How to pronounce osteoarthritis
Say it like os-tee-oh-ar-THRY-tus. Osteoarthritis has six syllables, and the main stress falls on the fifth one (THRY).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce osteoarthritis. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- os
- tee
- oh
- ar
- THRY
- tus
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Osteoarthritis pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- osGive this part a little weight. The vowel is the "ah" in father.
- teeKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "ee" in see.
- ohGive this part a little weight. The vowel is the "o" in go.
- arKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "ah" in father.
- THRYSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "i" in time.
- tusKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
American vs British pronunciation of osteoarthritis
- Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead.
- The short o is rounded in British English (as in "hot"), but open and unrounded in American English.
- The long o starts further forward in British English, closer to "uh-oo" than the American "oh".
- Americans usually soften the t in the middle into a quick d-like tap; British speakers keep a crisp t.
British respelling: os-tee-oh-ah-THRY-tus.
What does osteoarthritis mean?
- A form of arthritis, affecting mainly older people, caused by chronic degeneration of the cartilage and synovial membrane of the joints, leading to pain and stiffness.
Where does osteoarthritis come from?
From osteo- + arthritis.
Words that rhyme with osteoarthritis
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of osteoarthritis.
Questions about saying osteoarthritis
How do you pronounce osteoarthritis?
Say os-tee-oh-ar-THRY-tus. The American pronunciation is /ˌɑstiˌoʊɑrˈθraɪtəs/. In British English it is /ˌɒstiˌəʊɑːˈθraɪtəs/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in osteoarthritis?
Osteoarthritis has six syllables, and the main stress falls on the fifth one (THRY). Broken into parts: os · tee · oh · ar · THRY · tus.
Is osteoarthritis pronounced differently in British English?
Yes. Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead. The British form is /ˌɒstiˌəʊɑːˈθraɪtəs/ (os-tee-oh-ah-THRY-tus).