How to pronounce chemotherapy
Say it like kee-moh-THER-uh-pee. Chemotherapy has five syllables, and the main stress falls on the third one (THER).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce chemotherapy. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- kee
- moh
- THER
- uh
- pee
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Chemotherapy pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- keeGive this part a little weight. The vowel is the "ee" in see.
- mohKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "o" in go.
- THERSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "e" in bed.
- uhKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
- peeKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "ee" in see.
American vs British pronunciation of chemotherapy
- The long o starts further forward in British English, closer to "uh-oo" than the American "oh".
British respelling: kee-moh-THER-uh-pee.
What does chemotherapy mean?
- the use of chemical agents to treat or control disease (or mental illness)
Where does chemotherapy come from?
From chemo- + therapy.
Words that rhyme with chemotherapy
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of chemotherapy.
Questions about saying chemotherapy
How do you pronounce chemotherapy?
Say kee-moh-THER-uh-pee. The American pronunciation is /ˌkimoʊˈθɛrəpi/. In British English it is /ˌkiːməʊˈθɛrəpi/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in chemotherapy?
Chemotherapy has five syllables, and the main stress falls on the third one (THER). Broken into parts: kee · moh · THER · uh · pee.
Is chemotherapy pronounced differently in British English?
Yes. The long o starts further forward in British English, closer to "uh-oo" than the American "oh". The British form is /ˌkiːməʊˈθɛrəpi/ (kee-moh-THER-uh-pee).