3 syllables: Me, la, nin. Stress on Me.
MEL-uh-nuhn
/ˈmɛlənən/
Melanin is pronounced MEL-uh-nuhn (/ˈmɛlənən/). It has three syllables (Me-la-nin), with the stress on "Me". Melanin is a natural pigment produced by specialized cells in the skin, hair, and eyes that determines coloration and provides some protection against UV radiation. It varies in amount and type among individuals and populations. As a term, it also describes a class of pigments that contribute to diverse human phenotypes and are studied in genetics, dermatology, and anthropology.
nounMelanin is a natural pigment produced by specialized cells in the skin, hair, and eyes that determines coloration and provides some protection against UV radiation. It varies in amount and type among individuals and populations. As a term, it also describes a class of pigments that contribute to diverse human phenotypes and are studied in genetics, dermatology, and anthropology.
-Misplacing stress: You may say MEL-a-nin; fix by making the second syllable the strong beat: me-LAY-nin. -Vowel drift in /leɪ/: avoid turning to /lɛn/ or /lə/; keep a crisp /eɪ/ or /leɪ/. -Final nasal: ensure /n/ is released clearly, not swallowed; practice with final
How to Pronounce Melanin
"Her skin tone is richer due to higher melanin production in the epidermis."
"The scientist studied how melanin levels change in response to UV exposure."
"Some people with lighter skin may have less melanin but can still tan."
/məˈleɪnɪn/ in US and UK; primary stress on the second syllable: meh-LAY-nin. In IPA for US: /ˈmɛləˌnɪn/ is acceptable in some dialects, but the standard widely accepted form is /ˈmɛləˌnɪn/ or /məˈleɪnɪn/. Start with a neutral schwa first syllable, then stressed /leɪ/; end with a light /nɪn/. Visual cue: 'meh-LAY-nin' with a clear second-syllable vowel. Listening example: Pronounce as 'mel-a-nin' with emphasis on 'LAY'.
Common errors: 1) Stress misplacement, pronouncing it as ME-la-nin. 2) Muddling vowels, turning /leɪ/ into a short /lɛn/. 3) Attaching extra consonants or blending incorrectly at the end. Correction: place primary stress on the second syllable: meh-LAY-nin; keep /lə/ as unstressed but clear, and ensure final /n/ is crisp. Practice with slow breakdown: /mə/ + /ˈleɪ/ + /nɪn/.
US: /məˈleɪnɪn/ with rhotacized or non-rhot AC depending on region; primary stress on second syllable. UK: /ˈmɛlənɪn/ or /məˈleɪnɪn/ with a reduced first syllable; no rhoticity. AU: /ˈmelənɪn/ or /ˈmeːləˌnɪn/ with less tense vowels and a tendency toward a flatter intonation. Focus on the /leɪ/ diphthong in US/UK variants; Australians may shorten /e/ toward /eː/ depending on speaker.
Three features complicate it: 1) The mid-stressed /leɪ/ diphthong requires precise articulation to avoid a flat /lə-/. 2) The unstressed final -in cluster /nɪn/ can be reduced or elided in rapid speech, so you must keep the final /n/ crisp. 3) Subtle vowel shifts across accents; the second syllable diphthong may approach /eɪ/ or /ɛ/ depending on dialect, so hearing and mimicking native exemplars helps stabilize your own pronunciation. IPA cues anchor you in the exact sounds.
A common query asks whether the first syllable should be pronounced with /mə/ or /mɛ/. The preferred US/UK standard uses /mə/ as the preface with a clear second-syllable /ˈleɪ/. The first syllable often reduces to a schwa unless the speaker emphasizes the word for emphasis or contrast. Clarifying this helps ensure smooth, natural delivery in scientific or academic contexts; the main audible cue remains the stress on the diphthong /leɪ/.
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US: rhotics may color vowels slightly; UK: non-rhotic; AU: flatter, less tense vowels, occasional vowel merging. Key vowels: /ə/ (schwa) in the first syllable, /ˈleɪ/ stressed, /nɪn/ final. In US you may hear a more pronounced /ɪ/ in second last syllable; in UK you may reduce /ə/ to a schwa with a lighter /nɪn/ end. IPA references: /məˈleɪnɪn/, /ˈmɛlənɪn/ for some accents.
Melanin derives from the Greek mélas, meaning black or dark, combined with -in, a common chemical or biological suffix. The term entered scientific English in the 19th century as pigment-related descriptors expanded in dermatology and biology. Its roots echo earlier Greek scholarship on color and complexion, where mélas described darkness and contrast to leuko- (white). Early pigment studies linked melanin to skin aging, UV protection, and evolutionary biology, with first scientific mentions appearing in dermatological writings as pigment granules were observed in melanocytes. Through the 20th century, melanin became central to discussions of race, adaption to sun exposure, and forensic science, evolving into a precise biochemical term denoting a class of biopolymers responsible for pigmentation in humans and animals. Modern genetics identifies multiple genes regulating melanin synthesis, distribution, and type (eumelanin vs pheomelanin), linking the pigment to photoprotection, visual appearance, and even certain health outcomes. First known use in English appears in the late 19th century medical literature, following broader scientific interest in cellular pigments and pigment synthesis pathways across organisms.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "Melanin" and can often be used interchangeably.
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Words that rhyme with "Melanin"
-nin sounds
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