How to pronounce prophylaxis
Say it like praw-fih-LAK-sis. Prophylaxis has four syllables, and the main stress falls on the third one (LAK).
- praw
- fih
- LAK
- sis
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Prophylaxis pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- prawKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "aw" in law.
- fihKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "i" in sit.
- LAKSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "a" in cat.
- sisKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "i" in sit.
American vs British pronunciation of prophylaxis
American and British speakers say prophylaxis in essentially the same way: /prɔfɪˈlæksɪs/ in the US and /prɒfɪˈlæksɪs/ in the UK.
British respelling: prof-ih-LAK-sis.
What does prophylaxis mean?
- The prevention of, or the protective treatment for, disease.“The role of statins in prophylaxis for cardiovascular disease is well supported by the medical literature.”
- The cleaning of a patient's teeth.“We did his semiannual prophylaxis today, and his teeth and gums were found to be healthy.”
- Protective measures against acquiring a sexually transmitted disease.
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
- prophy
- dental
Words that rhyme with prophylaxis
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of prophylaxis.
Questions about saying prophylaxis
How do you pronounce prophylaxis?
Say praw-fih-LAK-sis. The American pronunciation is /prɔfɪˈlæksɪs/. In British English it is /prɒfɪˈlæksɪs/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in prophylaxis?
Prophylaxis has four syllables, and the main stress falls on the third one (LAK). Broken into parts: praw · fih · LAK · sis.
Do Americans and Brits say prophylaxis the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /prɔfɪˈlæksɪs/ and the British form is /prɒfɪˈlæksɪs/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.