4 syllables: Ar, thro, plas, ty. Stress on plas.
ahr-throh-PLAS-tee
/ˌɑɹ θroʊ ˈplæsti/
Arthroplasty is pronounced ahr-throh-PLAS-tee (/ˌɑɹ θroʊ ˈplæsti/). It has four syllables (Ar-thro-plas-ty), with the stress on "plas". Arthroplasty is a medical procedure involving the surgical reconstruction or replacement of a joint. The term combines Greek roots referring to joints and molding or forming. It is used chiefly in orthopedics to describe corrective joint surgery, such as hip or knee replacement, often after degenerative disease or injury.
nounArthroplasty is a medical procedure involving the surgical reconstruction or replacement of a joint. The term combines Greek roots referring to joints and molding or forming. It is used chiefly in orthopedics to describe corrective joint surgery, such as hip or knee replacement, often after degenerative disease or injury.
- You often drop or mispronounce the /θ/ (the 'th' sound). Tip: place your tongue lightly between your upper and lower teeth and blow a small airstream as you voice the /θ/; don’t vocalize, just unvoiced friction. - The stress tends to shift; keep primary stress on the third syllable: ar-THRO-plas-ty; practice by tapping the syllables and counting. - The final -ty can be /ti/ or /tiː/; aim for /ti/ in US (short i) and pull slightly on the /i/ in UK/AU to avoid an Americanized long /i/. - The sequence /θro/ can be mispronounced as /sro/ or /dro/; make sure you begin with /θr/ and then glide into /oʊ/.
"The patient underwent arthroplasty after the severe knee injury."
"Arthroplasty can restore mobility when conservative treatments fail."
"The surgeon discussed arthroplasty options and expected recovery times."
Pronounce as ar-thro-PLAS-ty, with primary stress on the third syllable: /ˌɑːrˈθroʊˌplæs.ti/ (US). The initial ‘ar’ is like 'are' without the r-colored schwa; the ‘th’ is a hard dental/voiceless sound; ‘ro’ is a quick syllable; ‘plasty’ ends with a clear /æsti/ in US and /plæsti/ in UK/AU. Place your tongue just behind the upper teeth for the /θ/; keep the lips relaxed. You’ll want a crisp 'pl' onset and a short, unstressed final -ty.
Common errors include misplacing stress (trying ar-THRO-plas-ty vs. ar-THRO-pla-sty), mispronouncing the /θ/ as /s/ or /t/, and running the syllables together into a single blob. Correction: emphasize the /θ/ clearly between the alveolar ridge and tongue tip, maintain a strong /pl/ onset, and keep final -sty as /sti/ with a light, quick ending. Practice breaking the word into three parts: ar-θro-plas-ty, then smooth to ar-θro-plas-ti.
In US English, the sequence tends to be /ˌɑːrˈθroʊˌplæs.ti/ with rhoticity and clearer /oʊ/ in 'ro'. UK English often uses /ˌɑːˈθrəʊ.plæs.ti/ with non-rhotic r and a longer /əʊ/ in 'roʊ' becoming /rəʊ/ and /æ/ in 'plasty'. Australian English resembles UK patterns but with slight vowel flattening and a more clipped /ti/ at the end. Key differences: rhotic vs non-rhotic r, diphthong quality in the second syllable, and subtle vowel shifts in -plasty.
Three main challenges: the dental /θ/ in the second syllable, the cluster /θro/ following a vowel, and the -plasty ending with a stressed -plæst- sequence. The combination of a voiceless interdental fricative and a consonant cluster can trip up learners, especially when the final -ty sounds like -ti. Focus on the alveolar contact for /θ/, the compact /ro/ vowel sequence, and a short, crisp final -ti.
There are no silent letters in Arthroplasty. Every letter represents at least one sound when enunciated in careful speech: the initial a, r, th, ro, pl, as, ty. The /r/ is pronounced in rhotic accents, while in non-rhotic varieties the /r/ may become a linking or schwa-like sound before consonants. Consistency in voicing and syllable division is key to accurate pronunciation.
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- US: rhotic r affects the first syllable; keep /ɑːr/ as a rounded, slightly tense vowel followed by a clear /θ/; /roʊ/ has a diphthong that glides from /oʊ/ to /ʊ/ unnoticed; final /ti/ is a quick /ti/. - UK: non-rhotic r leads to /əˈθrəʊ.plæs.ti/; the second vowel in 'ro' is more centralized; 'plasty' ends with a crisp /ti/. - AU: similar to UK, with slightly flattened vowels; expect /ˌɑːˈθrəʊ.plæst.i/; the r is non-rhotic, and vowels may be a touch broader. - IPA references: use /ˌɑːrˈθroʊˌplæs.ti/ (US), /ˌɑːˈθrəʊ.plæs.ti/ (UK), /ˌaːˈθrəʊ.plæst.i/ (AU).
Arthroplasty derives from the Greek arthro-, meaning joint, and -plasty, meaning molding, forming, or surgical repair. The first element appears in terms like arthrology (the study of joints); the second comes from the Greek plastos, meaning formed or molded. The combined sense arose in the 19th century with the growth of orthopedic surgery; early pioneers used -plasty to denote restoration or reconstruction of joints. The compound became standard in modern medical nomenclature for procedures intended to repair or replace joints, notably knee and hip arthroplasty. The term entered English medical usage in the late 1800s, with growth in the 20th century as joint replacement procedures became common, evolving from experimental operations to routine, high-precision interventions with implant technology.
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Words that rhyme with "Arthroplasty"
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