3 syllables: ad, he, sions. Stress on he.
ad-HEE-zhuhnz
/ˌædˈhiːʒənz/
adhesions is pronounced ad-HEE-zhuhnz (/ˌædˈhiːʒənz/). It has three syllables (ad-he-sions), with the stress on "he". Adhesions are fibrous bands that form between tissues and organs, typically after injury or surgery, causing them to stick together. They can restrict movement or function and may require medical evaluation if they cause pain or organ blockage. The term can also refer to the process of forming such bands. (2–4 sentences, ~60 words).
Adhesions are fibrous bands that form between tissues and organs, typically after injury or surgery, causing them to stick together. They can restrict movement or function and may require medical evaluation if they cause pain or organ blockage. The term can also refer to the process of forming such bands. (2–4 sentences, ~60 words)
- You may overemphasize the first syllable, producing a-dr-HE-zhuns; keep the primary stress on the second syllable (a-DHE-sions). - The middle vowel can become a lax /ɪ/ or an elongated /iː/; aim for the long /iː/ in the second syllable but avoid turning it into a diphthong. - Final cluster /-ʒənz/ should remain voiced; do not reduce to /-zən/ or /-zɛn/; keep a crisp /ʒ/ then /ənz/.
"Abdominal adhesions often develop after abdominal surgery."
"The patient’s joint movement was limited by adhesions forming around the tendon."
"Adhesions can complicate laparoscopic procedures by tethering organs."
Pronounce as /ədˈhiːʒənz/ in US and UK accents, with primary stress on the second syllable: a-dhe-SI-ons becomes a-dhe-SEE-zhuhnz. In full IPA: US /əˈdhiːʒ.ənz/, UK /ədˈhiːʒ.ənz/. The initial schwa makes a neutral, quick first syllable, then a clear “dee-zhun” cluster; final “zhenz” ends with a voiced sibilant. Place tongue to create the “hiː” vowel (long e) and the “ʒ” as the voiced postalveolar fricative.
Common errors include: misplacing the stress (saying a-DHE-sions instead of the standard a-dhe-SI-ons), mispronouncing the “adh-” as a flat /æd/ rather than a schwa plus /d/; confusing /ˈhiː/ with a short /ɪ/ or /iː/ in non-native speech; and not voicing the final -zənz cluster, producing an unvoiced or elongated ending. Correct by practicing the /əˈdhiːʒ.ənz/ sequence, ensuring the second syllable carries the punch and the final syllables are crisp.
In US English, the pronunciation tends to be /əˈdhiːʒənz/ with a clearer /ˈhiː/ and a rhotic, typically no 'r' addition. UK English often shows /ədˈhiːʒənz/ with a somewhat shorter first vowel, and non-rhotic tendencies are less relevant here since /r/ is not present. Australian English is similar to UK but may feature slightly flatter vowels and faster pace; the /ɪ/ vowel in unstressed syllables may reduce more quickly. Overall, the primary stress remains on the second syllable across accents.
It’s challenging due to the consonant cluster /dʒ/ (represented by ‘-ges-’ as /-ʒ-/) following a stressed syllable, and the vowel length distinction in /iː/ vs. a shorter /ɪ/ sound in quick speech. The combination of schwa at the start, the long “ee” vowel, and the final voiced “zhenz” cluster can trip non-native speakers, so practice the middle “-she-” sound with precise tongue placement and a crisp final /zənz/ sequence.
In adhesions, the first syllable uses a reduced vowel, typically a schwa: /ə/ or a neutral vowel, not a full /æ/ as in cat. The second syllable starts with a clear /dɪ/ or /dhiː/ depending on accent, but the key is reducing the first vowel and stressing the second syllable to guide listeners to the correct rhythm.
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- US: focus on rhoticity absent; keep /əˈdhiːʒənz/ with a clear /ˈhiː/. - UK: let the /ə/ be a broader schwa, keep the /d/ light and the /ʒ/ sound precise. - AU: similar to UK, but vowels can be more centralized and the rhythm a touch faster; maintain non-stressed first syllable and strong second syllable.
The word adhesions derives from the Latin adhaesio, from ad- ‘toward’ + haesere ‘to cling, adhere.’ The English form originated in the 17th century, transitioning from Latin roots in medical and anatomical contexts to describe the pathological bonding of tissue. Early usage appeared in surgical texts describing post-operative adhesions, with the suffix -ion denoting a process or condition. The term gradually broadened to general use for any fibrous connection between surfaces. The core idea—things sticking together—remains intact across centuries, even as the specificity of “adhesions” in anatomy has been refined by advances in imaging and surgery. The plural adhesions commonly co-occurs with terms like abdominal, pelvic, or peritoneal to specify location. First known English attestations surface in scholarly medical writings of the 1600s–1700s, with broader medical adoption in the 19th and 20th centuries as surgical techniques and post-operative care evolved.
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Words that rhyme with "adhesions"
-ons sounds
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