2 syllables: Cheyne, Stokes. Stress on Cheyne.
CHAYNZ-stohks
/ˈtʃeɪnzstoʊks/
Cheyne-Stokes is pronounced CHAYNZ-stohks (/ˈtʃeɪnzstoʊks/). It has two syllables (Cheyne-Stokes), with the stress on "Cheyne". As a noun, cheyne–Stokes is a repeating cycle of gradually increasing and then decreasing breaths followed by a period of apnea, typically observed in patients with central nervous system or heart disorders. It is a clinically described pattern named after physicians Cheyne and-Stokes who first documented it in the 19th century. The term is used as a noun in medical contexts and is often encountered in neurology, pulmonology, and critical care notes.
nounCheyne–Stokes is a repeating cycle of gradually increasing and then decreasing breaths followed by a period of apnea, typically observed in patients with central nervous system or heart disorders. It is a clinically described pattern named after physicians Cheyne and-Stokes who first documented it in the 19th century. The term is used as a noun in medical contexts and is often encountered in neurology, pulmonology, and critical care notes.
How to Pronounce Cheyne-Stokes
"The patient exhibited Cheyne–Stokes respiration during dawn, prompting closer monitoring."
"In the ICU, nurses documented Cheyne–Stokes breathing as the ventilator settings were adjusted."
"Cheyne–Stokes respiration can be seen in congestive heart failure and advanced brain injuries."
Pronounce as CHYNE-STOKES. Syllable break: /tʃaɪn/ /stoʊks/. The first word rhymes with ‘mine’ but starts with a CH sound; the second is a long O in 'stokes' with a voiceless K ending. Stress falls on the first syllable of each word: CHYNE-STOKES. IPA: US /ˈtʃaɪnˌstoʊks/, UK /ˈtʃeɪnˈstəʊks/; AU follows similar patterns. Keep the 'cheyne' pronounced like 'chain' with a soft n, not 'cheen'. Audio reference: consult medical pronunciation clips or Pronounce for an exact audio model.
Common mistakes include misplacing lexical stress (saying CHEYN-STOKES or chay-NEE-stokes), mispronouncing 'Cheyne' as 'Chen' or 'chain-ye,' and shortening the second word to a quick 'stokes' without clear vowel quality. Correction: stress the first syllable of each word: CHEYNE-STOKES; pronounce 'Cheyne' like 'chain' with n; 'Stokes' uses a clear long o sound /oʊ/ and a hard /k/ at the end. Practice with minimal pairs and slow repetition to build the proper vowel length and consonant endings.
In US English, expect /ˈtʃaɪnˌstoʊks/ with a rhotic r influence only in the sense of general American rhoticity, the second word has /oʊ/ in 'stokes'. UK tends to /ˈtʃeɪnˈstəʊks/, with a closer 'ea' or 'eɪ' diphthong in the first syllable and non-rhotic influence on the second word allowing /əʊ/ diphthong. Australian typically follows US patterns but with subtle Australian vowel qualities; accent is still non-rhotic, so the second word often ends with /ɒks/ or /əʊks/ depending on speaker. IPA references: US /ˈtʃaɪnˌstoʊks/, UK /ˈtʃeɪnˈstəʊks/, AU /ˈtʃaɪnˈstəʊks/.
The difficulty lies in the multi-syllabic surname with two capitalized elements and two distinct vowel qualities: 'Cheyne' with /aɪ/ and 'Stokes' with /oʊ/; the hyphenation or space can lead to mis-stressing and blending. Also, the 'st' cluster and final /ks/ require crisp articulation to avoid slurring to 'stokes' or 'chain-stokes'. Pay attention to exact IPA vowels and place of articulation: alveolar /tʃ/ at the start of both words, long diphthongs /aɪ/ and /oʊ/, and clear /k/ before /s/.
There are no silent letters in normal pronunciation. The potential source of confusion is the second word: 'Stokes' ends with the /ks/ cluster; ensure you pronounce both consonants clearly. The first word 'Cheyne' includes a 'y' that represents vowel sound /aɪ/ rather than a distinct consonant-y sound; it resembles the diphthong in 'chain.' Focus on the two-syllable rhythm and the hyphen to guide natural pronunciation.
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Cheyne–Stokes respiration is named after British physician John Cheyne and American physician William Stokes, who described the pattern in the 19th century after observing it in patients with congestive heart failure and brain injuries. The hyphenated term reflects the joint attribution of discovery. The pronunciation and spelling shifted slightly in literature over time, but the essential meaning remained: a cyclical alteration between hyperpnea (increasing breathing depth) or hypopnea along with apnea. The term first appeared in medical writing in the mid to late 1800s; Cheyne described observations in the late 1800s, while Stokes contributed subsequent clinical characterizations. The concept evolved as neurologic and cardiopulmonary pathophysiology broadened, with modern use centering on a specific, recognizable breathing pattern rather than a generic irregularity. The trajectory mirrors a broader 19th-century trend of naming syndromes after collaborating physicians who documented them in case histories and early clinical studies. The name remains a standard descriptor in neurology and critical care, signaling prognosis and guiding monitoring strategies rather than indicating a single causal mechanism. The etymology thus reflects both historical documentation and ongoing clinical utility across respiratory and neurologic conditions.
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Words that rhyme with "Cheyne-Stokes"
-kes sounds
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