3 syllables: In, tes, tines. Stress on tes.
in-TES-tuhnz
/ˌɪˈntɛstənz/
Intestines is pronounced in-TES-tuhnz (/ˌɪˈntɛstənz/). It has three syllables (In-tes-tines), with the stress on "tes". Intestines refers to the long, coiled tube within the abdomen where most of the digestion and absorption of nutrients occurs. It comprises the small intestine and large intestine, functioning collectively to process chyme, absorb nutrients, and form waste. In medical contexts, it denotes the internal gut structures rather than external intestines in common speech.
nounIntestines refers to the long, coiled tube within the abdomen where most of the digestion and absorption of nutrients occurs. It comprises the small intestine and large intestine, functioning collectively to process chyme, absorb nutrients, and form waste. In medical contexts, it denotes the internal gut structures rather than external intestines in common speech.
- You may run the middle syllable together causing /ˈtɛs/ to blend; separate it clearly as in-TES-ti-nez. - The final /tiːnz/ can weaken to /tnz/ in rapid speech; ensure long /iː/ and audible /nz/. - The stress can shift in fast speech; hold the third syllable with stronger emphasis to avoid a flat delivery. - Some speakers use a reduced middle vowel (/tə/) in casual talk; aim for a precise /tes/ before the final /tiːnz/ for accurate articulation.
"After the surgery, the doctor inspected the intestines for any signs of obstruction."
"The nutritionist explained how nutrients pass through the intestines to enter the bloodstream."
"Chronic conditions like Crohn's disease can affect the intestines and disrupt digestion."
Pronounce as in-tes-TINEZ with the primary stress on the third syllable: /ˌɪn.tesˈtiːnz/. Begin with /ɪ/ like 'in', move to /ˈtɛs/ or /tes/ as in 'test', then end with /tiːnz/ like 'teens'. Ensure the /tiːnz/ is clear and not reduced to /tənz/. Mouth: start with a relaxed tongue, then lift the tip to the alveolar ridge for 't', then a clear 'ee' vowel before the final 'nz'.
Common errors: 1) misplacing stress, saying in-TES-ti-neez or in-TES-tins. Fix: raise stress to the third syllable. 2) Slurring the /t/ or turning /tiːnz/ into /tənz/; ensure a crisp /tiːnz/ with a clear /t/ and long /iː/. 3) Vowel quality in the middle syllable; keep /ɛ/ or /e/ as in 'test' rather than a quick schwa. Practice with the three-part sequence: in-es-TINEZ, then in-tes-TINEZ, then in-tes-ti-nees.
US: /ˌɪn.tesˈtiːnz/, rhotic with clear /ɹ/ not involved; UK: /ˌɪn.tesˈtiːnz/ similar, slight non-rhoticity in some speakers but often same; AU: /ˌɪn.tesˈtiːnz/ similar, with a tendency toward more open vowels in some regions. All share final /tiːnz/; differences are minor and largely dialectal in rhythm rather than phoneme changes.
Difficulties stem from the cluster /t/ + /iː/ + /nz/ in rapid speech, where the /t/ can be unreleased or slurred, and the /iː/ length can be shortened in fast talk, leading to /tiənz/ or /tənz/. Also, the stress falls on the penultimate syllable in many analyses but is realized with a stronger
A useful tip is to anchor the word with a tiny pause between 'in' and 'test' when practicing: in + TES + teenz, emphasizing the third syllable. Keep the /t/ crisp and the /iː/ long. Place the tip of the tongue behind the upper teeth for /t/, then glide into a clear /iː/ before the /nz/ closure. Recording yourself will help you hear the subtle energy on the stressed syllable.
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US: rhotic and forward tongue, slightly flatter /iː/; UK: similar but with a slightly more clipped final /nz/; AU: tends to be slightly broader vowels; note that rhoticity is present in US, Canada, and Australia similarly for this word; focus on robust /tiːnz/ with clear final consonant. IPA references: US /ˌɪn.tesˈtiːnz/, UK /ˌɪn.tesˈtiːnz/, AU /ˌɪn.tesˈtiːnz/.
Intestines comes from Middle English intestin, from Latin intestinum, meaning 'inside, intestine'. The Latin term originates from intestus, meaning 'inside' or 'within', which is related to the Greek enteion (enteron) meaning 'intestine' or 'gut'. The medical Latin intestinum entered English via early anatomists seeking precise internal body terminology. The word split into 'small intestine' and 'large intestine' as anatomists refined digestive tract classifications in the 17th–18th centuries, with the general term intestines retained in everyday and some clinical usage to refer collectively to both segments. Over centuries, the term has become standard in anatomy, medical texts, and colloquial speech, though in casual usage people often refer to 'gut' or 'bowels' instead of the more formal 'intestines'. The evolution reflects a move from Latin-based anatomical labels to common English usage while preserving a precise referent in medical contexts.
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Words that rhyme with "Intestines"
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