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HOW TO PRONOUNCE

vertebrae

/ˈvɝtəˌbɹeɪ/

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American Pronunciation Guide · 0:41
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Keep the primary stress on “ver.”

Use three syllables and a secondary beat on the final bray. Keep the middle vowel light, and pronounce the ending ae with the long a vowel of day.

3 syllables · Stress on syllable 1

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The diagram labels the vertebrae.

APG practice sentence · CC BY-SA 4.0

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary

What does vertebrae mean?

noun

  1. plural of vertebra; the bones that make up the spinal column.

Definitions regrouped for readability · CC BY-SA 4.0

IPA pronunciation

/ˈvɝtəˌbɹeɪ/

Pronunciation used in the listening tip.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary

Other dictionary pronunciations

/ˈvɝ.təˌbɹi//ˈvɝ.təˌbɹaɪ/
Wiktionary contributors · CC BY-SA 4.0

Pronunciation varies by speaker and region. About these dictionary pronunciations.

In the pages of books

See this word in context.

He described the vertebrae clearly, divided them into groups, and named them after the manner of anatomists of to-day.
Henry Smith Williams; Edward Huntington WilliamsA History of Science — Volume 1Project Gutenberg ebook #1705
There was a long sustained and supreme effort on the ape-man’s part—and the vertebrae of Sabor’s neck parted with a sharp snap.
Edgar Rice BurroughsTarzan of the ApesProject Gutenberg ebook #78
More book examples (3)
But what are we to say about the rudimentary and variable vertebrae of the terminal portion of the tail, forming the os coccyx?
Charles DarwinThe Descent of Man, and Selection in Relation to SexProject Gutenberg ebook #2300
The twins were united below the third sacral vertebrae in such a manner that they could lie alongside of each other.
George M. (George Milbrey) Gould; Walter L. (Walter Lytle) PyleAnomalies and Curiosities of MedicineProject Gutenberg ebook #747
These differ from chiropractic thrusts in that they aim not at adjusting subluxated vertebrae but at stretching definite strands of shrunken connective tissue.
Henry LindlahrNature Cure: Philosophy & Practice Based on the Unity of Disease & CureProject Gutenberg ebook #4273