One syllable: Spine.
speyen
/spaɪn/
Spine is pronounced speyen (/spaɪn/). It has one syllable (Spine), with the stress on "Spine". Spine is a noun referring to the series of vertebrae that encase the spinal cord, or a central supporting line or backbone of something. It can also denote courage or resolve in figurative usage. The word denotes a structural axis or main support, often used in anatomical and figurative contexts. It’s a concise, single-syllable term with a crisp, high-front vowel and a clear final consonant.
nounSpine is a noun referring to the series of vertebrae that encase the spinal cord, or a central supporting line or backbone of something. It can also denote courage or resolve in figurative usage. The word denotes a structural axis or main support, often used in anatomical and figurative contexts. It’s a concise, single-syllable term with a crisp, high-front vowel and a clear final consonant.
"The surgeon examined the spine for signs of injury."
"Her spine tingled with the cold air as she looked down the cliff."
"The company’s spine of core values guides every decision."
Spine is pronounced /spaɪn/ in US, UK, and AU English. It has a single syllable with a strong /sp/ onset, a long /aɪ/ diphthong, and a final /n/. Start with a clean /s/ release into /p/ without an audible break, then glide into /aɪ/ and finish with an alveolar nasal /n/. Think: “spa” + “ine” with no vowel shortening. IPA: US/UK/AU /spaɪn/.
Common mistakes include treating it as /spiːn/ with a long /iː/ instead of /aɪ/ and misplacing the /p/ so it sounds like /sp∫in/ or /span/. Another frequent error is adding a vowel between the /p/ and /ɪ/ as in /spɪ̀n/ with a reduced vowel; keep it crisp /spaɪn/. Ensure you don’t voice the /p/ as aspirated in careful speech. Practice the exact /spaɪn/ blend.
US, UK, and AU accents share /spaɪn/ but have subtle differences. US often has a slightly higher tongue position for /aɪ/ and may be perceived as more pronounced diphthongization. UK tends toward a slightly shorter, tenser /aɪ/, with less vowel duration variation before nasal /n/. Australian may exhibit a more centralized vowel color in /aɪ/ and a faster overall tempo. In all, rhoticity is not an issue here; the main variation lies in vowel quality and timing rather than consonant onset.
The challenge lies in articulating the /spaɪn/ cluster crisply: efficient /p/ release before the diphthong /aɪ/, and the final nasal /n/ with the tongue touching the alveolar ridge. Some speakers lengthen the /aɪ/ or insert a vowel between /p/ and /aɪ/. Others misplace the tongue for the /sp/ onset, producing /snaɪn/ or /spin/. Focusing on the exact /p/+ /aɪ/ transition and a clean alveolar /n/ will help you land the target sound.
Spine uniquely combines a strong consonant cluster /sp/ with a diphthong /aɪ/ and a final nasal /n/, all in one syllable. The precise sequencing of a crisp /p/ release, a clear /aɪ/ glide, and the final alveolar nasal can be mispronounced as /spiin/ or /spineɪ/ in some dialects. Keeping the /p/ release tight and ensuring the /aɪ/ maintains its natural trajectory without vowel intrusion ensures accurate pronunciation.
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Spine comes from Middle English spine, from Old English spinen, which itself derived fromProto-Germanic *spinnaną, related to the verb spin. The original sense in Proto-Germanic was tied to twisting and weaving, reflecting the word’s metaphorical extension to a central, supporting line. In Old English, spīne referred to a backbone or spine and gradually specialized to anatomical usage as medical and anatomical vocabularies developed in the medieval period. Over time, the metaphorical use of spine to signify courage or resolve emerged in English, likely influenced by the vertebral column’s role as a central, supporting structure. The word has remained consistent in its primary anatomical sense while expanding to abstract meanings, such as “spine of a project” or “spine of an argument,” to denote core structure or backbone. First known uses in English literature trace to the early medieval period, with clear attestations in medical and anatomical texts by the 14th–15th centuries and more widespread figurative use by the 17th century.
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Help others use "Spine" correctly by contributing grammar tips, common mistakes, and context guidance.
💡 These words have similar meanings to "Spine" and can often be used interchangeably.
🔄 These words have opposite meanings to "Spine" and show contrast in usage.
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Words that rhyme with "Spine"
-ine sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
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