3 syllables: Ri, bo, some. Stress on Ri.
RIB-uh-sohm
/ˈrɪbəsoʊm/
Ribosome is pronounced RIB-uh-sohm (/ˈrɪbəsoʊm/). It has three syllables (Ri-bo-some), with the stress on "Ri". Ribosome is a cellular particle that facilitates protein synthesis by translating messenger RNA into polypeptide chains. It consists of RNA and protein components and operates in two subunits, scanning mRNA and coordinating tRNA binding. Ribosomes are essential for gene expression in all living cells and come in cytoplasmic and organelle-specific forms across organisms.
nounRibosome is a cellular particle that facilitates protein synthesis by translating messenger RNA into polypeptide chains. It consists of RNA and protein components and operates in two subunits, scanning mRNA and coordinating tRNA binding. Ribosomes are essential for gene expression in all living cells and come in cytoplasmic and organelle-specific forms across organisms.
"Scientists isolated ribosomes to study how proteins are built from amino acids."
"In bacteria, ribosomes differ slightly in size and antibiotic susceptibility compared to human ribosomes."
"Ribosomes assemble on messenger RNA to translate codons into the amino acid sequence of a protein."
Ribosome is pronounced /ˈraɪ.boʊˌsoʊm/ in US and UK English. Primary stress is on the first syllable: RI-bo-some, with a secondary pitch rise on the middle syllable. Your mouth starts with a long /aɪ/ vowel, then a rounded /oʊ/ before the final /soʊm/. For clarity, say RI-BO-some, ensuring the /boʊ/ is compact and the final /m/ is released cleanly.
Common errors include misplacing stress as RI-bo-some vs ri-BO-some, or pronouncing the middle syllable as /ɒ/ or /ə/ instead of a clear /boʊ/. Another frequent issue is ending with a clipped /m/ without a proper nasal release. Correct by emphasizing the /boʊ/ cluster and keeping the final /m/ with a brief nasal release before voicing ends.
In US, UK, and AU, /ˈraɪ.boʊˌsoʊm/ remains consistent in vowels, but rhoticity affects the /r/ in some dialects. US usually pronounces the initial /r/ clearly; UK tends to a slightly lighter /r/ or non-rhotic variant depending on speaker, while AU often mirrors US vowel quality with the same overall rhythm. The final /m/ remains a stable bilabial nasal across all three. IPA guides help distinguish subtle vowel shifts like /oʊ/ vs /əʊ/ in some accents.
The challenge lies in the three-syllable rhythm with a strong first-stress pattern and a mid syllable /boʊ/ that blends quickly into /soʊm/. The diphthongs /aɪ/ and /oʊ/ require precise tongue movement, and the final /m/ can be muffled in rapid speech. Focused practice on the trigraph -bo- and the final -some with clear nasal release will reduce slippage in scientific talk.
A unique point is the /ˈraɪ/ onset combined with /boʊ/ and /soʊm/, where the middle syllable carries notable duration contrast in careful speech. Ensure the /oʊ/ of -bo- and the /oʊ/ of -some are not reduced to /ə/; keep them as full diphthongs. Also, avoid turning -some into -s-om or -sum; maintain the /soʊm/ sequence with a clear /s/ onset and nasal /m/ finish.
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Ribosome derives from French ribosome, combining ribo- from ribonucleic acid (RNA) and -some from Greek soma meaning body. The term emerged in the mid-20th century amid advances in molecular biology as scientists distinguished ribonucleoprotein particles involved in protein synthesis. Earlier work identified ribonucleic acids as key catalysts, and the concept of a ribosome as a functional body or “particle” responsible for translating genetic code crystallized as electron microscopy revealed distinct subunits. The earliest uses in academic literature date to the 1950s and 1960s when researchers such as George Palade and others described ribosomal subunits and their role in translation. The name reflected its composite nature—RNA-rich bodies that are not purely protein-making machines, but complexes where both RNA and proteins contribute to catalytic activity. Over decades, ribosomes have been characterized by differences in bacterial, archaeal, and eukaryotic forms, including variations in rRNA content and protein composition, but the term ribosome has endured as the standard designation for the translation machinery.
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Words that rhyme with "Ribosome"
-ome sounds
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