5 syllables: I, so, cy, an, ate. Stress on cy.
eye-suh-SEYE-uh-nayt
/ˌaɪsəˈsaɪəˌneɪt/
Isocyanate is pronounced eye-suh-SEYE-uh-nayt (/ˌaɪsəˈsaɪəˌneɪt/). It has five syllables (I-so-cy-an-ate), with the stress on "cy". Isocyanate is a chemical compound containing the isocyanate group (-N=C=O) attached to an organic moiety. It is used industrially in polymer production and as a reactive intermediate in urethane formation. Pronouncing it clearly is essential in technical communication to avoid confusion with similarly named chemicals.
nounIsocyanate is a chemical compound containing the isocyanate group (-N=C=O) attached to an organic moiety. It is used industrially in polymer production and as a reactive intermediate in urethane formation. Pronouncing it clearly is essential in technical communication to avoid confusion with similarly named chemicals.
Tip: slow it down, then chunk as iso-cy-an-ate, with a gentle pause before the final /neɪt/ to reinforce the long vowel.
"The technician labeled the bottle as containing isocyanate to indicate its reactive nature."
"Researchers discussed the synthesis of diisocyanate for polyurethane production."
"Safety procedures require handling isocyanate in a well-ventilated area with proper PPE."
Pronounce as /ˌaɪˌsɒɪˈsaɪəˌneɪt/ in UK or /ˌaɪ.səˈsaɪˌeɪt/ in US. Primary stress on the third syllable: i-so-CY-a-nate. Break it into three parts: ‘iso’ /ˈaɪ.soʊ/ or /ˌaɪ.sə/ depending on dialect, ‘cyan’ sounding like /ˈsaɪən/ or /ˈsaɪən/, and the final ‘ate’ /eɪt/. Focus on the N–Ate ending as a clean syllable with a clear /eɪt/. Listen for the /ˌaɪ/ diphthongs, and ensure the middle syllable is unstressed and concise; you’ll hear a crisp end with /neɪt/. Audio reference: consult Cambridge or YouGlish for native audio.
Common mistakes: 1) Misplacing the stress, saying i-SO-ci-AN-ate. 2) Flattening the middle vowel so /ə/ becomes a schwa or mispronouncing /ɪ/ vs /aɪ/ in ‘iso’ and ‘cyan’. 3) Slurring the final /eɪt/ into a quick /et/; keep the long vowel /eɪ/. Correction: emphasize the third syllable with a clear /aɪ/ in ‘cy’ and finish with /neɪt/. Practice by isolating the ‘cy’ sound as /ˈsaɪ/ and then attach /əˈneɪt/ after a light pause.
US: /ˌaɪ.səˈsaɪˌeɪt/ with a rhotic R absent; UK: /ˌaɪ.səˈsaɪˌeɪt/ with a shorter /eɪ/ at end and non-rhotic; AU: /ˌaɪ.səˈsaɪˌeɪt/ similar to UK but with slightly broader diphthongs and a more open /aɪ/ in the first syllable. Across all, the main emphasis is on the ‘cy’ syllable; the final /eɪt/ tends to be clear, not reduced. IPA references align with Cambridge and Oxford dictionaries for authoritative guidance.
Key challenges: the combination of iso- with cyan- and the final -ate can mislead speakers to misplace stress or distort the /aɪ/ diphthong in ‘cy’. The sequence /ˌaɪ.səˈsaɪ/ requires precise mouth shaping: start with a high front vowel, slide into a long /aɪ/ for ‘cy’, and finish with a crisp /neɪt/. People often blur the middle syllable or substitute /eɪ/ for /eɪ/; slow practice with pause before the final /neɪt/ helps accuracy.
There are no silent letters in isocyanate, but the challenge lies in the sequence of sounds: /ˌaɪ/ in ‘Iso’, /sə/ or /sə/ in the middle, /ˈsaɪ/ in ‘cyan’, and /neɪt/ at the end. Focus on maintaining an audible /s/ before the diphthong /aɪ/ in the middle, avoid reducing /ə/ too much in the second syllable, and ensure the final /eɪt/ retains a distinct long vowel.
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Isocyanate derives from the isocyanate functional group, with ‘iso-’ meaning equal or same in older contexts, and ‘cyanate’ referring to the cyanate group (OCN−) linked to an organic substituent. The term reflects the isomeric family centered on the N=C=O linkage. The root is from early 20th-century chemistry when isocyanates were systematically studied for polyurethane and polymer chemistry. First use in literature appears in industrial chemistry texts in the 1940s as scientists investigated higher-functionality monomers for foams. Over time, 'isocyanate' became the standard term for this class of reactive species, distinguishing it from related functional groups like isocyanides and cyanates in both naming and regulatory contexts.
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Help others use "Isocyanate" correctly by contributing grammar tips, common mistakes, and context guidance.
💡 These words have similar meanings to "Isocyanate" and can often be used interchangeably.
🔄 These words have opposite meanings to "Isocyanate" and show contrast in usage.
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Words that rhyme with "Isocyanate"
-ate sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
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