How to pronounce stethoscope
Say it like STETH-uh-skohp. Stethoscope has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (STETH).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce stethoscope. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- STETH
- uh
- skohp
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Stethoscope pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- STETHSay 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.
- skohpGive this part a little weight. The vowel is the "o" in go.
American vs British pronunciation of stethoscope
- The long o starts further forward in British English, closer to "uh-oo" than the American "oh".
British respelling: STETH-uh-skohp.
What does stethoscope mean?
- A medical instrument used for listening to sounds produced within the body.
- To auscultate, or examine, with a stethoscope.
Where does stethoscope come from?
Borrowed from French stéthoscope, a word coined by its inventor, physician René Laennec, equivalent to stetho- + -scope.
Questions about saying stethoscope
How do you pronounce stethoscope?
Say STETH-uh-skohp. The American pronunciation is /ˈstɛθəˌskoʊp/. In British English it is /ˈstɛθəskəʊp/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in stethoscope?
Stethoscope has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (STETH). Broken into parts: STETH · uh · skohp.
Is stethoscope pronounced differently in British English?
Yes. The long o starts further forward in British English, closer to "uh-oo" than the American "oh". The British form is /ˈstɛθəskəʊp/ (STETH-uh-skohp).