsɪsˌtiːn/. Vowel quality tends to be slightly tenser in careful speech. - UK: similarly non-rhotic impact; maintain clear /ˈsɪs/ and long /iːn/; often slightly clipped after the first syllable in rapid speech. - AU: often broader vowel quality; keep the second syllable a long /iːn/ and avoid flattened vowels; use IPA as reference /ˈsɪsˌtiːn/. - Tips: practice with minimal pairs like 'sis' vs 'siz' to calibrate vowel length; listen for non-native tendencies and correct with recordings.
Cystine derives from cysteine, the amino acid name, plus the suffix -ine, indicating a chemical substance. The term reflects its chemical relationship as the oxidized dimer of two cysteine units linked by a disulfide bond. The origin of cysteine traces to early 20th-century amino acid chemistry, with the name first appearing as chemists characterized amino acids and their derivatives. Cystine became prominent in biochemistry and medicine as researchers uncovered the role of disulfide bridges in protein folding and stability. It entered broader scientific literature as techniques for studying sulfur-containing compounds advanced, particularly during the growth of recombinant protein science in the mid-to-late 20th century. The concept of disulfide-rich proteins drew attention to cystine as a functional hallmark of structural biology, and its usage spread into metabolic and clinical discussions about oxidative stress and amino acid metabolism. First known use in academic literature dates to the 1950s as biochemists described amino acids and their oxidized forms in protein chemistry.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "Cystine" and can often be used interchangeably.
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Words that rhyme with "Cystine"
-ine sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
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