4 syllables: Cer, vi, cal Can, cer. Stress on Cer.
sur-vik-uhl-KAN-sur
/ˈsɝvɪkəl ˈkænsɚ/
Cervical Cancer is pronounced sur-vik-uhl-KAN-sur (/ˈsɝvɪkəl ˈkænsɚ/). It has four syllables (Cer-vi-cal Can-cer), with the stress on "Cer". Cervical cancer is a malignant tumor arising from the cervix, the lower part of the uterus that connects to the vagina. It is a serious gynecologic cancer often linked to persistent high-risk human papillomavirus (HPV) infection. Early detection through screening improves outcomes, but advanced cases can spread to surrounding tissues and distant sites.
nounCervical cancer is a malignant tumor arising from the cervix, the lower part of the uterus that connects to the vagina. It is a serious gynecologic cancer often linked to persistent high-risk human papillomavirus (HPV) infection. Early detection through screening improves outcomes, but advanced cases can spread to surrounding tissues and distant sites.
"The patient underwent a cervical cancer screening, including a Pap test and HPV testing."
"Research on cervical cancer treatments has improved survival rates over the past decade."
"She discussed the diagnosis and treatment plan with her oncologist and support team."
Pronounce as ˈsɜːr.vɪ.kəl ˈkænsər. Stress is on the first syllable of each word: CER-vuh-cull, CANS-er. The first word sounds like “sir” with an r-colored vowel, then a soft ‘v’ and a schwa in the middle; the second word is “cancer” with a short a as in cat and a schwa in the second syllable. Audio reference: consult standard medical pronunciation resources or online dictionaries for US/UK variants.
Common mistakes: (1) Over-stressing the second syllable of cervical (CER-vuh-cull) vs the unstressed second syllable; keep ˈsɜːr.vɪ.kəl with primary stress on the first syllable. (2) Slurring the ‘r’ or conflating the two words; keep distinct boundary: ˈsɜːr.vɪ.kəl | ˈkænsər. (3) Mispronouncing ‘cervical’ as ‘cerc-vi-al’ — ensure the v sound is clear and the mid vowel is schwa-like. Practice the sequence slowly, then increase pace.
US: rhotic /ˈsɜːr.vɪ.kəl ˈkænsər/ with clear r-coloring; UK: non-rhotic /ˈsɜː.vɪ.kəl ˈkæn.sə/ and more clipped; AU: similar to US but with slightly broader vowel qualities and final -er often reduced to /ə/; watch the first syllable vowel quality; IPA guides show subtle vowel shifts among accent families.
Two main challenges: (a) cervical has three syllables with a subtle schwa in the middle and a clear ‘v’; the transition between /v/ and /ɪ/ can snag speakers. (b) cancer has a short, strong first syllable with a soft ‘er’ in American English; keep a steady pace between words to avoid trailing ‘er’. Focus on the boundary between words to maintain clarity.
There are no silent letters in the standard pronunciation of cervical cancer. Each syllable contains audible vowels and consonants: cer- vic- al and can- cer. The ‘c’ letters are pronounced as /s/ in cervical and /k/ in cancer. The ‘e’ vowels are pronounced in the typical short or schwa forms, not silent.
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The term cervical cancer combines cervical, from Latin cervix meaning ‘neck’ (of the uterus), with cancer from Latin cancer meaning ‘crab’ or malignant growth. Cervix derives from Latin cervix, from Greek kephale ‘head’ and is historically used for the neck region of the uterus. Cancer in medical usage dates to medieval Latin cancer and Greek karkinos, entering English through early medical texts. The phrase cervical cancer appears in medical literature by the 19th century as a precise anatomical diagnosis, with modern usage expanding to specify the pathology of the uterine cervix. Over time, understanding of its etiologies (notably HPV), screening (Pap smear, HPV testing), and vaccines (HPV) transformed prevention, diagnosis, and management, shifting public health emphasis toward screening programs and vaccination to reduce incidence and mortality.
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Words that rhyme with "Cervical Cancer"
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