How to pronounce metastasize
Say it like muh-TAS-tuh-syze. Metastasize has four syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (TAS).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce metastasize. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- muh
- TAS
- tuh
- syze
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Metastasize pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- muhKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
- TASSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "a" in cat.
- tuhKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
- syzeGive this part a little weight. The vowel is the "i" in time.
American vs British pronunciation of metastasize
American and British speakers say metastasize in essentially the same way: /məˈtæstəˌsaɪz/ in the US and /mɪˈtæstəsaɪz/ in the UK.
British respelling: mih-TAS-tuh-syze.
What does metastasize mean?
- Of a disease (especially cancer) or a tumor: to form a metastasis (“a secondary focus away from the primary site”) in (a body organ).
- To disseminate or spread (something, often an undesirable thing), especially in a destructive manner.
- Of a disease (especially cancer) or a tumor: to undergo metastasis (“spreading from a primary site to one or more other sites in the body”).
Where does metastasize come from?
The use of French métastase (“metastasis”) to refer to the spread of cancer was coined in 1829 by the French gynecologist Joseph Récamier (1774–1852).
Questions about saying metastasize
How do you pronounce metastasize?
Say muh-TAS-tuh-syze. The American pronunciation is /məˈtæstəˌsaɪz/. In British English it is /mɪˈtæstəsaɪz/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in metastasize?
Metastasize has four syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (TAS). Broken into parts: muh · TAS · tuh · syze.
Do Americans and Brits say metastasize the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /məˈtæstəˌsaɪz/ and the British form is /mɪˈtæstəsaɪz/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.