SUHL-feyed
/ˈsʌˌlfaɪd/
sulfide is pronounced SUHL-feyed (/ˈsʌˌlfaɪd/). Sulfide refers to a compound containing sulfur in the sulfide anion S2−, or—less formally—a sulfur-containing mineral or compound (often as sulfide minerals such as pyrite or galena). In chemistry, it denotes compounds in which sulfur is bonded to more electropositive elements. In everyday usage, sulfide often appears in mineralogy, geology, and inorganic chemistry contexts and carries a definite sulfurous, often metallic, connotation.
Sulfide refers to a compound containing sulfur in the sulfide anion S2−, or—less formally—a sulfur-containing mineral or compound (often as sulfide minerals such as pyrite or galena). In chemistry, it denotes compounds in which sulfur is bonded to more electropositive elements. In everyday usage, sulfide often appears in mineralogy, geology, and inorganic chemistry contexts and carries a definite sulfurous, often metallic, connotation.
"The ore contained visible sulfide minerals such as pyrite and galena."
"Sulfide ions play a crucial role in metal ore leaching processes."
"The instructor explained the difference between sulfide and sulfate in inorganic chemistry."
US/UK/AU pronunciation is /ˈsəlˌfaɪd/. Start with a short 's' plus schwa plus 'l' blend for the first syllable, then a clear 'f' followed by a long 'i' (/aɪ/) and ending with a soft 'd'. Stress falls on the first syllable. You’ll hear it as SUL-fide, with the vowel in ‘sul’ being a mid-central vowel and the second syllable carrying the long I sound. IPA: US /ˈsəlˌfaɪd/, UK /ˈsʌlˌfaɪd/, AU /ˈsʌlˌfaɪd/.
Two common errors: misplacing the /ˌaɪ/ as a short /aɪ/ or mispronouncing the first syllable with a full 'u' as in 'sul-'. Correct by ensuring the first syllable has a lax schwa or mid-central vowel (US: /ˈsəl/), not /ˈsuːl/ and keeping the second syllable as /faɪd/ with a crisp /f/ and final voiced stop /d/. Practice by isolating /ˈsəl/ and /faɪd/, then blend smoothly.
All three share /ˈsəlˌfaɪd/ or /ˈsʌlˌfaɪd/ with primary stress on the first syllable. US often uses a lighter, more centralized /ə/ in /səl/, UK and AU may show a slightly higher /ʌ/ in the first syllable. The rhotics differ only in some US varieties; non-rhotic accents may drop post-vocalic r, but sulfide lacks r. Vowel quality in the first syllable is the main difference: US tends toward /ə/ or /ə/; UK/AU more variable between /ʌ/ and /ə/ depending on speaker and region.
The challenge lies in the two distinct vowel sounds in quick succession: a lax, reduced first syllable /ˈsəl/ and the diphthong in /faɪd/. Getting the transition between /s/ and /əl/ smooth, and then linking to the /faɪd/ without adding an extra syllable or extra vowels, can be tricky. The 'l' and the /f/ onset of the second syllable require precise tongue positioning; practice with slow-motions and then connect to faster speech.
A distinctive feature is the potential for subtle aspirated vs. unaspirated /f/ and the length of the vowel in the second syllable under rapid speech. In careful speech, keep /faɪd/ clearly separated from /səl/, avoiding any intrusion that creates an extra syllable. The consonant cluster at the boundary should be crisp, with the /l/ still being light but present. IPA reference: /ˈsəlˌfaɪd/.
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US: rhotics often present /ɹ/ in connected speech; maintain a soft /ɹ/ if present and avoid overt vowel change. UK: more centralized first-syllable vowels; keep /ʌ/ or /ə/ depending on region. AU: similar to UK but can have even more centralized vowel reductions in fast speech. Across accents, the key is to preserve /ˈsəl/ or /ˈsʌl/ with a clear /faɪd/ second syllable and crisp /f/ and /d/. IPA guidance: US /ˈsəlˌfaɪd/, UK /ˈsʌlˌfaɪd/, AU /ˈsʌlˌfaɪd/. Tweak lip rounding and jaw openness accordingly: /s/ with a spread lip and /f/ with upper teeth on lower lip.
Sulfide comes from late Middle English sulfide, from French sulfure, from Latin sulfur, sulfuris, meaning sulfur. The chemical sense—an anion or compound containing sulfur bonded to metals—emerged in the 19th century as inorganic chemistry formalized terminology. The root sulfur itself traces to ancient languages: Latin sulfur, Greek theion, and perhaps earlier Proto-Indo-European roots related to blistering or burning. The modern suffix -ide indicates a chemical species resulting from the combination or derivation of elements, common in mineral and inorganic chemistry. Historically, as mineral-based chemistry advanced, sulfide minerals such as pyrite, galena, and sphalerite were studied for their economic value and ore-forming processes, influencing industrial chemistry and metallurgy. The term broadened from mineralogical identification to a wider class of compounds (S2− or RS−, RS− meaning organosulfur compounds) as synthetic chemistry developed. First attestations in scientific literature appear in the 18th–19th centuries as practitioners differentiated sulfide minerals from oxides and sulfates, solidifying the usage in both mineralogy and inorganic chemistry. Today, sulfide is ubiquitous in geochemistry, environmental science, and materials chemistry, often carrying connotations of sulfur-rich, sometimes toxic or malodorous species such as hydrogen sulfide, while remaining fundamental to understanding metal sulfide ores and semiconductor materials.
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Words that rhyme with "sulfide"
-ide sounds
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