5 syllables: Mi, to, chon, dri, on. Stress on chon.
meye-tuh-KAHN-dree-uhn
/ˌmaɪtəˈkɑndɹiən/
Mitochondrion is pronounced meye-tuh-KAHN-dree-uhn (/ˌmaɪtəˈkɑndɹiən/). It has five syllables (Mi-to-chon-dri-on), with the stress on "chon". Mitochondrion is a membrane-bound organelle found in most eukaryotic cells, often described as the powerhouse of the cell because it generates most of the cell’s supply of adenosine triphosphate (ATP). It contains its own DNA and ribosomes, enabling a degree of independence within the cellular environment. The term is used in biology, biochemistry, and medicine, typically in scientific and academic contexts.
nounMitochondrion is a membrane-bound organelle found in most eukaryotic cells, often described as the powerhouse of the cell because it generates most of the cell’s supply of adenosine triphosphate (ATP). It contains its own DNA and ribosomes, enabling a degree of independence within the cellular environment. The term is used in biology, biochemistry, and medicine, typically in scientific and academic contexts.
"The mitochondrion plays a crucial role in cellular energy production and metabolism."
"Researchers examined mitochondrial DNA to study evolutionary relationships."
"During exercise, mitochondria adapt by increasing their capacity to generate ATP."
Pronounced /ˌmɪtəˈkɒndriən/ (US/UK) with four syllables: mi-to-chon-dri-on. The primary stress is on the third syllable: /kɒn/. Begin with a short /mɪ/ vowel, a schwa-like /tə/ or /tə/ in fast speech, then /ˈkɒn/ (British /ˈkɒn/; US /ˈkɒn/), followed by /dri/ and a final /ən/. Lips neutral for the first, slight rounding for the /ɒ/ in the stressed syllable, and a clear /d/ before the /ri/ cluster. Audio references: consult standard dictionaries or pronunciation platforms for native speaker recordings.
Common errors: oversimplifying the middle consonant cluster by saying /mɪt oʊ d rɪən/ or misplacing the stress on the second or fourth syllable. Another frequent mistake is pronouncing the second syllable as /ˈmiːto/ or elongating the /ri/ into /riən/ without reducing the schwa. Correction: keep four distinct syllables with primary stress on the third: mi-to-CON-dri-on; ensure the /kɒ/ vowel in the stressed syllable is short, not a long /koʊ/; place /d/ smoothly before /ri/. Use slow repetition to embed the rhythm.” ,
Across accents, US/UK/AU share /ˌmɪtəˈkɒndrɪən/ but vowel quality varies: US often shows a slightly broader /ɒ/ in the stressed /ˈkɒn/; UK remains similar with a clipped /ɒ/ and less rhoticity difference, AU tends toward a more centralized vowel for /ɒ/ and a slightly broader /ɪ/ in the first syllable. The final /ən/ is generally unstressed and reduced in all variants. Rhoticity is not a major factor here; the key variation is vowel height and duration in /ɒ/ and the velocity of the /dri/ sequence.
It combines a long word with multiple syllables and two consonant clusters: /tɒn/ and /dr/. The /ˈkɒn/ is a strong stressed nucleus, making the following /dr/ sequence tricky to articulate cleanly in rapid speech. Also, the informal, often-reduced second syllable /tə/ can blur with /mi/. Focus on segmenting as mi-to-CON-dri-on and practice slow speed to anchor the rhythm before speed.
A noteworthy nuance is negotiating the /dr/ cluster after the stressed /kɒn/. Many speakers neutralize the /d/ in fast speech, producing /ˈkɒndriən/ instead of /kɒn.dri.ən/. To correct: clearly release /d/ before /r/; keep /ri/ as a light, quick syllable rather than a heavy, separate vowel. This ensures the final syllable remains distinct and prevents a run-together /drən/.
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The word mitochondrion comes from the Greek mitos ‘thread’ and chondrion ‘granule, grain-like body’ (in some interpretations ‘mitos’ is read as ‘thread’ and ‘chondrion’ as ‘granule’). The term was coined in the 19th century as scientists began to identify subcellular structures; the first documented use dates to the late 1890s, with early descriptions by researchers studying cellular ultrastructure. The original concept referred to a thread-like body within cells, and as microscopy advanced, the term shifted to denote membrane-bound energy-producing organelles. The modern understanding positions mitochondria as semi-autonomous organelles with their own circular DNA and ribosomes, reflecting an endosymbiotic origin hypothesis. The etymology tracks from Greek roots into Latinized scientific vocabulary, entering English through the biological literature that matured in the 20th century. Over time, the term became standard in textbooks, lectures, and research, while the functional emphasis on ATP production and metabolic pathways cemented its centrality in cell biology and medicine.
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Words that rhyme with "Mitochondrion"
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