How to pronounce osmosis
Say it like oz-MOH-sis. Osmosis has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (MOH).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce osmosis. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- oz
- MOH
- sis
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Osmosis pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- ozKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "ah" in father.
- MOHSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "o" in go.
- sisKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "i" in sit.
American vs British pronunciation of osmosis
- The short o is rounded in British English (as in "hot"), but open and unrounded in American English.
- The long o starts further forward in British English, closer to "uh-oo" than the American "oh".
British respelling: oz-MOH-sis.
What does osmosis mean?
- The net movement of solvent molecules, usually water, from a region of lower solute concentration to a region of higher solute concentration through a partially permeable membrane.
- Passive absorption or impartation of information, habits, etc.; the process of teaching or learning particular knowledge incidentally rather than consciously.“I was reading about chickens, and I guess I learned about hawks through osmosis.”
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Words that rhyme with osmosis
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of osmosis.
- tuberculosis
- apoptosis
- osteoporosis
- necrosis
- thrombosis
- stenosis
- atherosclerosis
- endometriosis
- symbiosis
- scoliosis
Questions about saying osmosis
How do you pronounce osmosis?
Say oz-MOH-sis. The American pronunciation is /ɑzˈmoʊsɪs/. In British English it is /ɒzˈməʊsɪs/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in osmosis?
Osmosis has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (MOH). Broken into parts: oz · MOH · sis.
Is osmosis pronounced differently in British English?
Yes. The short o is rounded in British English (as in "hot"), but open and unrounded in American English. The British form is /ɒzˈməʊsɪs/ (oz-MOH-sis).