3 syllables: Em, bry, os. Stress on Em.
EM-bree-ohz
/ˈɛmbɹiˌoʊz/
Embryos is pronounced EM-bree-ohz (/ˈɛmbɹiˌoʊz/). It has three syllables (Em-bry-os), with the stress on "Em". Embryos are early-stage offspring resulting from gastrulation and organ formation in animals, typically multicellular units that later develop into fetuses. The term is the plural of embryo, often used in biology and medicine. It denotes developmental stages prior to birth, usually amid embryo and fetus transitions, and is common in discussions of reproduction, developmental biology, and obstetrics.
nounEmbryos are early-stage offspring resulting from gastrulation and organ formation in animals, typically multicellular units that later develop into fetuses. The term is the plural of embryo, often used in biology and medicine. It denotes developmental stages prior to birth, usually amid embryo and fetus transitions, and is common in discussions of reproduction, developmental biology, and obstetrics.
"Researchers studied human embryos to understand early developmental processes."
"The embryos were carefully preserved for microscopic analysis."
"Animal breeders supervise the health of embryos before implantation."
Pronounce as EM-bry-oz (US: /ˈɛm.bri.ɒz/ or /ˈɛm.bri.əʊz/; UK/AU often /ˈɛm.bri.əʊz/). Stress on the first syllable. The middle syllable bry is like 'bree' quickly, and the final 'os' sounds like 'oz' in many accents. Tip: keep the mouth semi-open for the first two syllables, then close slightly for the final 'z' sound. You’ll hear the contrast between the /ɒ/ and /əʊ/ options depending on accent. Audio reference can be found in standard dictionaries and pronunciation platforms.
Common errors: 1) stressing the wrong syllable (e.g., em-BRY-os). 2) mispronouncing the middle vowel in bry as a pure /ɪ/ or /iː/ rather than a quick /ri/ element. 3) Final /z/ confusion with /s/ or devoicing. Correction: keep /ˈɛm.bri.ɒz/ or /ˈɛm.bri.əʊz/ with a reduced, unstressed middle vowel; end with a voiced /z/ rather than /s/. Practice saying it in a slow sequence EM-bri-oz, then link to surrounding words to feel the rhythm.
In US English, the final vowel often reduces to a short /ɒ/ or /ə/ with a voiced /z/: /ˈɛm.bri.ˈɒz/ or /ˈɛm.briˌɒz/. UK tends to preserve a clearer /ɒ/ or /əʊ/ in the final syllable depending on dialect, with /ˈɛm.bri.əʊz/. Australian tends to a closely spoken /ˈɛm.bri.ɒz/ with a non-rhotic or lightly rhotic influence; some speakers insert a schwa in bry: /ˈɛm.bri.əz/. Across all, the key is the initial EM- stress and a voiced final /z/ rather than a voiceless /s/.
The difficulty lies in the cluster: /ˈɛm/ plus /bri/—the middle syllable includes a cluster with /r/ and /i/ quickly followed by the /ɒ/ or /əʊ/ vowel in the final syllable, then a voiced /z/. Non-native speakers may misplace stress, mispronounce the 'br' blend, or mis-treat the final /z/. Focusing on a crisp /br/ stop in the middle and ensuring the final /z/ is voiced will clarify the pronunciation in fast speech.
There is no silent letter in Embryos. Each syllable carries a distinct sound: EM- (stress on E), -bry- (bir- with a rolling r in some dialects), -os (z sound at the end). The final s is often voiced as /z/, not silent. Focus on the transition from /b/ to /r/ to /ɒ/ or /əʊ/ leading into /z/. This separation helps ensure clarity in both careful and casual speech.
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Embryo comes from the Greek word embryo, from embryon meaning ‘a young one’ or ‘a bud,’ reflecting the idea of something that is growing or beginning to take shape. The Greek embryon stems from embryon, with the root meaning ‘in the womb’ or ‘in the early stages of development,’ and the suffix -o typically marks a noun for an organism in many scientific terms. The word entered English through Latin and then into modern scientific usage by the 17th century, largely in the context of developmental biology and embryology. Over time, the plural form embryos (adding -s) became standard to denote more than one early developmental organism. The core sense remains the same: an early-stage entity with the potential to develop into a more complex form. First known usage in English as a biological term appears in medical and anatomical texts of the 17th–18th centuries, gaining widespread acceptance with the growth of embryology as a formal science in the 19th and 20th centuries.
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Words that rhyme with "Embryos"
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