Amniocentesis is a medical procedure in which a small amount of amniotic fluid is sampled from the uterus for prenatal testing. The term combines 'amnio-' (amniotic sac) and '-cententesis' (a surgical puncture). It is typically performed under ultrasound guidance to assess fetal health and detect genetic conditions. The word is primarily used in clinical and academic contexts.
US: rhotic r sound is not present in this word, focus on clear r-less vowels and strong stressed syllables. UK: tends toward a clearer /ɒ/ or /ɒ/ transitions in amn-, with a slightly more clipped -ti- syllable. AU: tends to a flatter intonation; keep the diphthongs pronounced. IPA cues: US /ˌæm.ni.oʊˌsɛnˈtiː.sɪs/, UK /ˌæm.ni.əʊˌsɛnˈtiː.sɪs/, AU /ˌæm.ni.əʊˌsɛnˈtiː.sɪs/.
"The obstetrician recommended amniocentesis to check for chromosomal abnormalities."
"During the procedure, ultrasound helps guide the needle to the amniotic sac."
"They tested the amniotic fluid for signs of infection or fetal distress."
"She discussed the risks and benefits of amniocentesis with her partner before consenting."
Amniocentesis comes from the Greek prefix amnio- meaning 'fetal membrane' (amniotic sac) and the technical suffix -cententesis from Greek kentein, meaning 'to puncture' or 'to pierce'. The term reflects the procedure’s core action: puncturing the amniotic sac to withdraw fluid for analysis. The combining form amnio- first appeared in medical usage in the 19th century as obstetric science advanced, with the full term becoming standardized in the mid-20th century as prenatal diagnostics grew. First attested in English medical literature in the 1950s and 1960s, amniocentesis became a routine diagnostic tool for fetal karyotyping and biochemical testing, expanding from purely research contexts to standard prenatal care. The word’s anatomy captures both the anatomical target (amniotic sac) and the action (puncture), mirroring similar medical coinages like laparoscope or biopsy. The pronunciation and spelling have remained stable, though the technique has evolved with ultrasound guidance and safer needle approaches, reinforcing its place in modern obstetrics.
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Words that rhyme with "Amniocentesis"
-sis sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
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Pronounce as am-nee-oh-sen-TEE-sis with primary stress on SEN and secondary stress on TEE. IPA US: ˌæmni.oʊ.sɛnˈtiː.sɪs; UK: ˌæmni.əʊ.sɛnˈtiː.sɪs. Break it into syllables: am-ni-o-chen-te-sis is a helpful phonetic guide: /ˌæm.ni.əʊˌsɛnˈtiː.sɪs/ (US) and /ˌæm.ni.əʊˌsɛnˈtiː.sɪs/ (UK). For breath grouping, say “am-NYOH-sen-TEE-sis” with a clear vertical emphasis on the second-to-last syllable.
Common errors include misplacing the primary stress and mispronouncing ‘amnio’ as a long ‘ee’ or ‘ah-mee-nee’ instead of ‘am-nee-oh.’ Another frequent slip is running ‘cen’ and ‘te’ together as a single syllable rather than the two: sen-tee. Correct by highlighting the two strong syllables: am-NI-oh-SEN-te-sis, and practice separating am-nio- into clear units. Pay attention to the final -sis ending as -sis, not -ziss.
US tends to de-emphasize the first syllable relative to the penultimate; you’ll hear ˌæm.ni.oʊˌsɛnˈtiː.sɪs. UK uses a slightly more schwa-like first vowel in amni-, and the sequence becomes ˌæm.ni.əʊˌsɛnˈtiː.sɪs. AU follows the rhotic differences less strongly, with am-nyo- and final -sis sounding close to US but with a flatter intonation. Across all, the stress is on the TEES- or TEE-sis portion, keeping the -sis ending crisp.
The word combines a long sequence of vowels and consonants in fast speech: am-NI-oh-sen-TEH-sis with a few near-syllabic boundaries. The tricky parts are the two consonant clusters around -cen- and -te-, plus the final -sis, which can sound like -siz in rapid speech. Focus on separating syllables and keeping the stress on sen-tee or tee depending on dialect. Practicing with slow repetition helps you lock in the rhythm and reduce slurring.
There are no silent letters in the standard pronunciation of Amniocentesis. All letters in am-ni-o-cen-te-sis correspond to distinct sounds in typical pronunciation. The challenge is more about correct vowel quality and syllable boundaries than silent letters. Specifically, the o in -o- often shifts toward a neutral /oʊ/ or /əʊ/ sound depending on dialect, but it’s not silent.
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