6 syllables: O, vo, vi, vi, pa, rous. Stress on vi.
oh-voh-VIV-ip-ur-uhs
/ˌoʊvoˈvɪvɪpɚəs/
Ovoviviparous is pronounced oh-voh-VIV-ip-ur-uhs (/ˌoʊvoˈvɪvɪpɚəs/). It has six syllables (O-vo-vi-vi-pa-rous), with the stress on "vi". Ovoviviparous is an adjective describing animals that produce eggs which hatch inside the mother's body, so offspring emerge live rather than as externally laid eggs. The term combines egg-producing and live-birth concepts, indicating internal development with external birth, as seen in certain reptiles and fish. It denotes a reproductive strategy where eggs develop within the female and hatch internally or immediately at birth.
adjectiveOvoviviparous is an adjective describing animals that produce eggs which hatch inside the mother's body, so offspring emerge live rather than as externally laid eggs. The term combines egg-producing and live-birth concepts, indicating internal development with external birth, as seen in certain reptiles and fish. It denotes a reproductive strategy where eggs develop within the female and hatch internally or immediately at birth.
How to Pronounce Ovoviviparous
"The boa constrictor is ovoviviparous, giving birth to live young after eggs hatch inside the mother."
"Some shark species are ovoviviparous, ensuring more developed offspring at birth."
"Ovoviviparous reptiles can regulate embryonic development within the mother's body."
Pronunciation: /ˌɒ.və.vɪˈpær.əs/ (US/UK). Primary stress on the third syllable 'par' in 'parous', with secondary stress on the 'vo' or 'vi' depending on speaker. Break it as o-vo-vi-PAR-ous. Ensure the 'vi' is short, the 'par' is clear, and the final 'ous' sounds like 'əs'. Audio resources: multiple dictionaries offer speaker recordings; try Cambridge or Oxford for reference.
Common errors: (1) Misplacing stress, pronouncing it as o-VO-viv-i- PARA-us. (2) Slurring the 'vi' to 'viv' leading to /ˌɒ.vəˈvɪˌpaɹəs/. (3) Not clearly voicing the final 'ous' as 'əs' in connected speech. Correction: emphasize the /pær/ block with a crisp /p/ and a schwa at the end; slow the pace on the 'par' to avoid running into the 'ous'. Use spaced repetition in listening to correct recordings.
US: /ˌɑː.vɒ.vɪˈpær.əs/ or /ˌɒv.ə.vɪˈpɑːrəs/ with rhoticity affecting the 'r' in 'parous'. UK: /ˌɒ.və.vɪˈpær.əs/ less rhoticity in some regions; clear /æ/ in 'par'. AU: /ˌɒ.vɔː.vɪˈpær.əs/ with broader vowel quality and often non-rhotic; 'par' remains prominent. Key differences: vowel quality in 'ov(o)', 'vivi', and 'par', and rhoticity. Listen to local dictionaries for exact speaker variations.
Difficult because it stacks three morphemes with similar sounds: o-vo-vi-; the sequence 'ovi' can blur to 'ovi' and 'viv' near each other. The stress pattern shifts to 'par', and the -ous suffix, though common, can reduce clarity. Additionally, the vowel transitions /ɒ/ to /ə/ to /ɪ/ in quick speech challenge non-native speakers. Practicing slow, then progressively faster reads with-tokenized chunks helps master the cadence.
Does Ovoviviparous have any silent letters? No. The pronunciation relies on all letters being voiced in sequence; no silent letters. The challenge lies in the staggered syllable boundaries and the 'par' cluster: arrange your mouth to produce /pɑːr/ distinctly before the final /əs/. IPA guidance helps you avoid swallowing the final schwa in rapid speech.
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US: rhotic /r/ in 'parous' is slower; medium /ɑː/ or /ɒ/ vowel, 'ov' can be /ɒv/; UK: non-rhotic tendency, clearer /ˈpær/ in the stressed syllable, final 'ous' as /əs/; AU: less rhotic, broader /ɒvəːˈpæɹəs/ variants. Vowel quality: 'o' often pronounced /ɒ/ or /ɔ/, 'vi' as /vɪ/; 'par' with /pær/ or /pɑː/. IPA references: US /ˌɒ.voʊˈvɪ.pə.rəs/ varies by speaker; UK /ˌɒ.və.vɪˈpær.əs/; AU /ˌɒ.vɒ.vɪˈpæɹ.əs/. Perceptual cues: ensure the 'v' is voiced, and the 'par' has a strong plosive to anchor the word.
Ovoviviparous derives from Latin ovi- (egg) + vivi- (alive, living) + -parous (bearing, producing). The ovi- element reflects the presence of eggs; vivi- indicates living offspring; parous is a suffix used in biology to denote bearing. The term first emerged in scientific contexts in the 19th century as comparative anatomy and reproductive biology refined classifications of animal reproduction. It clarifies modes between oviparous (egg-laying) and viviparous (live birth with full gestation). Early usage appears in anatomical treatises and zoological surveys examining sharks, reptiles, and some invertebrates. Through the late 1800s and early 1900s, ovoviviparous was used to describe species where eggs hatch inside the mother, with the young often being born after internal development, without a placental connection as in classic viviparity. Today, the term is common in biology and veterinary contexts, especially in species where embryonic development occurs with internal eggs that hatch into free-living young either before birth or just after birth, highlighting a spectrum of reproductive strategies.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "Ovoviviparous" and can often be used interchangeably.
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Words that rhyme with "Ovoviviparous"
-ous sounds
-me) sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
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