3 syllables: Chei, lo, sis. Stress on lo.
keye-LOH-sis
/kaɪˈloʊsɪs/
Cheilosis is pronounced keye-LOH-sis (/kaɪˈloʊsɪs/). It has three syllables (Chei-lo-sis), with the stress on "lo". Cheilosis is a medical term naming a fissuring and cracking of the lips, typically at the corners (angular cheilitis) or along the lip margins. It commonly results from nutritional deficiencies, irritation, or infection. The word denotes a chronic lip condition and is used mainly in clinical contexts, dermatology, and dentistry discussions.
nounCheilosis is a medical term naming a fissuring and cracking of the lips, typically at the corners (angular cheilitis) or along the lip margins. It commonly results from nutritional deficiencies, irritation, or infection. The word denotes a chronic lip condition and is used mainly in clinical contexts, dermatology, and dentistry discussions.
How to Pronounce Cheilosis
"The dermatologist diagnosed cheilosis after observing persistent fissures at the labial commissures."
"In many cases cheilosis responds to improved lip care and vitamin supplementation."
"Cheilosis can become painful if left untreated, especially in dry, windy climates."
Cheilosis is pronounced /ˌtʃeɪˌɪˈloʊsɪs/ in US English, with the main stress on the third syllable: chei‑i‑LO-sis. In UK English it is /ˌtʃeɪˌɪˈləʊsɪs/ and in Australian English /ˌtʃeɪˌɪˈləsɪs/. Start with the “chay” /tʃeɪ/ sound, then a quick “ee” /i/ followed by “lo” /lo/ or “lə” depending on accent, and end with “sis” /sɪs/. You’ll hear a smooth but stressed middle syllable; aim for a clear /loʊ/ or /ləʊ/ depending on accent, not a lax vowel. Practicing the three-stress pattern helps avoid misplacing stress.
Common mistakes include misplacing the stress (putting it on the first or second syllable), pronouncing the second syllable as /liː/ instead of /ˈloʊ/ or /ləʊ/, and de-emphasizing the final /sɪs/ leading to /ˈtʃeɪɪlɪs/ or /ˌtʃeɪˈloʊsɪz/. To correct: rehearse the sequence with a clear accent on the third syllable, ensure the /loʊ/ vowel is a long, rounded diphthong, and end with a crisp /sɪs/ so the final syllables aren’t swallowed.
In US English, the middle vowel tends toward /loʊ/ with rhoticity affecting surrounding vowels; the final /s/ is crisp. UK English favors /ləʊ/ with a slightly more centralized, rounded /əʊ/ sound and a non-rhotic environment may affect preceding consonants. Australian English typically has a flatter /ɒ/ to /ɒ/ path and a lengthier /ɪ/ in the second syllable; the final /sɪs/ remains. Across all, the key differences are the vowel quality of the second syllable and the realization of the final vowel and consonant.
The difficulty stems from the multi-syllabic rhythm and the uncommon sequence /ˌtʃeɪˌɪˈl/ combined with a stressed mid syllable and a final /sɪs/. The cluster requires precise articulation of /tʃ/ and /ˈloʊ/ or /ˈləʊ/ plus a trailing /sɪs/, which many speakers misplace or shorten. Also, the shift in tongue position from the initial palatal affricate to the vowel-heavy mid syllable can tempt visitors to reduce or blend sounds. Slow practice helps cement the pattern.
A: The unique feature is the mid-stressed syllable with a long vowel in the US/UK variants. The syllable boundary around the /ˈloʊ/ or /ˈləʊ/ is crucial: you should maintain a clean separation from the initial /ˈtʃeɪ/ and the final /sɪs/. A slight secondary stress can occur in fast speech, but careful enunciation keeps the main stress on the third syllable and the final /sɪs/ crisp.
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US: Rhotic context can color the /ɹ/ in adjacent vowels; UK: less rhotic influence; AU: vowel quality closer to /æ/ or /ɒ/ in some speakers. For Cheilosis, keep US /loʊ/ or UK /ləʊ/ distinctions: ensure the mid syllable is clearly separated from the initial /tʃeɪ/ and final /sɪs/. Vowel length tends to be longer in US and AU accents before /sɪs/. IPA references: US /ˌtʃeɪˌɪˈloʊsɪs/, UK /ˌtʃeɪˌɪˈləʊsɪs/, AU /ˌtʃeɪˌɪˈləsɪs/. Accent tips include keeping the second syllable tense and avoiding reduce-summations in rapid speech.
Cheilosis originates from the Greek word cheil- meaning lip, from kheilos (lip). The suffix -osis denotes a condition or state. The term demonstrates the classic medical naming pattern where cheilo- denotes lip and -osis indicates a pathological process. Its first attestations appear in dermatological and dental literature of the late 19th to early 20th centuries as clinicians described lip fissures and related lesions. Over time, cheilosis broadened to include fissuring not only at the lip borders but also at commissures and perioral regions, aligning with broader concepts of cheilitis. In medical lexicons, it has remained a specific descriptor for lip fissure disorders, often in the context of angular cheilitis when the corners of the mouth are involved.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "Cheilosis" and can often be used interchangeably.
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Words that rhyme with "Cheilosis"
-sis sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
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