4 syllables: ty, ro, si, ne. Stress on si.
teye-ROH-seen
/ˌtaɪˈroʊsiːn/
tyrosine is pronounced teye-ROH-seen (/ˌtaɪˈroʊsiːn/). It has four syllables (ty-ro-si-ne), with the stress on "si". Tyrosine is a nonessential amino acid used to synthesize proteins and neurotransmitters. It is also a precursor to catecholamines such as dopamine, norepinephrine, and epinephrine. In biochemistry, tyrosine can influence pigment production and enzymatic activities, and it appears in nutritional contexts and laboratory settings as a key biomolecule.
Tyrosine is a nonessential amino acid used to synthesize proteins and neurotransmitters. It is also a precursor to catecholamines such as dopamine, norepinephrine, and epinephrine. In biochemistry, tyrosine can influence pigment production and enzymatic activities, and it appears in nutritional contexts and laboratory settings as a key biomolecule.
- Common mistakes: 1) Stressing the first syllable: ty-ROS-ine; fix by reinforcing second-syllable stress with a quick auditory cue. 2) Shortening the /oʊ/ to a short /o/ or /ɒ/: practice with a deliberate diphthong glide from /oʊ/ to /u/ or /iː/ as needed, but keep it /oʊ/. 3) Tensing the final consonant or slurring the final /siːn/: keep a clean alveolar /n/ at the end and a distinct /siːn/; avoid 'ty-roe-sin' or 'tyro-zin'. Practice with minimal pairs to isolate each segment. Tips: slow it down, emphasize the diphthong fronting, record yourself, compare to a reference, and adjust mouth shape to reproduce the same acoustic pattern. You’ll hear the word crisply in scientific talks when you lock in the /roʊ/ and /siːn/ elements.”,
"Tyrosine is often included in dietary supplements for mood support."
"In enzymology, tyrosine residues can undergo phosphorylation to regulate protein function."
"Researchers study tyrosine metabolism to understand phenylketonuria and related disorders."
You say it as /ˌtaɪˈroʊ.siːn/ in US English. The stress is on the second syllable: ty-RO-sine. The first syllable rhymes with 'high' and 'fly'; the second syllable begins with an /r/ after /oʊ/ and ends with a long /iːn/ sound. A practical cue: say 'tie-roh-seen' with a slight emphasis on the 'roh' segment. IPA US: /ˌtaɪˈroʊ.siːn/. UK: /ˌtaɪˈrəʊ.siːn/. AU: /ˌtaɪˈroʊ.siːn/.”,
Two frequent errors: 1) placing primary stress on the first syllable (ty-ROS-ine) instead of the second; 2) mispronouncing the second syllable as /ˈtaɪrəsɪn/ or turning the /oʊ/ into a short /o/ or /ɒ/. Correction: keep the /roʊ/ cluster as a tense, rounded vowel with a clear /r/ and avoid /ɒ/ or /ə/ in the second syllable. Practice with slow tempo and tap the syllables: tie-RO-seen, ensuring the 'ro' is long and the final 'seen' is clearly /siːn/.
In US English, /ˌtaɪˈroʊ.siːn/ with a rhotic /r/ and a long /oʊ/; the unstressed first syllable is reduced. UK English typically /ˌtaɪˈrəʊ.siːn/ where /rəʊ/ has a diphthong closer to /əʊ/ and the /r/ is non-rhotic or lightly pronounced before a vowel; stress remains on the second syllable. Australian English mirrors US rhoticity but may have a slightly flatter /oʊ/ vowel and a clipped /siːn/. Pay attention to rhoticity and vowel quality differences while keeping the syllabic rhythm.
The difficulty stems from the multi-syllabic cadence, the long /oʊ/ in the second syllable, and the 'ro' cluster following a stressed syllable. The combination of /taɪ/ onset, an embedded /roʊ/ or /rəʊ/ nucleus, and a final /siːn/ requires precise mouth shaping: rounded lips for /oʊ/, a distinct /ɹ/ before the vowel, and a trailing high front vowel /iː/. Misplacing stress or deviating from the long diphthong can noticeably alter intelligibility in scientific contexts.
A distinctive trait is maintaining the long /oʊ/ in the second syllable and not reducing the /siːn/ to /sɪn/. Also, ensure the /ɹ/ is not elided in US English; even in rapid speech, tyrosine should retain a clear rhotic or non-rhotic liaison depending on accent. Practically, keep the sequence tie-roh-seen with a crisp final /n/; avoid a drawn-out or clipped middle vowel that would shift the word into non-technical territory.
🗣️ Voice search tip: These questions are optimized for voice search. Try asking your voice assistant any of these questions about "tyrosine"!
- US: rhotic accent; emphasize /ɹ/ before /oʊ/, so tie-RO-seen with rounded lips. Vowel: /oʊ/ is a strong diphthong; keep mouth moving from mid-back to high-front as you approach the /siːn/. - UK: non-rhotic or lighter /r/; the /ə/ in /rəʊ/ can be reduced; keep stress on second syllable and preserve /oʊ/ quality with a slightly more centralized vowel. - AU: like US but with subtle vowel height differences; maintain /ɹ/ in careful enunciation; ensure final /siːn/ is clear with high-front vowel. IPA references: US /ˌtaɪˈroʊ.siːn/, UK /ˌtaɪˈrəʊ.siːn/, AU /ˌtaɪˈroʊ.siːn/. General cues: keep the second syllable long and allow the r-phoneme to guide the syllable boundary; avoid devoicing the final /n/.”,
Tyrosine derives from the Greek tyros, meaning swelling or type; the suffix -os (path) and -ine (amino) align with other amino acid naming conventions. The term reflects its chemical identity as a phenolic amino acid: a hydroxyphenylalanine. It was first isolated in the 19th century from proteins and later distinguished as a separate amino acid in 1846 during early amino acid research, with crystallization and characterization refined through 20th-century biochemistry. The modern spelling tyrosine consolidates from tyrosyl (pertaining to tyrosine residues in proteins) and the amino acid name ending in -ine, common to amino acids like leucine and tryptophan. Over time, tyrosine’s role expanded from a general protein constituent to a crucial precursor in neural transmitter biosynthesis, especially dopamine and norepinephrine, highlighting its significance in nutrition and neuroscience. The interplay between tyrosine metabolism and phenylalanine hydroxylase activity further embedded its place in metabolic disorder studies, such as phenylketonuria, where dietary management of phenylalanine and tyrosine becomes clinically relevant.
💡 Etymology tip: Understanding word origins can help you remember pronunciation patterns and recognize related words in the same language family.
Help others use "tyrosine" correctly by contributing grammar tips, common mistakes, and context guidance.
💡 These words have similar meanings to "tyrosine" and can often be used interchangeably.
🔄 These words have opposite meanings to "tyrosine" and show contrast in usage.
📚 Vocabulary tip: Learning synonyms and antonyms helps you understand nuanced differences in meaning and improves your word choice in speaking and writing.
Words that rhyme with "tyrosine"
-ine sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
🎵 Rhyme tip: Practicing with rhyming words helps you master similar sound patterns and improves your overall pronunciation accuracy.
