3 syllables: Cho, re, a. Stress on Cho.
KOH-ree-uh
/ˈkoʊɹiə/
Chorea is pronounced KOH-ree-uh (/ˈkoʊɹiə/). It has three syllables (Cho-re-a), with the stress on "Cho". Chorea is a neurological movement disorder marked by abrupt, involuntary, dance-like movements that can affect the face, limbs, and trunk. Though intermittent, these irregular motions can be exhausting and interfere with daily tasks. The term, from Greek choreia, reflects its characteristic, erratic muscular activity rather than purposeful action.
nounChorea is a neurological movement disorder marked by abrupt, involuntary, dance-like movements that can affect the face, limbs, and trunk. Though intermittent, these irregular motions can be exhausting and interfere with daily tasks. The term, from Greek choreia, reflects its characteristic, erratic muscular activity rather than purposeful action.
"Her symptoms included chorea that made handwriting unstable and jerky."
"The neurologist explained that chorea can be a feature of Huntington's disease."
"She was treated for chorea to reduce involuntary limb movements during meals."
Chorea is pronounced KOR-ee-uh, with the stress on the first syllable. IPA US: /ˈkɔːr.i.ə/, UK: /ˈkɔː.ri.ə/, AU: /ˈkɔː.ri.ə/. Start with an open back rounded vowel for /ɔː/ as in 'for', then a light /r/ followed by a schwa-like /i.ə/ ending. Think of saying “KOR-ee-uh” quickly and smoothly, without prolonging any vowel. You can listen to native pronunciation on Pronounce or Forvo to hear the rhythm.
Common errors include pronouncing it as ‘chor-EA’ with stress on the second syllable, or slurring the final /ə/ into a quiet ‘uh’ that sounds like ‘chor-ee-uh’ vs. ‘chor-EE-uh’. Another frequent pitfall is altering rhoticity, saying a strong /r/ at the end of the first syllable or misplacing the tongue for /ɔː/. Correction: keep /ˈkɔːr/ as a single stressed unit, ensure the /r/ is voiced but not overly aggressive, and finish with a clear /i.ə/ or /ə/.” ,
In US English the first syllable /ˈkɔːr/ often has a rhotic /r/; the /ɔː/ vowel is broad, and the ending /i.ə/ is light. UK speakers typically have a slightly shorter /ɔː/ and a crisper /r/ (sometimes nearly non-rhotic in rapid speech); the ending /i.ə/ remains. Australian English tends toward a more centralized vowel in the first syllable and a softer /r/; the final syllable maintains /ɪə/ or /jə/ depending on speaker. Always monitor the vowel length and the rhotic tendency for accuracy.
The difficulty lies in the combination of an open /ɔː/ vowel, a distinct American/Australian /r/ quality, and a final unstressed /ə/ or /iə/ that can blur in rapid speech. The internal schwa-like rhythm after the stressed first syllable can be tricky, plus the consonant cluster transition from /ɔːr/ into /iə/. Practice slows the velocity, focusing on mouth shapes: rounded lips for /ɔː/, a light, controlled /r/, and a quick, relaxed glide into /iə/.
No silent letters in modern pronunciation. The word is pronounced with three clear syllables /ˈkɔːr.i.ə/ in many dialects. The challenge isn’t a silent letter but the precise quality of the vowel /ɔː/, the /r/ articulation, and the light final vowel. Visual cues: keep the first syllable longer and prominent, then glide smoothly to the final unstressed /ə/ or /iə/.
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- US: Emphasize rhotic /r/ in the first syllable: /ˈkɔːr.i.ə/. Keep /ɔː/ broad and the /r/ tapped or approximant depending on speaker. - UK: /ˈkɔː.ri.ə/; the /r/ is less prominent in non-rhotic environments, but in careful speech you’ll still produce a clear post-vocalic /r/ before a vowel. - AU: /ˈkɔː.ri.ə/; similar to US but often with flatter intonation and a slightly faster rhythm. Vowel quality tends toward centralized /ɔː/ with subtle length differences. Reference IPA for precise articulation, and practice with minimal pair contrasts: chorea vs. chorea vs. chorea (different stress).
Chorea derives from the Greek chorea (χορεία), from chorein (χορεύειν) meaning to dance, reflecting the dance-like, irregular movements that characterize the condition. The term appears in medical literature by the 16th century, used to describe a range of involuntary movements associated with neurological disorders. The classical roots emphasize rhythmic, jerky, or uncoordinated actions as if the body were performing a dance, a metaphor that persisted as physicians separated choreic movements from other dyskinesias. In English, chorea was once used more broadly to describe any dancing-like convulsions; over time, it narrowed to a specified set of hyperkinetic disorders, notably those linked to Huntington’s disease and other hereditary or acquired neurological conditions. Modern usage distinguishes chorea from other movement disorders by its irregular, unpredictable, and flowing quality, often accompanied by proximal limb involvement and facial grimacing. First known uses are documented in early modern medical texts, but the term’s conceptual lineage is rooted in ancient descriptions of involuntary, rhythmical motion attributed to brain dysfunction.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "Chorea" and can often be used interchangeably.
🔄 These words have opposite meanings to "Chorea" and show contrast in usage.
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Words that rhyme with "Chorea"
-ria sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
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