How to Pronounce “chromatography”

British (UK)

/ˌkɹəʊ.məˈtɒɡɹə.fi/

noun — Any of various techniques for the qualitative or quantitative separation of the components of mixtures of compounds; all characterized by the use of a mobile phase (gas or liquid) moving relative to a stationary phase (liquid or solid) – the differences between the rates of migration of the compounds between the two phases affect the separation.

Where the stress falls. “chromatography” has 5 syllables, and the transcription /ˌkɹəʊ.məˈtɒɡɹə.fi/ puts the primary stress mark (ˈ) before the third one — so the third syllable is the longest and loudest. The others are said quickly and lightly.

An unstressed vowel reduces to schwa. /ˌkɹəʊ.məˈtɒɡɹə.fi/ contains a schwa /ə/ — the short, neutral “uh” that English unstressed syllables collapse into. Saying /ə/ there, instead of the vowel the spelling suggests, is most of what makes the word sound native.

What does "chromatography" mean?

chromatography (noun): Any of various techniques for the qualitative or quantitative separation of the components of mixtures of compounds; all characterized by the use of a mobile phase (gas or liquid) moving relative to a stationary phase (liquid or solid) – the differences between the rates of migration of the compounds between the two phases affect the separation.

Which syllable is stressed in "chromatography"?

“chromatography” has 5 syllables, and the transcription /ˌkɹəʊ.məˈtɒɡɹə.fi/ puts the primary stress mark (ˈ) before the third one — so the third syllable is the longest and loudest. The others are said quickly and lightly.