How to pronounce 20 medical terms
Practice medical vocabulary by hearing its strongest syllable, silent letters, and connected consonants.
Find one strong beat
Start with anemia, anatomy, and arthritis. Say each word slowly, then tap once on its strongest syllable. For longer words such as acetaminophen and epidemiology, notice the smaller beats too, but keep the primary stress clear.
Notice what the spelling hides
In psoriasis, the initial p is silent; in diaphragm, the g is silent. Then listen to arrhythmia for voiced th and arthritis for unvoiced th. Repeat the consonant in a short phrase so it stays connected to the surrounding vowels.
Compare a version, then repeat
Eczema and asthma have more than one dictionary pronunciation. Choose one of the pronunciations listed on the word page for your first practice round, then compare it with the APG speaker. Use the worksheet to record a listening observation for five words, or try the quiz to test your pronunciation knowledge.
Your listening list
20 wordsChoose a word to hear it in an APG video.
Test these pronunciations
Try 4 questions from this guide. Each answer includes an APG video, dictionary reference, and explanation.
Try this guide’s quiz →More words in this topic
56 wordsKeep listening with an APG video and a pronunciation tip for each word.
- abdomen
AB-duh-mun: stress AB.
- ambulance
Stress “am” and keep the “y” after “b.”
- anesthesia
Stress “thee” and listen for “zh.”
- anesthesiologist
an-us-thee-zee-OL-uh-jist: put the main beat on OL.
- angina
an-JY-nuh: give JY the long i of “my.”
- aortic
ay-OR-tik: keep the opening ay distinct.
- aphasia
uh-FAY-zhuh: ph makes f, and s makes zh.
- apoptosis
ap-uh-TOH-sis: leave out the second p.
- arteriosclerosis
ar-teer-ee-oh-skluh-ROH-sus: stress ROH.
- astigmatism
uh-STIG-muh-tiz-um: stress STIG.
- benign
Stress “nine”; the “g” is silent.
- bradycardia
brad-ih-KAR-dee-uh: begin with the short a of “cat.”
- carcinoma
kar-sih-NOH-muh: stress the long o.
- carotid
kuh-RAH-tid: stress the second syllable.
- catheter
Stress CATH and use the th of thin.
- cerebral
suh-REE-bruhl: stress REE.
- cholera
KAH-ler-uh: ch sounds like k.
- cognitive
Stress “cog” and keep the “g” audible.
- conjunctiva
kon-junk-TY-vuh: stress the long i in TY.
- contagious
Stress “tay” and use a soft “g.”
- dementia
Stress “men” and listen for “sh.”
- dyspnea
DISP-nee-uh: keep the p before n.
- encephalitis
en-sef-uh-LY-tus: make LY the main beat.
- hereditary
The second syllable carries the main stress.
- ibuprofen
eye-byoo-PROH-fuhn: put the strongest beat on PROH.
- immune
Stress “mune,” with the sound of “myoon.”
- larynx
LAIR-inks: hear the ng sound before the final k.
- malignant
Stress “lig” and pronounce the “g.”
- nausea
NAW-zee-uh: use z followed by ee.
- obesity
Give “bee” the strongest beat.
- obstetrics
Stress “stet” and keep the opening cluster clear.
- ophthalmologist
of-thuhl-MAH-luh-jist: the main stress is on MAH.
- ophthalmology
Stress MOL.
- otolaryngologist
oh-toh-lair-ing-GAH-luh-jist: stress GAH.
- oxygen
Stress OX.
- pancreas
Keep the strongest beat on “pan.”
- pediatrician
Stress “tri,” the fourth syllable.
- pertussis
per-TUSS-iss: put the main beat on TUSS.
- phalanges
fuh-LAN-jeez: end the plural with a voiced z.
- physiology
Put the main beat on the third syllable.
- prescription
Stress “scrip” and keep the consonants together.
- respiratory
RES-per-uh-tor-ee: stress RES.
- retina
Stress “ret,” using the vowel in “red.”
- rheumatologist
roo-muh-TAH-luh-jist: stress TAH.
- staphylococcus
staf-uh-luh-KAW-kus: the main beat falls on KAW.
- stethoscope
STETH-uh-skohp: the first syllable takes the main stress.
- subcutaneous
sub-kyoo-TAY-nee-us: stress TAY.
- syndrome
Stress “syn” and finish with the vowel in “go.”
- tachycardia
tak-ih-KAR-dee-uh: ch sounds like k.
- thoracic
thaw-RASS-ik: stress RASS.
- tinnitus
TIN-ih-tus: stress the first syllable.
- trachea
The first syllable sounds like “tray.”
- tuberculosis
Stress LOH.
- vaccine
Put the main stress on “seen.”
- vertigo
VUR-tih-goh: begin with a stressed, r-colored vowel.
- veterinarian
Make the “nair” syllable stand out.
Sources & classroom use
Each listening tip follows the IPA shown beside its word. Other dictionary pronunciations appear on the word page; individual speakers may vary.
Practice phrases were written for these exercises; quoted book passages remain in the separate, sourced book sections. These guides and practice notes are available under CC BY-SA 4.0. Credit American Pronunciation Guide and retain the linked dictionary attributions. Videos and other reference material keep their own terms.
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