tran-SPLANTS
/tɹænsˈplænts/
transplants is pronounced tran-SPLANTS (/tɹænsˈplænts/). Transplants (noun or verb form) refers to the act or process of transplanting, or to transplanted organs or tissues. In biology and medicine, it denotes moving cells, tissues, or organs from one site to another, either within the same individual or between individuals. The term can also describe plants moved from one location to another. It conveys a precise, technical meaning used in clinical and research contexts.
Transplants (noun or verb form) refers to the act or process of transplanting, or to transplanted organs or tissues. In biology and medicine, it denotes moving cells, tissues, or organs from one site to another, either within the same individual or between individuals. The term can also describe plants moved from one location to another. It conveys a precise, technical meaning used in clinical and research contexts.
"The patient underwent a kidney transplant after years of dialysis."
"Researchers are studying stem cell transplants to treat neurodegenerative diseases."
"The horticulturist performed a root transplant to save the young tree."
Say it as /trænsˈplænts/ in US and UK listening varieties. The first syllable blends ‘trans’ with a soft ‘t’ release, followed by a strong stress on the second syllable ‘PLANTS.’ Your mouth starts with a /t/ and /r/ cluster, moves to the /æ/ in ‘plant,’ and finishes with /nts/ where the tip of the tongue taps against the alveolar ridge for the /n/ and lips close for the final /t/ before a voiceless /s/. Remember the stressful second syllable for natural rhythm.
Two common errors are misplacing the stress and softening the final consonant cluster. People often put primary stress on the first syllable: tRANSplants. Correct it by stress on PLANTS: tranSPLANTS. Another mistake is omitting the /t/ in the final cluster, producing /trænsˈplænts/ without a crisp /t/ before the /s/. Practice by isolating the final /nts/ and ensuring a clean dental stop before /s/.
In general, pronunciation remains /trænsˈplænts/ in American and many UK varieties, with shorter vowels in some accents. US rhotics do not affect this word much in the transcription, but UK non-rhotic tendencies may slightly alter the perceived vowel length; Australian English tends to be similar but with a more open /æ/ and a slightly broader vowel quality. The final /nts/ cluster remains voiceless; the key is maintaining the strong second-syllable stress in all three. IPA references apply: US /trænsˈplænts/, UK /trɑːnsˈplɑːnts/, AU /trænsˈplænts/.
Three phonetic challenges: (1) the consonant cluster at the start /tr/ requires a quick transition from /t/ to /r/. (2) The stressed second syllable has a clear /æ/ in PLANTS that contrasts with the first syllable. (3) The final /nts/ requires precise tongue placement: alveolar /n/ followed by a dental /t/ and voiceless /s/. Misplacing stress or blurring /t/ before /s/ reduces clarity. Slow practice, clear enunciation of /æ/ and careful final cluster articulation help a lot.
A distinctive feature of transplants is the abrupt transition into the stressed syllable and the crisp stop before the final /s/. Ensure your tongue sits close to the alveolar ridge for /n/ and /t/; maintain a slight glottal tension to keep the /s/ voiceless and audible. Visualize a quick, forceful air burst with the /t/ before /s/ to keep the final cluster distinct in connected speech.
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US: rhotic; keep /r/ neutral but present in the first syllable cluster as a light touch if at all. UK: typically non-rhotic; ensure the /r/ is not pronounced in coda positions; emphasize the long /ɑː/ in some dialects if applicable. AU: more open /æ/ and slightly wider vowel space; maintain crisp final /nts/ with clear alveolar contact. IPA anchors: US /trænsˈplænts/, UK /trɑːnsˈplɑːnts/, AU /trænsˈplænts/; mouth positions adjust accordingly, especially for /ɑː/ and /æ/.
Transplant stems from the Latin trans- (across, beyond) and plantare (to plant). The combining form trans- signals movement across spaces, while plantare derives from plantus, meaning shoot or sprout, in Latin. The word entered English via scientific and medical use in the 16th–17th centuries, evolving from “transplantation” to the shorter noun/verb form. Early usage referred to moving organs or tissues between bodies or locations; as medicine advanced, it extended to broader contexts such as plant relocation and grafting in horticulture. The modern sense centers on transplantation procedures (organ/tissue grafts) and the act of transplanting plants or tissues. First known uses appear in medical texts discussing grafting techniques and surgical transfers in the 17th–18th centuries, with growing precision in terminology in late 19th and 20th centuries as transplant surgery became routine. The term’s semantic expansion reflects advances in anatomy, surgery, and botany, maintaining a core idea of crossing boundaries to relocate living material for functional integration.
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Words that rhyme with "transplants"
-nts sounds
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