How to pronounce tuberculosis
Say it like tuh-bur-kyuh-LOH-sis. Tuberculosis has five syllables, and the main stress falls on the fourth one (LOH).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce tuberculosis. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- tuh
- bur
- kyuh
- LOH
- sis
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Tuberculosis pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- tuhKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
- burGive this part a little weight. The vowel is the "ur" in nurse.
- kyuhKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
- LOHSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "o" in go.
- sisKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "i" in sit.
American vs British pronunciation of tuberculosis
- Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead.
- The long o starts further forward in British English, closer to "uh-oo" than the American "oh".
British respelling: tyoo-bur-kyuu-LOH-sis.
What does tuberculosis mean?
- infection transmitted by inhalation or ingestion of tubercle bacilli and manifested in fever and small lesions (usually in the lungs but in various other parts of the body in acute stages)
Where does tuberculosis come from?
To international scientific vocabulary from New Latin tūberculōsis, from Latin tūberculum (diminutive of tūber (“lump”)) + Latin -ōsis (“diseased condition”); by surface analysis, tubercul(um) + -osis; named for the encapsulated colonies of
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
- tb
Words that rhyme with tuberculosis
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of tuberculosis.
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Questions about saying tuberculosis
How do you pronounce tuberculosis?
Say tuh-bur-kyuh-LOH-sis. The American pronunciation is /təˌbɝkjəˈloʊsɪs/. In British English it is /tjuːˌbɜːkjʊˈləʊsɪs/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in tuberculosis?
Tuberculosis has five syllables, and the main stress falls on the fourth one (LOH). Broken into parts: tuh · bur · kyuh · LOH · sis.
Is tuberculosis pronounced differently in British English?
Yes. Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead. The British form is /tjuːˌbɜːkjʊˈləʊsɪs/ (tyoo-bur-kyuu-LOH-sis).