4 syllables: pe, ro, xi, some. Stress on xi.
per-ok-SOHM
/ˌpɛrɒkˈsəʊm/
peroxisome is pronounced per-ok-SOHM (/ˌpɛrɒkˈsəʊm/). It has four syllables (pe-ro-xi-some), with the stress on "xi". A cell organelle containing enzymes that catalyze reactions to break down fatty acids and detoxify harmful substances; peroxisomes are bounded by a single membrane and contain enzymes for redox reactions. They play a key role in lipid metabolism and reactive oxygen species detoxification, contributing to cellular homeostasis in eukaryotic cells. The term blends 'peroxide' and 'somes' from ancient Greek roots describing their function and structure.
A cell organelle containing enzymes that catalyze reactions to break down fatty acids and detoxify harmful substances; peroxisomes are bounded by a single membrane and contain enzymes for redox reactions. They play a key role in lipid metabolism and reactive oxygen species detoxification, contributing to cellular homeostasis in eukaryotic cells. The term blends 'peroxide' and 'somes' from ancient Greek roots describing their function and structure.
- You may stress the wrong syllable: place emphasis on the second syllable (pe-ROX-i-some) rather than the first. Practice emphasizing -ROX- in a steady beat. - The middle 'si' can be mispronounced as 'see' or 'si' with a clear long vowel; keep it short and relaxed (ɪ). - Final 'some' is often mispronounced as 'some' with a long o; use /soʊm/ or /səʊm/ depending on accent, with a rounded o and final m crisp. Tip: slow it down to three chunks (per-ROX-i-some) and rehearse stress and vowel length, then blend to natural speed.
"Researchers studied peroxisomes to understand lipid breakdown in liver cells."
"Mutations affecting peroxisomes can lead to metabolic disorders such as Zellweger syndrome."
"The enzyme content of peroxisomes varies by tissue and developmental stage."
Pronounce as /ˌpɛrˈɒk.si.soʊm/ in US and /ˌpeərˈɒk.sɪˌsəʊm/ in UK; Australian follows /ˌpeɾɒkˈsɪsəʊm/ with a rhotic-less US-like rhythm. Primary stress on the second syllable: pe-ROX-i-some. Start with 'peh' (short e), then 'ROX' (like 'rocks'), then 'i' as 'ih', and end with 'sohm'.
Common errors: misplacing the main stress (treating it as pe-ROX-i-some vs. per-ox-YS-ome); pronouncing the middle 'si' as 'see' too long or as 'sih' without proper schwa; omitting the final 'm' or softening the 's' before 'ome'. Correction: place primary stress on the second syllable: pe-ROX-i-some, ensure the 'si' uses a short i as in 'sit' or a reduced 'si' (sih) and finish with a clear 'm'.
US: /ˌpɛrˈɒk.si.soʊm/ with rhoticity, schwa reductions vary; UK: /ˌpeəˈrɒk.sɪˌsəʊm/ less rhotic, more relaxed vowel in initial syllable; AU: /ˌpeːˈɒk.sɪˌsəʊm/ may show longer vowels and a more clipped final syllable. Maintain second-syllable stress in all, but vowel quality changes (US rhotic r, UK non-rhotic, AU mid vowels) and final 'ome' often /oʊm/ or /əʊm/.
Three challenges: a multi-syllabic word with four phonemic blocks; the 'rox' cluster with a strong consonant, and the final '-some' ending that can reduce to /səʊm/ or /soʊm/. The combination of 'per' vs. 'pe' prefix, the 'ox' vs. 'ox' diphthong, and the trailing /m/ requires precise tongue and lip coordination. Focus on the stressed syllable and ensure the 'o' in 'ome' is a tight, rounded /oʊ/.
The sequence 'rox' requires a sharp, aspirated /r/ followed by a strong /ɒ/ or /ɒ/ sound, then a crisp /k/ before the /si/ cluster; the '/si/' should be reduced to a light /sɪ/ rather than a full 'see' vowel. This creates the word's characteristic rhythm: per-ROK-si-some with a stress window around the second syllable.
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- US: emphasize rhotic 'r' in 'per' but drop it slightly in 'perox' if rapid speech; final vowel in 'ome' leans toward /oʊ/ with a clear /m/. - UK: less rhoticity, more reduction in 'per', keep /ɪ/ in 'si' short, and final /əʊm/ or /əʊm/ with relaxed jaw. - AU: often similar to UK with slight lengthening of vowels and clearer /ɪ/ in 'si'; maintain neutral laryngeal tension in the 'rox' cluster. Reference IPA: US /ˌpɛrˈɒk.si.soʊm/, UK /ˌpeəˈrɒk.sɪˌsəʊm/, AU /ˌpeɹɒkˈsɪsəʊm/. - General guidance: focus on the second syllable, tune the middle 'si' to a short, lax vowel, and finish with a neat /m/.
The word peroxisome derives from per- (a combining form referring to peroxide or involving, through the sense of 'through' or 'across') and -oxisome (from Greek -oxys, acute, or sharp, and -soma, body). The origin reflects the organelle’s association with oxidation-reducing reactions (peroxide detoxification). The suffix -soma comes from Greek soma, meaning body, a common ending for cellular structures. First used in the 1960s–1970s as microscopic biochemists characterized peroxisomes as distinct organelles containing oxidases and catalases. Over time the term consolidated in cell biology literature, with later refinements clarifying peroxisome biogenesis, matrix enzymes, and functions in lipid metabolism and ROS detoxification. The etymology mirrors both their enzymatic function (oxidative processes) and their visible, particulate nature inside cells, leading to widespread adoption in genetics and pathology disciplines.
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Words that rhyme with "peroxisome"
-ome sounds
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