5 syllables: Ho, mo, ge, ne, ous. Stress on ge.
hoh-muh-JEE-nee-uhs
/ˌhoʊməˈdʒiniəs/
Homogeneous is pronounced hoh-muh-JEE-nee-uhs (/ˌhoʊməˈdʒiniəs/). It has five syllables (Ho-mo-ge-ne-ous), with the stress on "ge". Homogeneous describes a mixture or group in which the components are so similar that the whole appears uniform or identical throughout; all parts share the same composition or properties. It is often used in science to denote uniform composition and in everyday speech to describe a consistent, undifferentiated set. The term contrasts with heterogeneous, where components remain distinct.
adjectiveHomogeneous describes a mixture or group in which the components are so similar that the whole appears uniform or identical throughout; all parts share the same composition or properties. It is often used in science to denote uniform composition and in everyday speech to describe a consistent, undifferentiated set. The term contrasts with heterogeneous, where components remain distinct.
"The sample was heated until the solution became homogeneous, with no visible layers."
"The classroom was a homogeneous group, all students sharing similar backgrounds and goals."
"Researchers aimed for a homogeneous mix of enzymes to ensure consistent reactions."
Pronunciation: hoh-muh-JEE-nee-uhs (US) or hoh-muh-JEEN-yuhs (UK/AU). Stress typically falls on the third syllable: /ˌhɒ.məˈdʒiː.ni.əs/ (UK) and /ˌhəʊ.məˈdʒiː.ni.əs/ (US). Break it as ho-mo-GE-ne-ous with a clear /dʒ/ before the -i- sound. Mouth shape: start with a neutral rounded lip, move to a slight forward tongue position for /dʒ/ and /iː/, and finish with a crisp /əs/.
Two common errors: (1) Misplacing stress by emphasizing the second syllable as in ho-MO- ge-neous rather than ho-mo-GE-neous. (2) Slurring the /dʒ/ into a simple /j/ or /dj/ sound, yielding ho-muh-YEE-nee-uhs. Correction: keep /dʒ/ as a single affricate: /d͡ʒ/ and articulate the vowel /iː/ clearly after it. Also ensure the final -ous is a light /əs/ and not /uəs/.
US typically /ˌhoʊ.məˈdʒiː.ni.əs/ with a rhotic /r/ non-issue, UK often /ˌhəʊ.məˈdʒiː.ni.əs/ with non-rhoticity and a longer /oʊ/; AU blends UK-like non-rhotic patterns but with slightly flatter vowels and more clipped final syllable. In all, the /dʒiː/ chunk remains consistent; the main differences are vowel quality and rhoticity, not consonant identity.
Key challenges are the multisyllabic stress pattern and the /d͡ʒ/ sound. The sequence hoa-mi-GE-neous requires a strong /d͡ʒ/ after a weak second syllable and a long /iː/ before the final /ənəs/. The 'ho' or 'hō' vowel leading into /mə/ can vary in length, making the tilting of stress tricky. Practice by isolating /d͡ʒiː/ and by saying the word slowly at first, then model it at natural tempo.
Unique to this word is the long central vowel sequence /m ə ˈdʒiː/ in many accents and the final -ous with a weak ending. Focus on the third syllable 'GE' as the nucleus of the word, ensuring a crisp /d͡ʒ/ immediately followed by a long /iː/ before the schwa and /s/. This helps preserve the intended rhythm in speech.
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US: rhotic accent with clear /ɹ/ on initial r-colored vowels; UK/AU: non-rhotic, broader /ɒ/ in first syllable, longer /ə/ in some vowels. Vowel differences: US /oʊ/ vs UK /əʊ/; final /iː/ in /dʒiː/ is long; AU emphasizes /æ/ somewhat, but in homogeneous it remains /əʊ m ə dʒ iː n i ə s/. Practical tips: exaggerate the /d͡ʒ/ for clarity, keep final /əs/ weak.
Homogeneous originates from the Greek homos, meaning ‘the same,’ and genēs, meaning ‘produced by’, and the suffix -ous indicating ‘having the quality of’. The word entered English through scientific vocabulary in the 19th century, initially in chemistry and biology to describe substances with uniform composition. The prefix hom- is related to similar- and same-origin terms, while -genous conveys the idea of being produced or generated as a single kind. Early usage emphasized mathematical and chemical contexts, later expanding into general parlance to describe groupings, mixtures, or styles that appear uniform. Over time, the sense broadened to include abstract uniformity (e.g., homogeneous societies) and perceptual sameness in non-scientific descriptions. First known uses appear in scholarly texts of the early 1800s, with widespread adoption in the mid-to-late 19th century as experimental science proliferated. Today, homogeneous retains its core meaning of sameness in composition or character, while remaining a precise term in both scientific and everyday language.
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Words that rhyme with "Homogeneous"
-gue sounds
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