3 syllables: Mi, to, sis. Stress on to.
meye-TOH-sis
/maɪˈtoʊsɪs/
Mitosis is pronounced meye-TOH-sis (/maɪˈtoʊsɪs/). It has three syllables (Mi-to-sis), with the stress on "to". Mitosis is a fundamental stage of cell division in which the nucleus divides into two genetically identical nuclei, followed by cytoplasmic division. It ensures equal distribution of a cell’s genetic material into two daughter cells. The process is essential for growth, development, and tissue repair in multicellular organisms.
nounMitosis is a fundamental stage of cell division in which the nucleus divides into two genetically identical nuclei, followed by cytoplasmic division. It ensures equal distribution of a cell’s genetic material into two daughter cells. The process is essential for growth, development, and tissue repair in multicellular organisms.
How to Pronounce Mitosis
"During mitosis, the chromosomes condense and align at the center of the cell."
"Cancer research often focuses on errors that occur during mitosis."
"Mitosis is followed by cytokinesis, which splits the cytoplasm."
You say /maɪˈtoʊ.sɪs/ in US English, with the primary stress on the second syllable: mi-TO-sis. The first syllable sounds like 'my' and the third like 'sis' with a short, crisp 's' at the end. In IPA: US /maɪˈtoʊsɪs/, UK /maɪˈtɒsɪs/, AU /maɪˈtɒsɪs/. Imagine saying 'my-toh-sis' with the middle vowel held slightly longer than the others.
Two frequent errors are misplacing stress or mispronouncing the middle vowel. People often say 'mi-TOH-sis' with an overly long 'to' or collapse the second syllable. Correct by stressing the second syllable and using a clear, short 's' ending: /maɪˈtoʊsɪs/ (US) or /maɪˈtɒsɪs/ (UK/AU). Practice by isolating mi- and -sis while giving the middle syllable a concise, tense quality rather than a drawn-out vowel.
In US English, the second syllable carries primary stress with a long 'o' (/toʊ/). UK/AU typically use /tɒ/ in the second syllable, so /maɪˈtɒsɪs/, with a shorter, more open vowel. Final consonant is a crisp /s/. The rhotics differ: US adds an 'r' coloring only after vowels in some contexts, but not here; non-rhotic UK/AU still realize the word without an 'r'. Vowel quality and length are the main differentiators.
The challenge lies in the subtle second-syllable vowel length and the orderly, clipped final -sis. English stress-timed rhythm can make /ˌtoʊ/ or /ˈtɒs/ sounds tricky if you’re not pairing clearly differentiated vowels with the stress. Additionally, the word’s similarity to other biology terms ('metosis', 'fotosis' in some languages) can cause confusion. Focus on the exact IPA: /maɪˈtoʊsɪs/ (US) or /maɪˈtɒsɪs/ (UK/AU) and keep the middle vowel tight.
A common unique query is whether the middle vowel is a long o or short o. In standard English, the middle vowel is a long 'o' as in 'go' for US pronunciation: /toʊ/. In many UK and AU varieties, it’s a shorter 'o' as in 'lot' before a tense 's' ending: /tɒ/ . Remember the stress pattern: mi-TO-sis, with the nucleus vowel of the second syllable lengthened slightly to support the long 'o'.
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The word mitosis comes from the Greek words 'mitos' meaning thread or filament and 'osis' meaning process or condition. The term reflects the thread-like chromosomes that become visible during the division process. First used in the late 19th century as microscopy revealed the staged distribution of chromosomes during cell division, mitosis was distinguished from meiosis in studies of cellular reproduction. Early cell biologists such as Walther Flemming observed mitotic figures and coined terms that described the thread-like appearance of chromosomes (mitos). Over time, 'mitosis' came to denote the entire nuclear division phase of cell division, separate from cytokinesis, and later, throughout the 20th century, the mechanistic details of spindle formation, chromatid separation, and checkpoint controls were clarified. The term has since become foundational in genetics, cytology, and developmental biology, used universally to describe the precise, soap-bubble-like stages of chromosomal alignment, separation, and reformation that ensure genetic stability across daughter cells.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "Mitosis" and can often be used interchangeably.
🔄 These words have opposite meanings to "Mitosis" and show contrast in usage.
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Words that rhyme with "Mitosis"
-sis sounds
-is? sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
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