4 syllables: Se, ro, to, nin. Stress on to.
sir-uh-TOH-nin
/sɪrəˈtoʊnɪn/
Serotonin is pronounced sir-uh-TOH-nin (/sɪrəˈtoʊnɪn/). It has four syllables (Se-ro-to-nin), with the stress on "to". Serotonin is a neurotransmitter involved in mood, sleep, and appetite regulation. It is produced in the brain and gut, and imbalances are linked to depression and anxiety. In biology and medicine, it’s typically referred to as 5-HT and studied for its widespread physiological effects.
nounSerotonin is a neurotransmitter involved in mood, sleep, and appetite regulation. It is produced in the brain and gut, and imbalances are linked to depression and anxiety. In biology and medicine, it’s typically referred to as 5-HT and studied for its widespread physiological effects.
"Researchers measured serotonin levels in cerebrospinal fluid to assess mood disorders."
"Serotonin reuptake inhibitors are a common class of antidepressants."
"The gut-brain axis suggests serotonin also influences intestinal motility."
US/UK/AU pronunciations converge on /ˌsɛr oʊˈtoʊnɪn/ (U.S.) or /ˌsɛr oʊˈtɔːnɪn/ (some UK speakers). Primary stress sits on the second syllable-bounded sequence 'to-' with secondary stress on 'ser-'. Break it as ser-o-TO-nin, with a clear /s/ + /ɛ/ + /ɹ/ glide into /oʊ/ and the final /nɪn/. In careful speech, articulate all syllables; in quick speech, the middle vowel can be shortened to /tɔn/ or /tə/. Audio reference: consult standard dictionaries’ pronunciation tabs for 5-HT naming.
Two frequent errors: 1) Truncating the middle syllable—say 'ser-o-teen' instead of 'ser-o-to-nin'—keep the /to/ and /nɪn/ to maintain the four-syllable rhythm. 2) Misplacing stress or mispronouncing the /toʊ/ as /təʊ/ or /tɔː/; ensure the strong secondary vowel is a clear /oʊ/ and place primary stress on the 'to' syllable. Practice with a slow, deliberate tempo and then speed up while keeping syllable boundaries intact.
In US English, ser-o-TO-nin with /ˌsɛɹ oʊˈtoʊnɪn/. UK speakers may lean toward /ˌsɛɹəˈtəʊnɪn/ with a less rhotacized final syllable and a longer /əʊ/ in the second syllable. Australian speakers often preserve a closer /ˌsɪˈrəˌtoʊnɪn/ pattern, with a slightly flatter intonation and reduced r-coloring in non-rhotic forms. Across dialects, the nucleus vowel of the second syllable can shift slightly (to /oʊ/ or /əʊ/), and r-coloring varies by rhoticity.
The difficulty centers on the three distinct vowel sounds in quick succession and the final nasal cluster. The sequence /sɛr/ → /oʊ/ can trip beginners as the mouth shifts from a front to a back vowel and a glued /r/ before a tense /oʊ/ vowel. The final /nɪn/ also tests accuracy with a light, quick nasal closure. Focus on holding the onset /s/ and the secondary stress while maintaining smooth transitions between syllables.
A notable feature is the 'to' diphthong in the stressed syllable: /toʊ/. The combination with the following /nɪn/ requires maintaining a crisp boundary; otherwise, the middle portion can blur into a single long vowel. Also, the r-colored preceding /r/ in some dialects can affect adjacent vowel quality, so keep the /r/ light and fast in non-rhotic accents.
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Serotonin originated from the combination of ‘seroton-’ derived from the Latin word serenus meaning ‘serene, calm’, and the chemical suffix -in. The term 5-hydroxytryptamine was the original, descriptive name noting its chemical structure: a monoamine with a hydroxyl group and an indole backbone. The molecule was identified in the 1940s by researchers who isolated the amine from both blood platelets and brain tissue. The shorthand serotonin emerged as a widely used term in neurochemistry, with 5-HT adopted in scientific literature and clinical contexts to signify its identity as 5‑hydroxytryptamine. Over time, serotonin became central to discussions of mood regulation, pain, and gut physiology, with the colloquial 'serotonin’ reinforcing its cultural association with happiness and well-being. First known use in print appears in mid‑20th century biochemistry texts and pharmacology literature as researchers mapped its role in neurotransmission and pharmacodynamics of antidepressants.
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Words that rhyme with "Serotonin"
-tin sounds
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