6 syllables: De, po, la, ri, sa, tions. Stress on ri.
dee-poh-luh-REYE-zay-shuhnz
/diːˌpoʊləˈraɪzeɪʃənz/
Depolarisations is pronounced dee-poh-luh-REYE-zay-shuhnz (/diːˌpoʊləˈraɪzeɪʃənz/). It has six syllables (De-po-la-ri-sa-tions), with the stress on "ri". Depolarisations is the plural noun for the process of depolarisation—movement toward a state of reduced electrical potential across a cell membrane. In physiology and neuroscience, it refers to events where the membrane becomes more positive on the inside, enabling action potentials. It’s used in academic, research, and medical contexts to describe rapid, transient shifts in membrane potential that trigger cellular signaling.
nounDepolarisations is the plural noun for the process of depolarisation—movement toward a state of reduced electrical potential across a cell membrane. In physiology and neuroscience, it refers to events where the membrane becomes more positive on the inside, enabling action potentials. It’s used in academic, research, and medical contexts to describe rapid, transient shifts in membrane potential that trigger cellular signaling.
"The cardiomyocytes undergo depolarisations that coordinate heartbeats."
"During the experiment, repeated depolarisations were recorded across the neuronal membrane."
"Depolarisations propagate along the axon, leading to nerve impulse transmission."
Break it as de-po-la-ri-sations with primary stress on the fourth syllable: ˌdi-po-lar-e-ˈzä-shənz in US, US-like IPA: di-po-LAR-e-zhuns. Mouth positions: start with /ˌdi/ (d followed by a long i), then /po/ with rounded lips, /la/ with a light, relaxed jaw, /ri/ as a short 'ri', and finally /-zä-ʃənz/ where the 'z' links to a stressed la-zhun. If you think of it as de-po-LAR-uh-zay-shuhnz, you’re approximating. For accuracy, adjust to: di-po-lar-e-ˈzā-shənz, with primary stress on the -zā- syllable.
Common missteps: 1) Stress misplacement, stressing the first or second syllable instead of the -zā- syllable; 2) Blurring the ‘ri’ into a quick /rɪ/ or dropping the /ri/ sound between /la/ and /zä-/; 3) Pronouncing ‘-sations’ as /-ˈzeɪʃənz/ instead of the intended /-zä-shənz/ with a clear ‘zä’ before the ‘-shənz’. Correct by practicing the sequence: /di po la r e zä ʃən z/ with equal-tension vowels and a distinct /z/ before /ä/. Use slow repetition, then speed up while keeping the /z/ crisp.
Across US/UK/AU, you’ll hear differences in rhotacism of /r/ and vowel quality. US often keeps a clearer /r/ before the -lations, sometimes with a slightly flatter vowel in /ɪ/ vs /ə/ in non-stressed syllables. UK tends toward non-rhoticity in some contexts, which can make the /r/ less prominent and heavier on the following /iː/ or /ə/ sounds. Australian tends to a schwa in unstressed positions and a more relaxed jaw; the /ˈzä/ portion may glide toward /ˈzæ/ or /ˈzɒ/. IPA guidance: US di-po-LAR-e-ˈzā-shənz; UK di-pə-ˈlær-ɪ-ˌzeɪ-ʃənz; AU di-pə-ˈlɒ-rə-ˌzɛɪ-ʃənz.
It blends a long, stressed weak syllable pattern with a tricky 'ri' sequence and a consonant cluster at the end: -ri-sations. The medial /ri/ must be clipped cleanly, and the -zä- before /ʃən/ requires a precise /z/ release followed by the /æ/ or /ä/ vowel, then the /ʃən/ cluster. The longer word also tests syllable-timing and breath control, especially in connected speech. Practice with segmentation: de-po-la-r + ə + zä-ʃənz, then smooth into one fluid phrase.
There are no silent letters in Depolarisations; every syllable carries a phonetic weight, with primary stress on the -zā- syllable (the fourth from the end in many pronunciations). In careful, scientific speech, you’ll articulate each morpheme clearly: de-po-la-r-e-ˈzä-shənz, ensuring the z and ʃ sounds are distinct. The key is preserving the vowel quality in /ä/ and the crisp release of the /z/ before /ʃ/.
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US: rhotic /r/ more pronounced before vowels, keep /ˈzä/ with clear /z/ and /ä/. UK: more non-rhotic tendency; you may hear a lighter /r/ and slightly shorter /ˈzä-ʃənz/. AU: flatter vowel sounds, more schwa in unstressed areas, a relaxed jaw; practice with /ˌdi-pə-lə-ˈzeɪ-ʃənz/ approximations. IPA notes: US ˌdi-po-LAR-e-ˈzä-shənz; UK di-pə-ˈlær-ɪ-ˌzeɪ-ʃənz; AU di-pə-ˈlɒ-rə-ˌzɛɪ-ʃənz.
Depolarisation derives from the medical term depolarise, formed from de- (a prefix meaning “remove” or “reverse”) + polarise (to polarize). The root word polarise comes from late Latin polaris, from Greek polos meaning ‘pole’, related to lines of magnetic or electrical polarity. The -isation suffix (or -ization in US spelling) marks a process or result and entered English via French and Latin scientific vocabulary, aligning with other -isation formations in biology (e.g., fertilisation, localisation). The concept is tied to physiological science from the 19th century, when scientists described how cell membranes temporarily shift their electrical charge. First known uses appear in physiological texts of the late 1800s as researchers began modeling nerve impulses and cardiac conduction, evolving into modern electrophysiology terminology as experimental techniques advanced (e.g., patch clamp, voltage clamp). Over time, depolarisation expanded beyond neurophysiology to describe similar cellular events across muscles and other tissues, with regional spelling variations (depolarisation vs. depolarization) intensifying in scientific literature depending on the preferred national variant.
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Words that rhyme with "Depolarisations"
-ion sounds
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