Adipose

Adipose is pronounced /ˈæ.dəˌpoʊs/ in US and UK spelling. The primary stress falls on the first syllable ‘A-’ and the secondary stress on the third syllable ‘-pose.’ Break it as a-dih- pose, with a short vowel in the first and second syllables: ‘æ’ as in cat, ‘ə’ as the schwa, and ‘poʊs’ rhyming with ‘nose.’ Hear it in medical readings and dictionaries to confirm the three-beat rhythm.

Common errors include flattening the middle syllable to a quick ‘di’ or merging the schwa into an indistinct vowel. Another mistake is misplacing the secondary stress, treating it as a primary stress, or pronouncing the final -ose as ‘oz’ instead of ‘ohs’.

In US/UK, initial vowel tends toward /æ/ (as in cat); the middle vowel is a clear /ə/ or a shortened /ɪ/ depending on speed; final /poʊs/ remains /poʊs/ in rhotic and non-rhotic. Australian speakers may show a slightly more centralized /ə/ in the second syllable and a subtle vowel raising in /poʊ/ depending on speaker. Overall the three-syllable pattern is preserved, with minor vowel quality shifts.

The difficulty lies in maintaining three distinct syllables with accurate stress: first syllable /æ/ vs. baseline expectations, the mid schwa /ə/ that can blur in fast speech, and the /poʊs/ ending where /oʊ/ must be crisp and rounded. Coordinating lip rounding from /ə/ to /poʊ/ without reducing the second syllable is the main challenge.

The unique aspect is the combination of a strong initial vowel with a clear secondary stress on the final content word in ‘pose,’ creating a three-beat rhythm often heard in clinical readings. It’s not a common word in casual speech, so prioritizing accurate saccharography of each syllable, not slurring the middle, yields the most natural pronunciation.