SIN-thuh-seyez
/ˈsɪnθəˌsaɪz/
synthesize is pronounced SIN-thuh-seyez (/ˈsɪnθəˌsaɪz/). Synthesize means to combine separate elements or ideas to form a coherent whole, or to chemically produce a compound from simpler substances. It is often used in contexts like science, data analysis, and philosophy to describe merging parts into a unified concept or product. The term emphasizes deliberate integration and synthesis over mere addition.
Synthesize means to combine separate elements or ideas to form a coherent whole, or to chemically produce a compound from simpler substances. It is often used in contexts like science, data analysis, and philosophy to describe merging parts into a unified concept or product. The term emphasizes deliberate integration and synthesis over mere addition.
- Mistaking the /θ/ for /t/ or /s/: keep the dental fricative distinct, place tongue between teeth, blow air, and avoid lip rounding. - Reducing the /ə/ in the second syllable: treat the /ə/ as a short, quick schwa before the stressed /ˈsaɪz/, avoiding an overly clear vowel that breaks the flow. - Final /z/ vs /s/: remember it’s voiced /z/, not /s/; keep voicing through the end. - Try to maintain the two-part stress: you want a strong secondary stress on the second syllable, not only on the last. - Don’t attach extra vowel sounds before /θ/; begin with crisp /sɪn/ then immediately move to /ˈθə/.
"Researchers synthesize data from multiple studies to draw a broader conclusion."
"The chemist synthesized a new compound in the lab."
"The policy proposal synthesizes economic trends with social considerations."
Pronounce as /sɪnˈθəˌsaɪz/ (US) or /sɪˈθɒs.aɪz/ (UK). Stress falls on the second syllable: sin-THĒ-size, with a light, short initial 'si' and a clear /θ/ as in think. The final -ize is /aɪz/. Tip: think of two smaller steps: sin- and the-ize, but merge the middle with a crisp /θ/ and long /aɪ/ in the last syllable.
Common errors: misplacing the primary stress on the first syllable (sin-); mispronouncing the /θ/ as /t/ or /s/ (you want the hard dental fricative as in think); and softening the final /z/ to /s/ instead of the voiced /z/. Correction: place primary stress on the second syllable, pronounce the middle as /θ/ (voiced? no, voiceless dental fricative), and finish with /aɪz/ (not /aɪs/). Practice with careful isolation: sin-THə-zize, then gradually link to speech.
US: /sɪnˈθəˌsaɪz/, with a clear /ɪ/ in first syllable and reduced vowel before stressed syllable. UK: /sɪˈθɒs.aɪz/ or /ˈsɪn.θəˌsaɪz/, rhymes closer to /ɒ/ in the second syllable, less closed vowel in the middle. AU: similar to UK, but with broader vowel quality and sometimes a lighter /θ/; definite non-rhoticity affects adjacent sounds slightly. Across all, the primary stress remains on the second syllable, but vowel qualities shift subtly by accent region.
Key challenges include the two-part middle sequence /ˈθə/ and the final /saɪz/. The /θ/ is a voiceless dental fricative rare in some languages, and the /z/ is voiced at the end; you also have a light schwa-like central vowel in the second syllable that can blur in fluent speech. Controlling the transition from /θ/ to /ə/ and then to /saɪz/ without inserting extra vowels is tricky; practice with careful tongue placement and slow, controlled repetitions.
Could 'synthesize' be misheard as 'synthesise' in British English, and how does that affect pronunciation? In British English, 'synthesise' is the verb form; pronunciation is essentially the same as 'synthesize' but with British vowel timing. The root pronunciation remains /sɪˈθə.saɪz/ with stress on the second syllable; the spelling differences do not alter phonetics in practice, though UK speakers may have slightly different vowel qualities (e.g., more open /ɒ/ or centralized vowels) depending on regional accent.
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- US: clear /ɪ/ in the first vowel, keep r-colored or reduced vowels minimal; stress remains on the second syllable with a secondary tone. - UK: more clipped onset in /sɪ/ and crisper /θ/; vowels can be broader in /ɒ/ before the final /aɪz/ depending on region. - AU: tends toward a broader, flatter intonation; maintain the dental fricative /θ/ and avoid over-enunciating the middle vowel; keep the final /aɪz/ distinct. IPA references: US /sɪˈθəˌsaɪz/, UK /sɪˈθɒs.aɪz/, AU /sɪˈθəs.aɪz/.
Synthesize comes from the Greek synthesis, from sun- ‘together’ + histanai ‘to place, set’ (from histanai ‘to cause to stand’). The term entered English in the early 17th century via scientific Latin synthesis, originally in chemistry and philosophy, meaning to place things together to form a whole. It evolved to describe the act of combining different elements to produce a new compound or concept, particularly in chemistry (chemical synthesis) and logic or data science (the synthesis of information). The modern sense extends into general use for creating unified systems, ideas, or works by integrating disparate parts. First known use in English dates to the late 1600s, with early usages in alchemy and natural philosophy before expanding into modern scientific and tech domains. Over time, the word’s scope broadened from literal chemical construction to metaphorical assembly in fields such as information theory, cognitive science, and multimedia production. The root word σύνθεσις in Greek underpins the English form, with the prefix syn- meaning “together/with” and the verb tithenai meaning “to place.”
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "synthesize" and can often be used interchangeably.
🔄 These words have opposite meanings to "synthesize" and show contrast in usage.
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Words that rhyme with "synthesize"
-yze sounds
-ize sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
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