4 syllables: Eu, ka, ry, ote. Stress on ka.
yoo-KAR-eet
/ˌjuːˈkæɹiːt/
Eukaryote is pronounced yoo-KAR-eet (/ˌjuːˈkæɹiːt/). It has four syllables (Eu-ka-ry-ote), with the stress on "ka". A eukaryote is a single-celled or multicellular organism whose cells contain a true nucleus enclosed by a membrane, along with specialized organelles. This contrasts with prokaryotes, which lack a membrane-bound nucleus. Eukaryotes include plants, animals, fungi, and protists, and their cellular complexity supports diverse biological processes and larger genome organization.
nounA eukaryote is a single-celled or multicellular organism whose cells contain a true nucleus enclosed by a membrane, along with specialized organelles. This contrasts with prokaryotes, which lack a membrane-bound nucleus. Eukaryotes include plants, animals, fungi, and protists, and their cellular complexity supports diverse biological processes and larger genome organization.
How to Pronounce Eukaryote
"Eukaryotes encompass a wide range of life forms, from yeast to humans."
"Researchers study the differences between eukaryotes and prokaryotes to understand cellular evolution."
"The cell's nucleus in a eukaryote houses most of the genetic material."
Say /juːˈkær.iˌoʊt/ in US, with primary stress on the second syllable ‘KA’. The first syllable sounds like ‘you’ or ‘yoo’, then ‘-KA-’ as in cat, followed by ‘-ri-’ sounding like ‘ree’ or ‘ri’ depending on emphasis, and ending with ‘-ote’ like ‘oat’. IPA details: /juːˈkær.iˌoʊt/. Mouth positions: start with rounded lips for /juː/, then open mid for /ˈkær/, tongue high for /i/, and diphthong /oʊ/ at the end. Audio reference: you can listen to Cambridge/Oxford pronunciations or pronunciation videos.
Common errors: pronouncing it as /juːˈkæriːˌət/ with an extra syllable, or slurring /ˌoʊt/ into /ət/. Another mistake is placing primary stress on the first syllable (you-KA-ree-ot). Correction: keep primary stress on the second syllable /ˈkær/ and make the final /oʊt/ a clean diphthong, not a schwa+t. Practice the sequence: /juː/ + /ˈkær/ + /i/ + /oʊt/ with steady transitions.
US: /juːˈkær.iˌoʊt/ with rhotic r and clear /oʊ/ at the end. UK: /juːˈkæriˌəʊt/ or /juːˈkær.iːˌəʊt/ depending on speaker; less rhoticity may reduce /r/ sound in non-rhotic dialects. AU: often /juːˈkæɹiət/ or /juːˈkæɹiːəʊt/ with broader vowels and a non-rhotic tendency. Key differences: rhoticity, vowel quality in the second syllable, and the final /oʊt/ realization. Use IPA variants above when teaching.
Two main challenges: (1) the unstressed second syllable reduces vowel clarity and can blur /æ/ to a schwa in fast speech, and (2) the final /oʊt/ is a long, rounded diphthong that learners often truncate or misarticulate as /ət/. Focus on finishing with a tight /oʊ/ and ensuring the /t/ lands crisply after the diphthong. Listening to native examples helps fix length and intonation.
Note the morphological structure: eu- (true) + kary- (nucleus) + -ote (organism). The primary stress lands on the second syllable: eu-KA-ryote. The spelling can mislead learners into pronouncing as ‘you-car-ee-ot’; correct it to /juːˈkær.iˌoʊt/. The sequence includes a mid vowel /æ/ in US pronunciation and a trailing /oʊ/ that should remain a long diphthong rather than a short vowel.
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The term eukaryote comes from the Greek eu- meaning ‘true’ or ‘well’, and karuon (layered to karu) from karyon meaning ‘nut’ or ‘kernel’, referring to a cell’s nucleus. The word evolved through early 20th century biology as scientists distinguished organisms with a defined nucleus from those without (prokaryotes). The concept of the nucleus as a cellular compartment was integral to the cell theory and the understanding of organelle specialization. The first widely cited use of ‘eukaryote’ in print occurred as microbiologists and cytologists formalized classifications in the 1920s–1930s, aligning terms with the discovery of membrane-bound organelles such as mitochondria and chloroplasts. Today, eukaryotes are understood to possess a nucleus enclosed by a membrane, linear chromosomes, and extensive endomembrane systems, enabling complex gene regulation and multicellularity.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "Eukaryote" and can often be used interchangeably.
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Words that rhyme with "Eukaryote"
-oat sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
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