How to pronounce oesophagus
Say it like ih-SOF-uh-gus. Oesophagus has four syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (SOF).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce oesophagus. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- ih
- SOF
- uh
- gus
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Oesophagus pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- ihKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "i" in sit.
- SOFSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ah" in father.
- uhKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
- gusKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
American vs British pronunciation of oesophagus
- The short o is rounded in British English (as in "hot"), but open and unrounded in American English.
British respelling: ee-SOF-uh-gus.
What does oesophagus mean?
- The tube that carries food from the pharynx to the stomach.
Words that rhyme with oesophagus
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of oesophagus.
Words that sound like oesophagus
Questions about saying oesophagus
How do you pronounce oesophagus?
Say ih-SOF-uh-gus. The American pronunciation is /ɪˈsɑfəɡəs/. In British English it is /iːˈsɒfəɡəs/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in oesophagus?
Oesophagus has four syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (SOF). Broken into parts: ih · SOF · uh · gus.
Is oesophagus 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 /iːˈsɒfəɡəs/ (ee-SOF-uh-gus).
What words sound the same as oesophagus?
Oesophagus sounds the same as esophagus in American English. The spelling and meaning are what tell them apart.