5 syllables: Poi, ki, lo, ther, mic. Stress on lo.
poy-kil-OH-thurr-mik
/ˌpɔɪkɪˈloʊθɜːrmɪk/
Poikilothermic is pronounced poy-kil-OH-thurr-mik (/ˌpɔɪkɪˈloʊθɜːrmɪk/). It has five syllables (Poi-ki-lo-ther-mic), with the stress on "lo". Poikilothermic describes an organism whose body temperature matches its environment, rather than regulating it internally. It is typically used in biology to contrast with endothermic animals. The term is formal and scientific, often appearing in research contexts and textbooks.
adjectivePoikilothermic describes an organism whose body temperature matches its environment, rather than regulating it internally. It is typically used in biology to contrast with endothermic animals. The term is formal and scientific, often appearing in research contexts and textbooks.
- Misplacing primary stress: place around the second syllable; practice by clapping on poɪ-ˈkɪ-lə-. - Dropping or merging the th- sound: keep /θ/ distinct from /t/; practice with minimal pairs like 'think' vs 'thin' to reinforce the sound. - Vowel reductions in unstressed syllables: maintain /ə/ or /ɪ/ without collapsing to a schwa; rehearse slow, then speed up.
"The poikilothermic lizard adjusted its body temperature by basking in the sun."
"Researchers studied poikilothermic responses to seasonal temperature changes."
"Poikilothermic species are more sensitive to climate fluctuations than endotherms."
Pronounce as poɪˈkɪləˌθɜːmɪk. Break it as poik-i-LO-ther-mic, with primary stress on the second syllable -kɪ-. The -thermic ending sounds like 'therm-ik' with the 'th' as in think and the 'er' reduced slightly in rapid speech. For guidance, listen to expert narration and mimic the rhythm: /poɪˈkɪləˌθɜːmɪk/.
Common errors: misplacing stress by saying poɪˈkɪl-ə-THER-mɪk; omitting the second syllable vowel so it becomes poɪˈkɪl-therm-ik; mispronouncing the -thermic ending as 'therm-uhk' or flattening the schwa. Correction: emphasize the middle -kɪlə- with clear i-vowel, then pronounce -θɜːmɪk. Practice the sequence poɪ-ˈkɪ-lə-ˌθɜː-mɪk and keep the 'θ' voiceless fricative distinct from 't' or 'd'.
US tends to reduce some unstressed vowels and keep rhotics; you’ll hear poɪˈkɪləˌθɜːmɪk with a rhotic American /ɜːr/ variant in some speakers, and a longer vowel in -ther- depending on speaker. UK often has non-rhotic pronunciation and slightly tighter vowel quality: pɔɪˌkɪləˈθɜːmɪk. Australian mirrors UK vowel colors but with more centralized vowels and a less prominent /ɜː/. Listen for the /ɜː/ in -ther- and the 'th' sound as in think across varieties.
Difficulties come from the multi-syllabic structure and the cluster poikil(o)- with the diphthong /ɔɪ/ followed by unstressed -kɪlə-, then the consonant cluster -θɜːmɪk. The combination of /ɪ/ vs /ɪə/, the 'th' + 'erm' sequencing, and stress placement on -kɪ- create a staging challenge. Focusing on isolating the three main syllables and practicing the sequence helps your mouth adapt to the rapid shifts in articulation.
One unique angle is the long -therm- segment combined with -ic that can tempt speakers to reduce the -ther- into -ter-. Keep the order: poik-i-LO-thur-mik, with clear dental fricative θ and the 'er' as a mid-central vowel. Visualize the mouth shape: start with /poɪ/ rounded lip posture for the diphthong, then open wide for /kɪlə/ before a crisp /θɜː/ and finish with /mɪk/. This precision is what sets it apart in spoken science discourse.
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US: rhotic accents may keep a more pronounced /ɜːr/ in -ther-, UK/AU often use non-rhotic approximations; to spot differences, practice with: US: poɪˈkɪləˌθɜːmɪk; UK: pɔɪˌkɪləˈθɜːmɪk; AU: poɪˌkɪləˈθɜːmɪk. Focus on the -ɜː/ -ə- transitions and final /mɪk/. IPA cues help calibrate mouth shape and timing.
Poikilothermic comes from the Greek poikilo- meaning 'varied' or 'spotted' and therme meaning 'hot' (temperature) combined with -ic forming an adjective, and finally -thermic, from thermē meaning heat. The word entered English scientific usage in the 19th century as physiology and comparative anatomy formalized terms for temperature regulation. Early investigators distinguished organisms that could not maintain a constant internal temperature, labeling them poikilothermic or ectothermic, with poikilothermic emphasizing variance in body temperature with the environment. Over time, the term has remained standard in zoology and ecology to describe species whose body temperature fluctuates with external conditions, especially in ectothermic vs. endothermic debates. The first known usages appear in 19th-century scientific papers on vertebrate physiology, gradually becoming common in textbooks and climate biology literature. In modern usage, poikilothermic is paired with endothermic to discuss adaptations to thermal environments and influences on metabolic rates, habitat ranges, and behavior. The word’s Latin-Greek roots reflect a long-standing interest in how organisms regulate heat and energy in relation to ambient conditions.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "Poikilothermic" and can often be used interchangeably.
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Words that rhyme with "Poikilothermic"
-mic sounds
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