4 syllables: Per, ox, i, somes. Stress on ox.
pur-AHK-sis-ohmz
/pɚˈɑksɪsoʊmz/
Peroxisomes is pronounced pur-AHK-sis-ohmz (/pɚˈɑksɪsoʊmz/). It has four syllables (Per-ox-i-somes), with the stress on "ox". Peroxisomes are small, membrane-bound organelles within cells that contain enzymes for oxidative reactions, notably breaking down fatty acids and detoxifying hydrogen peroxide. They play essential roles in lipid metabolism and reactive oxygen species management, contributing to cellular health and metabolism across eukaryotic organisms.
nounPeroxisomes are small, membrane-bound organelles within cells that contain enzymes for oxidative reactions, notably breaking down fatty acids and detoxifying hydrogen peroxide. They play essential roles in lipid metabolism and reactive oxygen species management, contributing to cellular health and metabolism across eukaryotic organisms.
- Misplacing stress: some speakers place primary stress on the first syllable or evenly across, which flattens the word. Correct by practicing the sequence and confirming the main focus on the 'soʊmz' ending. - Blurring the /ɒk/ with the /sɪ/ sounds: practice the /ˈɒk/ stop, bite the release, keep /s/ crisp. - Final cluster difficulty: /mz/ can slide to a voiceless /m/ or /z/. Practice voicing contrast to ensure final /z/ remains audible. - Lip/teeth positioning: ensure /s/ stays sibilant and the following /m/ is not swallowed. - In rapid speech: avoid reducing the middle syllable; keep /sɪ/ or /si/ distinct before /ˈsoʊmz/.
How to Pronounce Peroxisomes
"The study focused on how peroxisomes contribute to lipid degradation in liver cells."
"Mutations affecting peroxisome biogenesis can lead to metabolic disorders."
"Researchers used fluorescence tagging to observe peroxisome dynamics under stress."
Say peroxisomes as /ˌpɛˌrɒkˈsɪˌsoʊmz/ (US) or /ˌpeəˈrɒkˌsɪˈsəʊmz/ (UK). Start with /p/ then /ɛ/ (as in bed), followed by /r/ with a light tongue tip, then /ɒ/ or /ɒ/ for the second syllable, /k/ sharply, /sɪ/ soft, and end with a long /oʊ/ plus /mz/. The primary stress lands on the 'soʊmz' portion or nearby depending on dialect; maintain clear, crisp /s/ and final /m/ before /z/. Audio reference: visualize a clear pause after the first three syllables, then a strong finish on 'soʊmz'.
Common errors include misplacing the stress (saying per-ox-i-somes with even stress), mispronouncing the /ɒ/ as /ɔː/ in US terms, and slurring the /sɪ/ into /si/ making /ˈpɛrɒkˌsiːˈsoʊmz/. Focus on making the 'ox' syllable crisp /ˈɒk/ and keeping the 'soʊmz' syllable distinct with a clear /s/ then /oʊ/ followed by /mz/.
US: /ˌpɛɹˌɒkˈsɪˌsoʊmz/, rhotic /ɹ/ strongly pronounced. UK: /ˌpeəˈrɒkˌsaɪˈsəʊmz/ with non-rhotic /r/ and a more rounded /ɒ/ in the first vowel. AU: /ˌpɜːˈɒkˌsɪˈsəʊmz/ with a broader /ɜː/ or /ɜːr/ depending on speaker, and a similar final /əʊmz/ as UK. Emphasis patterns also shift slightly, but the final -somes keeps the secondary stress near the suffix.
Two main challenges: the multisyllabic, compound structure with four segments in rapid succession and the combination /ɒkˌsi/ that can blur into /ɒksɪ/ in fast speech. Additionally, the final cluster /mz/ requires precise voicing and lips/teeth coordination to avoid a voiced-voiceless blend. Training with minimal pairs and careful IPA guidance helps you place the primary stress and articulate each segment clearly.
Pay attention to the 'oxy' suffix /ɒksɪ/ and the 'somes' ending /soʊmz/. The /ks/ cluster must be released cleanly, not as /k s/ with a pause. Keep the /z/ voicing in the final /mz/ distinct from /s/; do not devoicing the final z. This keeps the word sonorously aligned with scientific terms.
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- US: rhotics, clearer /ɹ/; ensure final /z/ is voiced; keep the /ɒ/ in /ˌɒk/ crisp. - UK: non-rhotic, watch the non-rhotic /r/ in 'Peroxisomes' and maintain a clear /ɔː/ in /ɒk/; the 'soʊmz' becomes /saʊmz/ in some speakers depending on region; keep IPA-informed mouth shapes. - AU: broader vowels, /ɜː/ or /ɜ/ in the first vowels, maintain non-rhoticity, keep /mz/ final. Emphasize consistent voicing and vowel duration. IPA anchors help you shape your mouth correctly.
Peroxisome derives from the Greek prefix 'para-' meaning 'beside' or 'alongside' and the root 'oxysome' from 'oxy-' (sharp, acid, or oxygen) and 'soma' (body). The term was coined in the mid-20th century as scientists differentiated organelles involved in oxidation from mitochondria and other structures. Early observations in electron microscopy described small, ball-like bodies near mitochondria; as biochemical specialization was uncovered, the term peroxisome was formalized to describe these compartments housing catalase and oxidases. First usage appears in mid-20th-century cell biology literature as investigators mapped enzymatic pathways unique to peroxisomes, noting their distribution across eukaryotes and their roles in lipid metabolism and hydrogen peroxide detoxification. Over subsequent decades, the term broadened to include related peroxisomal biogenesis disorders, highlighting their genetic regulation and clinical importance.
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Words that rhyme with "Peroxisomes"
-ses sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
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