3 syllables: mon, ox, ide. Stress on ox.
muh-NAHK-seyed
/məˈnɑksaɪd/
monoxide is pronounced muh-NAHK-seyed (/məˈnɑksaɪd/). It has three syllables (mon-ox-ide), with the stress on "ox". Monoxide refers to a chemical compound containing one oxygen atom bonded to another element, most commonly used to describe carbon monoxide (CO). In everyday usage, the term can denote any oxide in which oxygen’s oxidation state is +2, but it is typically encountered in contexts about gases, combustion, and environmental science. The word combines ‘mono-’ (one) with ‘oxide’ (oxygen bound to another element).
Monoxide refers to a chemical compound containing one oxygen atom bonded to another element, most commonly used to describe carbon monoxide (CO). In everyday usage, the term can denote any oxide in which oxygen’s oxidation state is +2, but it is typically encountered in contexts about gases, combustion, and environmental science. The word combines ‘mono-’ (one) with ‘oxide’ (oxygen bound to another element).
- You may default to a generic ‘mono-oxide’ with equal emphasis; instead, stress the first syllable: MON. - The /ɒ/ sound can shift toward /ə/ in rapid speech; practice stabilizing it as a short open back rounded vowel. - The /aɪ/ diphthong should begin with /a/ and glide to /ɪ/ or /i/ depending on dialect; avoid turning it into a simple /iː/ or /ɜː/. - The final /d/ is easy to devoice or drop in fast speech; ensure you end with a crisp /d/. - In connected speech, the consonant cluster around the vowel can blur; keep a slight pause or separation before the /d/ to signal the end.
"The monitor detected a dangerous monoxide leak in the basement."
"Carbon monoxide is a colorless, odorless gas that can be lethal in enclosed spaces."
"Industrial safety protocols require detectors for monoxide to protect workers."
Pronounce as MON-uh-ride with primary stress on MON. In IPA US/UK/AU: /ˈmɒnˌaɪd/. The first syllable carries the primary stress; the second syllable rhymes with “ride.” Your mouth starts with an open back rounded vowel for /ɒ/ in British-influenced speech, then glides into /aɪ/ for the long I, ending with /d/. In careful speech, keep /ɒ/ distinct from /ə/ in unstressed syllables. Audio reference: [insert platform link].
Common errors: 1) Misplacing the stress, saying mono-oxide with even stress; 2) Slurring /ɪ/ into /aɪ/ or mispronouncing /aɪ/ as /iː/; 3) Dropping the final /d/ in fast speech. Corrections: emphasize the /ˈmɒn/ first syllable, make /aɪ/ a clear diphthong (start low, glide to /ɪ/ or /aɪ/), and finish firmly with a crisp /d/. Practice with slow pronunciation, then speed up while keeping the final consonant voiced.
US/UK/AU all use /ˈmɒnˌaɪd/ with primary stress on MON. The main variation is vowel quality: US tends to have a broader /ɒ/ or /ɑ/ in certain regions, UK often retains a tighter /ɒ/ and clearer /aɪ/, and Australian tends toward a centralized ending vowel and a slightly flatter /aɪ/. Rhoticity: all three are non-rhotic in standard British usage, but American speakers may insert a subtle rhoticity in rapid speech in some dialects. Overall, the consonants /m/ /n/ and /d/ stay stable.
The difficulty lies in the diphthong /aɪ/ combined with the surrounding short vowels and the final /d/. For many speakers, the transition from /ɒ/ to /aɪ/ can be rapid, causing mis-articulation or vowel collapse. The ending /d/ can be devoiced or dropped in casual speech, so you may hear /ˈmɒnˌaɪ/ without the final /d/. Focus on sustaining the glide into /aɪ/ and articulating the ending /d/ clearly in careful speech.
A unique aspect is handling the two separate syllables with distinct vowel qualities: /ɒ/ then /aɪ/. The word also features a clear primary stress on the first syllable, which can be overlooked in rapid speech. Keeping the /ɒ/ distinct from /ə/ in connected speech helps avoid mispronouncing as /ˈmənˌaɪd/. Remember to maintain crisp enunciation of the /d/ at the end even in rapid safety or scientific contexts.
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- US: Rhotic influence is minimal; keep /ɒ/ distinct and allow a pronounced /ɪ/ in /aɪ/. - UK: Lean into a tighter /ɒ/ and a more pronounced /aɪ/ with a clear glide; often non-rhotic in careful speech, so you may hear a softer /d/ at the end. - AU: Slightly more centralized /ɒ/ and a flatter /aɪ/ with a less pronounced diphthong; closed-mouth ending with a crisp /d/. IPA references: US /ˈmɒnˌaɪd/, UK /ˈmɒnˌaɪd/, AU /ˈmɒnˌaɪd/.
Monoxide is formed from the prefix mono- (Greek monos, meaning ‘one’ or ‘single’) and oxide, from the late Latin oxidum, based on the Greek oxys (acid, sharp) and the stem -oxide. The term oxide itself descends from chemical nomenclature developed in the 18th and 19th centuries as chemists classified compounds of oxygen with other elements. Mono- as a combining form has appeared in English since the 17th century, signaling a single unit; for oxide, early use relates to oxygen-containing compounds. The first uses of monoxide in English texts appear in scientific literature as chemists described molecules with a single oxygen atom bonded to another element, especially in discussions of carbon monoxide (CO) and metal oxides. Over time, monoxide has remained a stable, specialized term in inorganic chemistry, rarely used outside technical writing unless paired with specific metals or contexts (e.g., monoxide ligands, neutral monoxide gas discussions). In contemporary usage, monoxide most commonly points to carbon monoxide in everyday safety and chemistry contexts, while also appearing in broader oxide chemistry to denote a single-oxygen oxide species.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "monoxide" and can often be used interchangeably.
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Words that rhyme with "monoxide"
-ide sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
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