How to pronounce postoperative
Say it like poh-STAH-puh-ruh-tiv. Postoperative has five syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (STAH).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce postoperative. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- poh
- STAH
- puh
- ruh
- tiv
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Postoperative pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- pohKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "o" in go.
- STAHSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ah" in father.
- puhKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
- ruhKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
- tivKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "i" in sit.
American vs British pronunciation of postoperative
- 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: poh-STOP-uh-ruh-tiv.
What does postoperative mean?
- Of, relating to, or occurring in the period after a surgical operation.“The postoperative procedure is as follows.”
- A transgender person who has undergone gender reassignment surgery.
Where does postoperative come from?
From post- + operative.
Words that rhyme with postoperative
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of postoperative.
Questions about saying postoperative
How do you pronounce postoperative?
Say poh-STAH-puh-ruh-tiv. The American pronunciation is /poʊˈstɑpərətɪv/. In British English it is /pəʊˈstɒpərətɪv/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in postoperative?
Postoperative has five syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (STAH). Broken into parts: poh · STAH · puh · ruh · tiv.
Is postoperative 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 /pəʊˈstɒpərətɪv/ (poh-STOP-uh-ruh-tiv).