3 syllables: Bi, op, sy. Stress on Bi.
BEYE-ahp-see
/ˈbaɪɑpsi/
Biopsy is pronounced BEYE-ahp-see (/ˈbaɪɑpsi/). It has three syllables (Bi-op-sy), with the stress on "Bi". Biopsy is a medical test in which a small sample of tissue is removed for examination under a microscope. The term is commonly used in clinical settings to diagnose disease, guide treatment, or assess prognosis. It refers to the process of taking tissue, often via a needle, endoscope, or surgical procedure, for microscopic analysis.
nounBiopsy is a medical test in which a small sample of tissue is removed for examination under a microscope. The term is commonly used in clinical settings to diagnose disease, guide treatment, or assess prognosis. It refers to the process of taking tissue, often via a needle, endoscope, or surgical procedure, for microscopic analysis.
"The doctor ordered a biopsy to determine whether the lump was malignant."
"During the biopsy, the patient was given local anesthesia and monitored closely."
"A skin biopsy can help diagnose dermatological conditions like eczema or psoriasis."
Pronounce BI-OP- sy with three syllables: /ˈbaɪ.ɒp.si/. The stress is on the first syllable. Start with a long /aɪ/ as in 'eye', then a short /ɒ/ like British 'lot' or US 'spa' but with British/US shapes. Finish with /si/ as in 'see'. Think: ‘BYE-op-see’ with a crisp middle vowel. For audio reference, use medical diction guides or Pronounce resources labeled with /ˈbaɪ.ɒp.si/ to hear the exact cadence.
Common errors: (1) Substituting /ɒ/ with a more closed /ɔː/ in American speech, making it ‘BYE-OP-SEE’; (2) Clustering the middle /ɒp/ into /ɑp/ or merging /ɒ/ with /si/ as /ɒsi/; (3) Misplacing stress, saying /ˈbaɪ.op.si/ with an even emphasis on all syllables. Correction: keep primary stress on BI; clearly segment: /ˈbaɪ.ɒp.si/; give air between BI and OP; practice with a pause before /si/ to avoid slurring. Rehearse slowly, then speed up while preserving three distinct syllables.
In US English, /ˈbaɪ.ɒp.si/ often has a slightly rounded /ɒ/ and a light /ɪ/ in fast speech; rhoticity does not change the word. UK English retains /ɒ/ with non-rhoticity in some regions; /ˈbaɪ.ɒp.si/ remains three clear syllables. Australian English generally matches /ˈbaɪ.ɒp.si/ with maybe a slightly tighter /ɒ/ and quicker transitions. Across all three, the core is BI-OP-SI; the middle vowel and the final /si/ are most stable, while diphthongs may blur slightly in rapid clinical talk.
Key challenges: the combination of a long /aɪ/ diphthong, followed by a short /ɒ/ and a final /si/ sequence can create a quick three-syllable cluster that’s easy to compress in rapid medical speech. The /ɒ/ vowel is often misarticulated by non-native speakers, and the /si/ may sound like /siː/ or /si/ depending on speed. Focus on crisp separation of syllables and maintaining the /ɒ/ quality between /baɪ/ and /p/.
Yes. In biopsy the primary stress is on the first syllable: BI-. The rest of the word carries lighter stress: -o- and -sy. Treat the word as a trochaic pattern: stressed-unstressed-unstressed. Practicing with slow, deliberate enunciation at first will help you maintain correct stress even when you speak quickly in clinical settings.
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Biopsy comes from the Greek bios (life) and opsis (seeing, sight). The term was formed in the 19th century as medical science sought a precise way to describe viewing life tissue under a microscope. The earliest uses referenced pathological examination of tissue to diagnose disease, with the underlying idea being to 'see life'—to observe cellular structure. Over time, the word broadened to include various tissue-sampling methods and imaging-guided procedures. The morphological components—bios- (life) + -opsis (viewing)—have parallels in related terms like biopsy, biopsy-like terms, and in modern medical language where -opsy is used to denote viewing or examining tissue (e.g., autopsy). The concept emerged alongside advances in histology and pathology in the late 1800s and early 1900s, when surgical and needle techniques allowed clinicians to obtain small samples to study disease processes without full organ removal.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "Biopsy" and can often be used interchangeably.
🔄 These words have opposite meanings to "Biopsy" and show contrast in usage.
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Words that rhyme with "Biopsy"
-psy sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
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