How to pronounce patella
Say it like puh-TEL-uh. Patella has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (TEL).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce patella. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- puh
- TEL
- uh
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Patella pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- puhKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
- TELSay 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.
American vs British pronunciation of patella
American and British speakers say patella in essentially the same way: /pəˈtɛlə/ in the US and /pəˈtɛlə/ in the UK.
British respelling: puh-TEL-uh.
What does patella mean?
- The sesamoid bone of the knee; the kneecap.
- A little dish or vase.
- An orbicular sessile apothecium, with a marginal rim distinct from the thallus.
- Alternative form of putelee (“type of boat”).
Where does patella come from?
From Latin patella (“a small pan or dish, a plate; the kneepan, patella”), diminutive of patina (“a broad shallow dish, pan”).
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Words that rhyme with patella
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of patella.
Questions about saying patella
How do you pronounce patella?
Say puh-TEL-uh. The American pronunciation is /pəˈtɛlə/. In British English it is /pəˈtɛlə/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in patella?
Patella has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (TEL). Broken into parts: puh · TEL · uh.
Do Americans and Brits say patella the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /pəˈtɛlə/ and the British form is /pəˈtɛlə/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.