3 syllables: Mei, o, sis. Stress on o.
meye-OH-suhs
/maɪˈoʊsəs/
Meiosis is pronounced meye-OH-suhs (/maɪˈoʊsəs/). It has three syllables (Mei-o-sis), with the stress on "o". Meiosis is a biological term referring to the cell division process that reduces the chromosome number by half, producing gametes in sexually reproducing organisms. It involves two successive divisions (meiosis I and II) with unique stages and recombination, ensuring genetic variation. The word is used primarily in biology and genetics contexts, and it is pronounced with emphasis on the second syllable in most varieties.
nounMeiosis is a biological term referring to the cell division process that reduces the chromosome number by half, producing gametes in sexually reproducing organisms. It involves two successive divisions (meiosis I and II) with unique stages and recombination, ensuring genetic variation. The word is used primarily in biology and genetics contexts, and it is pronounced with emphasis on the second syllable in most varieties.
How to Pronounce Meiosis
"During meiosis, homologous chromosomes pair and exchange segments."
"Meiosis is essential for sexual reproduction and genetic diversity."
"Students study meiosis to understand how alleles segregate and recombine."
Meiosis is pronounced MY-oh-sis, with the primary stress on the second syllable: /maɪˈoʊɪsɪs/ in careful speech; simplified as /maɪˈoʊəsɪs/ in some dialects. Break it into me-i-o-sis, emphasis on the 'o' of the second syllable. Audio reference: you can hear the pronunciation on reputable dictionaries and pronunciation platforms by searching ‘meiosis pronunciation.’ The key is the strong stress on the second syllable and a clear, short final -sis. IPA guides show the central vowels as /oʊ/ in US, and a slightly closer /əʊ/ in UK/ AU, but the most recognizable pattern remains the second-syllable stress with an initial /maɪ/ cluster.
Common errors include misplacing the stress on the first syllable (mee‑OH‑uh-sis) and mispronouncing the /oʊ/ as a short /o/ or a schwa in the second syllable. Another mistake is pronouncing the final -sis as “siss” with a long i; it should be a short, crisp /ɪs/. To fix: practice MAI-oe-sis with a clear /ˈoʊ/ on the second syllable, and keep the final /sɪs/ light and quick. Record yourself saying me-i-osis, compare to a native source, and aim for the steady rhythm of a two-stress word with the second syllable carrying primary stress.
US tends to /maɪˈoʊəsɪs/ with a strong /oʊ/ in the second syllable and a rhotic r-likelihood absent in this word. UK often uses /maɪˈəʊəsɪs/ with a slightly reduced first vowel before the stress and a more centralized second vowel; AU mirrors US or UK patterns depending on speaker. In all cases, the primary stress remains on the second syllable; differences are mainly vowel quality and the degree of rhoticity (less in non-rhotic accents like some UK varieties).
The difficulty lies in the two-syllable pattern with a higher-stress second syllable and a diphthong /oʊ/ that often shifts to a mid-central vowel in rapid speech. The sequence me‑i‑o‑sis requires careful vowel differentiation (the /aɪ/ onset in the first syllable and the /oʊ/ nucleus in the second). Additionally, English learners often misplace stress or blend the second syllable with the final consonant, making the word sound like me-uh‑oisis. Focused practice on the secondary stress and the distinct vowel sounds helps stabilize pronunciation.
Meiosis features a prominent second-syllable stress and a clear, short final -sis that should not be lengthened. A unique detail is maintaining the /ɪs/ final as a crisp, reduced syllable rather than a heavy or drawn-out ending; avoid turning it into /iːz/ or /əz/. Also, the sequence /ˈaɪoʊ/ in the first two phonemes should remain distinct, avoiding assimilation that would blur the diphthong into a single long vowel. Mouth positioning should emphasize a relaxed jaw with a forward tongue position for the /aɪ/ and a rounded, mid-high tongue for the /oʊ/.
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Meiosis comes from the Greek prefix me- (less, diminished) and the noun -sis (process, action), via late Latin meiosis. The term implies a reduction in quantity, specifically the halving of chromosome number from diploid to haploid in cell division. The concept was named in the 19th century as scientists began to distinguish reduction division from mitosis. The root me- communicates diminishment; isis is a common Latin/Greek suffix indicating a process. First appearances in scientific literature trace to the 1830s–1870s as cytologists clarified meiosis as a distinct mechanism from ordinary cell division. Over time, precise descriptions of meiotic phases (prophase I, metaphase I, etc.) solidified the term’s meaning, aligning etymology with the observed reduction in genetic material and subsequent genetic variation introduced by recombination during crossing-over.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "Meiosis" and can often be used interchangeably.
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Words that rhyme with "Meiosis"
-sis sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
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