6 syllables: el, ec, tro, pho, res, is. Stress on res.
il-ek-troh-faw-RIS-is
/ˌɪˌlɛktɹoʊfɔˈɹɪsɪs/
electrophoresis is pronounced il-ek-troh-faw-RIS-is (/ˌɪˌlɛktɹoʊfɔˈɹɪsɪs/). It has six syllables (el-ec-tro-pho-res-is), with the stress on "res". Electrophoresis is a laboratory technique that uses an electric field to separate charged molecules, such as DNA, RNA, or proteins, based on size and charge. It involves a gel matrix through which molecules migrate when an electric current is applied, allowing researchers to analyze and purify biological samples. The term combines Greek roots for electricity and bearing/carrying.
Electrophoresis is a laboratory technique that uses an electric field to separate charged molecules, such as DNA, RNA, or proteins, based on size and charge. It involves a gel matrix through which molecules migrate when an electric current is applied, allowing researchers to analyze and purify biological samples. The term combines Greek roots for electricity and bearing/carrying.
"The researcher performed gel electrophoresis to verify the presence of a specific DNA fragment."
"Electrophoresis was used to separate proteins by their charge-to-mass ratios."
"Forensic labs rely on electrophoresis as a crucial step in protein and nucleic acid analysis."
You say /ˌɛlɛkˌtroʊfəˈriːsɪs/ in US English, with primary stress on the -riː- in the final syllable cluster and secondary stress on the -tro- before it. Break it into e-LECT-ro-PHO-re-sis, first syllable with a light 'e' and a clear 'e' in second, then a long 'o' in the third, ending with 'sis'. For clarity: elec-tro-pho-res-is, the most prominent beat lands at fos- in the fourth syllable.
Common errors include misplacing syllable stress (trying to stress -tro- or -ri- inconsistently), and flattening the long vowel in -pho- into a short /ɪ/ or /ɛ/ in some dialects. Another frequent slip is blending -phores- into -phoris- or breaking the word into too-tightly run syllables. Correct by practicing the sequence elec-tro-pho-res-is with deliberate vowel lengths: /ˌɛlɛkˌtroʊfəˈriːsɪs/.
In US, you’ll hear /ˌɛlɛkˌtroʊfəˈriːsɪs/ with rhotic r and a clear long o in -tro-. UK tends to maintain non-rhoticity in some speakers, giving a shorter /ɒ/ or /əʊ/ in certain positions and more clipped vowels; UK often shows /ˌɛlɪˈtrɒfəˈriːsiː/ depending on speaker. Australian accents add a broader vowel quality, sometimes sounding more rounded in the first syllables and a slightly altered -riː- vowel. Overall, the core syllables elec-tro-pho-res-is stay intact, with minor vowel shifts and rhoticity differences.
Because it packs multiple phonemes in sequence: a stress pattern that shifts across syllables, the mid-central schwa-like vowels in fast speech, and the long diphthong in -tro- /roʊ-/. Additionally, the -phores- cluster can tempt learners to pronounce it as -fōr- or -förder-, so keeping /foɹeɪ/ or /foː/ accurate helps. Practicing the exact IPA sequence helps verbalize the correct dynamic in the mouth.
A key feature is the long -riː- segment at the end of the -phore- syllable; ensure you place primary stress on the -riː- in -riːsɪs and avoid reducing -fo- to a quick, clipped schwa. The sequence -tro- typically gets a clear long /roʊ/ or /rəʊ/ depending on accent. Keeping precise syllable boundaries elec-tro-pho-res-is helps you hit the scientific cadence.
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Electrophoresis derives from Greek elektron (amber, ‘electric’) + lysis (loosely, ‘to loosen or split’) and the suffix -esis indicating a process. The term’s root elements are electrono- or electro- (electric) and -phoresis (bearing or carrying), from pherein (to bear, to carry). The concept originated in the 19th century with early experiments on the movement of charged particles in electric fields. The first documented demonstrations of electrophoretic separation appeared in the early 1900s as scientists sought methods to analyze macromolecules. Over the decades, advancements in gel chemistry, buffer systems, and staining techniques expanded electrophoresis into DNA/RNA analysis, protein separation, and clinical diagnostics. The evolution tracks from crude electrical separations to sophisticated polyacrylamide and agarose gels, enabling precise sizing and purification, with modern variations including capillary and two-dimensional gel electrophoresis. The term has remained stable, with first usage well-documented in scientific literature from the 1890s to 1920s, reflecting a shift from theoretical electricity experiments to practical biochemical applications. Today, electrophoresis signifies a foundational toolkit in molecular biology, clinical labs, and forensic science, tying together the ideas of electric force, molecular movement, and analytical separation across many life sciences disciplines.
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Words that rhyme with "electrophoresis"
-sis sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
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