How to Pronounce “erythrocyte”

American (US)

/əˈɹɪθɹəˌsaɪt/

British (UK)

/əˈɹɪθɹəˌsaɪt/

noun — A hemoglobin-containing cell, especially as found in humans but more generally present in the blood of most vertebrates, that is involved with the transport of oxygen; such cells are usually anucleate in humans and many other animals.

The final e is silent. The transcription /əˈɹɪθɹəˌsaɪt/ ends on a consonant sound, so the written e at the end of “erythrocyte” is not pronounced.

Where the stress falls. “erythrocyte” has 4 syllables, and the transcription /əˈɹɪθɹəˌsaɪt/ puts the primary stress mark (ˈ) before the second one — so the second syllable is the longest and loudest. The others are said quickly and lightly.

An unstressed vowel reduces to schwa. /əˈɹɪθɹəˌsaɪt/ 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 "erythrocyte" mean?

erythrocyte (noun): A hemoglobin-containing cell, especially as found in humans but more generally present in the blood of most vertebrates, that is involved with the transport of oxygen; such cells are usually anucleate in humans and many other animals.

How do you pronounce "erythrocyte" in American vs British English?

Both accents use the same sequence of phonemes for "erythrocyte", /əˈɹɪθɹəˌsaɪt/, so the difference you hear is in how the vowels are coloured rather than in which sounds are used. Play both on this page to compare.

What is the IPA transcription of "erythrocyte"?

/əˈɹɪθɹəˌsaɪt/ in American English, /əˈɹɪθɹəˌsaɪt/ in British English.

Which syllable is stressed in "erythrocyte"?

“erythrocyte” has 4 syllables, and the transcription /əˈɹɪθɹəˌsaɪt/ puts the primary stress mark (ˈ) before the second one — so the second syllable is the longest and loudest. The others are said quickly and lightly.