3 syllables: Cal, lus, es. Stress on Cal.
KAL-uh-siz
/ˈkæləsɪz/
Calluses is pronounced KAL-uh-siz (/ˈkæləsɪz/). It has three syllables (Cal-lus-es), with the stress on "Cal". Calluses are thickened, hardened patches of skin that form in areas subjected to repeated friction or pressure. They develop as a protective response, often on hands or feet, and can vary in size and severity. The term is used in medical and everyday contexts to describe these resilient skin changes.
nounCalluses are thickened, hardened patches of skin that form in areas subjected to repeated friction or pressure. They develop as a protective response, often on hands or feet, and can vary in size and severity. The term is used in medical and everyday contexts to describe these resilient skin changes.
How to Pronounce Calluses
"The hiker developed rugged calluses on her toes after weeks of trekking."
"Mechanics often have calluses on their hands from gripping wrenches."
"The athlete wore gloves to prevent new calluses from forming."
US: /ˈkæljəzɪz/ (KA-ly-uh-ziz). Primary stress on the first syllable. The sequence is /k/ + /æ/ + /lj/ + /ə/ + /zɪz/. The /lj/ is a light yod-like glide after /æ/, so avoid breaking into two separate vowel sounds. Listen for the smooth transition from /æ/ to /l/ and then /j/ before the schwa. UK/AU share similar pronunciation but may reduce the second vowel slightly: /ˈkæljuː.sɪz/ (UK) or /ˈkæl.juː.sɪz/ (AU). Audio references: refer to Pronounce or Forvo entry for native speakers.
Common errors: (1) Treating the word as two closed syllables with a hard /t/ or /d/ sound; (2) Dropping or altering the /j/ glide, producing /ˈkæljəsɪz/ or /ˈkælusɪz/; (3) Misplacing stress, pronouncing /kæˈljuː.sɪz/. Correction tips: practice the /lj/ as a combined glide: /l/ + /j/ quickly, not a separate consonant; keep the /æ/ short and crisp. Use a slow count: KA-ly-uh-siz, then blend. Record yourself against a reference and adjust the glide timing.
US tends to pronounce the second syllable with a short schwa before /zɪz/: /ˈkæljəzɪz/. UK often features a longer /juː/ or /jʊ/ in the second segment: /ˈkæljuːzɪz/ or /ˈkæl.juː.sɪz/; AU is similar to US but may carry a slightly longer final vowel before /zɪz/. The rhoticity affects the flow rather than the core vowels; none of these create a strong /r/ issue in any variant. Focus on preserving the /lj/ glide and the first stressed syllable regardless of accent.
The difficulty lies in the /lj/ sequence after the initial /æ/ and the following /əz/ cluster before /ɪz/. Learners often mispronounce as /ˈkæləsɪz/ or split the /lj/ into /l/ and /j/ separately, losing the smooth transition. Another challenge is ensuring correct syllable-timing: the first syllable bears primary stress, with fast, light transitions into the second. Practice the /lj/ blend: keep the tongue lightly touching the palate as you shift from /æ/ to /l/ to /j/.
Note the difference between the plural noun form calluses and the verb form calluses (present tense of 'callus' as a verb is rare). For the noun, /ˈkæljəzɪz/ in US, with a clear /lj/ cluster and /zɪz/ ending; stress remains on the first syllable. Do not flatten the second syllable into /lə/; keep the glide tight to maintain the distinct /lj/ sequence and the final /zɪz/ suffix.
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US: rhotic absence on the /r/ not relevant here; US typically /ˈkæljəzɪz/. UK: /ˈkæl.juː.zɪz/ or /ˈkæl.juː.sɪz/ with move to a longer /juː/; AU: often closer to US but can have a slightly longer /ɪz/ or /ɪz/ depending on speaker. Vowels: /æ/ as short ‘a’; second vowel before /l/ often a light schwa or a cohesive /lj/ glide; final /ɪz/ or /əz/ depends on speed and speaker.
Callus comes from Latin callus, meaning hard skin or hard rind, which itself traces to the Greek kallos meaning ‘beauty’ or ‘hardness’ through a semantic drift. The modern English term adopted the spelling callus in the 17th century, often used in anatomy to denote a hardened skin area. By the 18th–19th centuries, English speakers began using calluses to refer to physically thickened skin due to repetitive friction; the plural form calluses naturally followed the standard -es pluralization. The sense broadened in medical literature to encompass similar hardened skin patches on feet or hands, and colloquially it now also conveys figurative resilience, though most usage remains literal. First known usage in English appears in early 17th century medical texts, with the term steadily attested in anatomy and dermatology through the 1800s and into contemporary usage.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "Calluses" and can often be used interchangeably.
🔄 These words have opposite meanings to "Calluses" and show contrast in usage.
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Words that rhyme with "Calluses"
-ses sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
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