How to pronounce tonsillectomy
Say it like ton-sih-LEK-tuh-mee. Tonsillectomy has five syllables, and the main stress falls on the third one (LEK).
- ton
- sih
- LEK
- tuh
- mee
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Tonsillectomy pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- tonGive this part a little weight. The vowel is the "ah" in father.
- sihKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "i" in sit.
- LEKSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "e" in bed.
- tuhKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
- meeGive this part a little weight. The vowel is the "ee" in see.
American vs British pronunciation of tonsillectomy
- The short o is rounded in British English (as in "hot"), but open and unrounded in American English.
British respelling: ton-sih-LEK-tuh-mee.
What does tonsillectomy mean?
- The surgical removal of the tonsils, especially the palatine tonsils. Frequently accompanied by an adenoidectomy.
Where does tonsillectomy come from?
From tonsil + -ectomy.
Words that rhyme with tonsillectomy
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of tonsillectomy.
Questions about saying tonsillectomy
How do you pronounce tonsillectomy?
Say ton-sih-LEK-tuh-mee. The American pronunciation is /ˌtɑnsɪˈlɛktəˌmi/. In British English it is /ˌtɒnsɪˈlɛktəˌmiː/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in tonsillectomy?
Tonsillectomy has five syllables, and the main stress falls on the third one (LEK). Broken into parts: ton · sih · LEK · tuh · mee.
Is tonsillectomy 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 /ˌtɒnsɪˈlɛktəˌmiː/ (ton-sih-LEK-tuh-mee).