TAHK-suhn
/ˈtɑksən/
toxin is pronounced TAHK-suhn (/ˈtɑksən/). Toxin is a poisonous substance produced by living organisms, including bacteria, plants, and animals. In medicine and toxicology, it refers to a biologically derived toxin that can cause harm or disease. The term contrasts with synthetic poisons and chemicals, emphasizing a natural, biologically produced hazard.
Toxin is a poisonous substance produced by living organisms, including bacteria, plants, and animals. In medicine and toxicology, it refers to a biologically derived toxin that can cause harm or disease. The term contrasts with synthetic poisons and chemicals, emphasizing a natural, biologically produced hazard.
"The toxin produced by certain jellyfish can cause severe skin irritation."
"Researchers are studying how bacterial toxins disrupt cellular processes."
"In some cases, toxins are neutralized by antitoxins or vaccines."
You say it as TOX-in, with the primary stress on the first syllable. IPA: US /ˈtɒksɪn/ or /ˈtɑːkˌsɪn/ depending on accent; UK/Australian typically /ˈtɒk.sɪn/. The first syllable uses a short, clipped vowel like the 'lot' vowel in many dialects, followed by a clear 's' liaison and a light 'in'.”
Common errors: 1) Slurring the vowel in the first syllable so it sounds like 'tacks-in' rather than 'tox-in'; 2) Misplacing the /k/—sometimes heard as /tɔksɪn/ with a rounded vowel. Correction: keep the first vowel near the low back vowel /ɒ/ (UK) or /ɑ/ (US) and produce a crisp /k/ immediately before the /s/. Ensure the second syllable is a quick, unstressed /ɪn/ rather than a full 'in' with excess vowel length.
US typically /ˈtɑːk.sɪn/ or /ˈtɒk.sən/ in rapid speech, with reduced second syllable; UK/AU generally /ˈtɒk.sɪn/. US tends toward rhoticity in rapid connected speech, but toxin itself is non-rhotic in many dialects; pay attention to the first vowel quality: American /ɑː/ vs British /ɒ/. Location of the /k/ is consistent; the /s/ is clear in careful speech and may soften in rapid speech.
The difficulty centers on the short, high-front /ɪ/ in the second syllable combined with the cluster /ks/ after the open back vowel. Additionally, the /t/ can be released with a slight aspiration, and some speakers reduce the second syllable, making it sound like /ˈtɒkˌsɪn/ vs /ˈtɒk.sɪn/ depending on pace. Practicing the transition from /k/ to /s/ can help maintain crisp consonant boundaries.
Indeed. In toxin, the letters 'ox' encode the /ɒk/ or /ɑːk/ sequence. The /k/ is a hard stop immediately before the /s/ sequence, so you should avoid delaying release; aim for a single, quick /k/ release into /s/. This keeps the two consonant sounds distinct and prevents a run-together /ks/ or an ambiguous vowel before /s/.
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The word toxin comes from the Greek toxon meaning ‘bow, arrow, poison’ via toxikon pharmakon meaning ‘poison for arrows’ and later toxin in Latin. In Classical Greek, toxikos referred to archery or poison used on arrows, which links to later medical terminology. The modern English toxin emerged in the 19th century in toxicology to denote a poison of biological origin, distinct from synthetic poisons. Its usage expanded with advancements in biochemistry, where scientists differentiate between naturally occurring toxins from organisms and other hazardous substances. In contemporary discourse, toxin typically denotes a biologically derived poison, such as tetanus toxin or botulinum toxin, rather than inorganic poisons. The word has maintained its core meaning of a biologically produced hazard while broadening to encompass toxins produced by bacteria, plants, animals, and fungal species, and more recently, venoms that act as toxins. The first known English uses appear in scientific texts of the 1800s, reflecting the period’s proliferation of chemical and physiological terminology.
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Help others use "toxin" correctly by contributing grammar tips, common mistakes, and context guidance.
💡 These words have similar meanings to "toxin" and can often be used interchangeably.
🔄 These words have opposite meanings to "toxin" and show contrast in usage.
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Words that rhyme with "toxin"
-xin sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
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