2 syllables: Coc, cyx. Stress on Coc.
KAHK-siks
/ˈkɑk.sɪks/
Coccyx is pronounced KAHK-siks (/ˈkɑk.sɪks/). It has two syllables (Coc-cyx), with the stress on "Coc". Coccyx is the small, triangular bone at the base of the spine formed by fused vertebrae. It serves as an attachment point for ligaments, muscles, and tendons and is commonly referred to as the tailbone. In medical contexts it’s important in discussions of posture, lower back pain, and sacral anatomy.
nounCoccyx is the small, triangular bone at the base of the spine formed by fused vertebrae. It serves as an attachment point for ligaments, muscles, and tendons and is commonly referred to as the tailbone. In medical contexts it’s important in discussions of posture, lower back pain, and sacral anatomy.
- You may over-exaggerate the second syllable, making KO-KICKS instead of KO-kiks. Keep a short, crisp /ɪ/ and avoid turning the second syllable into a long vowel. - Don’t blend the final /ks/ into a single sound with the preceding /ɪ/. Separate the /ɪ/ from /k/ with a quick tongue position shift, then release /ks/. - Some speakers replace /ɪ/ with a slightly centralized vowel (schwa) or reduce it entirely in fast speech; maintain a distinct /ɪ/ to preserve intelligibility. - Avoid flipping the first syllable into /koʊ/ or /kɒk/; keep /ɒ/ as in 'cot' for non-rhotic variants. Correction steps include slow-mo drilling, using minimal pairs KO-CK and COCK-IX contrasts, and recording for feedback.
"The patient reported a bruised coccyx after the fall."
"An MRI can help assess coccyx alignment in cases of chronic pain."
"Sitting upright with a supported pelvis can alleviate coccyx pressure."
You say KOK-iks, with primary stress on the first syllable. IPA US/UK/AU: /ˈkɒk.ɪks/. The final -yx renders an /ɪks/ sequence rather than a hard ‘icks’ sound. Visualize mouth position as wide opening for KO, then a quick reduced vowel for ɪ before ending with ks. If you’re listening to a clinical pronunciation audio, you’ll hear the secondary schwa-like quality on the second syllable in rapid speech. IPA guidance: /ˈkɒk.ɪks/.
Common errors: pronouncing it as KO-KEY-ex or KO-kicks. The correct second syllable uses a short, lax /ɪ/ before /ks/, not a long /iː/ or /aɪ/. Another mistake is misplacing primary stress or slurring the vowels into a single syllable. Target corrections: emphasize first syllable KO, keep the /ɪ/ distinct before /ks/, and end with a crisp /ks/ rather than a voiced sound. Practice with minimal pairs KO-ck and -ix endings to lock the pattern.
US/UK/AU share /ˈkɒk.ɪks/ but vowel quality varies: US tends to a broader /ɒ/ (like ‘cot’), UK pronounces a shorter, tenser /ɒ/ typically, and AU often aligns with UK vowel timing but can have a shorter /ɒ/ with subtle rounding. The /ɪ/ in the second syllable remains relatively the same across accents, though some speakers may reduce it toward a schwa in fast speech. Overall rhotics don’t strongly affect coccyx since /k/ and /ɒ/ are non-rhotic in some UK varieties, but in rhotic accents you’ll still notice the non-rhotic vowel preceding the /ks/.
It combines a tricky cluster at the end (-kx) and a mid-central vowel /ɪ/ that lies between easy and tricky sounds for many speakers. The onset /k/ is a hard stop followed by an unstressed /ɪ/ before an /ks/ cluster, which can tempt you to reduce or slur. Practicing the two-phoneme boundary between /k/ and /ɪ/ and then cleanly releasing /ks/ helps. Also, the initial Ks blend can cause confusion if you’re not careful with air flow and tongue position.
The word ends with /-ɪks/ rather than /-kʃ/ or /-ks/ you might expect from similar spellings. Keep the final /s/ voiceless and crisp, not elongated. A tip is to slightly retract the tongue for the /ɪ/ and then push air through the teeth for the /ks/ burst, avoiding any reflexive voicing. This helps ensure the tailbone term is heard clearly in clinical settings.
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- US: keep /ɒ/ broad but not too open; ensure rhoticity is irrelevant here since coccyx does not include r. UK: lean toward a clipped /ɒ/ and a clearer /ɪ/; non-rhotic environments won’t affect the final /ks/. AU: often similar to UK but with slightly tighter vowel spaces; watch the /ɒ/ quality and minimal lip rounding. Across all, keep the final /ks/ crisp; avoid voicing in the coda. - Vowel clarity matters: aim for a distinct /ɒ/ in the first syllable, then a short /ɪ/ before /ks/. - Consonant transitions: ensure a clean stop /k/ followed by lax /ɪ/ and then the /ks/ fricative cluster, without extra vowels between segments.
Coccyx comes from the Modern Latin coccyx, from the Ancient Greek κοκκυξ (kokkux), meaning ‘cuckoo’ or ‘beak-like shape,’ reflecting an early assumption about the bone’s shape. The term appeared in anatomy in the 17th–18th centuries as dissections and anatomical diagrams became more standardized in Europe. The French coccyx and Italian coccige are cognates used in medical texts of similar period. Historically, the coccyx was described as the terminal section of the vertebral column, with early anatomists noting its fusion of three to five rudimentary vertebrae. By the 1800s, refined descriptions and standardized nomenclature integrated coccygeal nomenclature into medical curricula, cementing its place as a distinct bony landmark. The word’s imagery evolved from Greek roots due to its perceived beak-like shape, a metaphor that persisted in early medical illustrations and later in clinical discussions on posture and pelvic mechanics. First known use in English is documented in late 17th to early 18th century medical texts, aligning with broader expansion of anatomical terminology during the Enlightenment. The evolution of the term mirrors a shift from broad anatomical descriptors to precise, location-specific terminology that supports diagnostic and surgical contexts today.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "Coccyx" and can often be used interchangeably.
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Words that rhyme with "Coccyx"
-cks sounds
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