4 syllables: Con, gen, i, tal. Stress on gen.
kuhn-JEN-uh-tuhl
/kəˈndʒɛnətəl/
Congenital is pronounced kuhn-JEN-uh-tuhl (/kəˈndʒɛnətəl/). It has four syllables (Con-gen-i-tal), with the stress on "gen". Congenital refers to a condition or trait that is present from birth, typically arising during fetal development rather than acquired after birth. It describes characteristics inherent to an individual’s biology, whether structural, functional, or genetic, and is often used in medical contexts to classify conditions inherited or occurring during gestation. The term is widely used in clinical, research, and counseling settings to distinguish non‑acquired conditions from those developed later in life.
nounCongenital refers to a condition or trait that is present from birth, typically arising during fetal development rather than acquired after birth. It describes characteristics inherent to an individual’s biology, whether structural, functional, or genetic, and is often used in medical contexts to classify conditions inherited or occurring during gestation. The term is widely used in clinical, research, and counseling settings to distinguish non‑acquired conditions from those developed later in life.
"Her congenital heart defect required lifelong monitoring and treatment."
"The survey focused on congenital disabilities that are present at birth."
"Congenital anomalies can result from genetic mutations or environmental factors during pregnancy."
Pronounce it as /kənˈdʒɛnɪtəl/ in US and UK; AU tends to mirror US while slightly drawing out the second syllable. The main stress is on the second syllable: con-GEN-i-tal. Begin with a schwa + k sound, then the affricate /dʒ/ as in 'judge', followed by /ɛn/ as in 'end', then a light /ɪ/ before the final /təl/. Visual cue: say con with a soft, quick start, jump to GEN with a clear /dʒ/, then a quick -i- before the final -tal.
Two frequent errors: (1) stressing the wrong syllable, often placing emphasis on the first or third instead of GEN; (2) mispronouncing the /dʒ/ as /tʃ/ or causing the /ən/ to blend with the /t/ leading to a skipped schwa. Correct by keeping the /dʒ/ strong but brief, ensuring the middle vowel is a clear /ɛn/ rather than /eɪ/. Practice the sequence con-GEN-i-tal with a slight encore on GEN, and make sure the final -tal isn’t vocalized as a hard ‘tall’ but a light /təl/.
US/UK share /kənˈdʒɛnɪtəl/ with stress on GEN; AU is similar but tends to be slightly more rounded vowels in the first syllable and a crisper /t/ in final; final syllable often reduced to /əl/ in rapid speech. Rhoticity doesn’t impact the word significantly, but US pronunciations may lip-round the /o/ in some speakers when preceding /n/; the core /ˈdʒɛn/ remains constant. In all, the difference is subtle and mostly in vowel quality rather than the consonant cluster.
The challenge lies in the multi-syllabic stress pattern and the consonant cluster /dʒ/ followed by a quick /ɛn/ and a light /təl/. The schwa in the first syllable makes it easy to blur if you’re not mindful of the stress. People often misplace the stress on con- or i- instead of GEN, and may substitute /dʒ/ with /dj/ or /tʃ/. To master it, practice isolating the GEN syllable with clear /dʒ/ and hold the /t/ lightly before the final /əl/.
A notable concern is the vowel quality in the second syllable: /ɛn/ vs /eɪ/ depending on speaker and speed. Keeping a crisp /ɛn/ avoids the common substitution to /eɪ/ or a silent schwa, which can obscure the word’s intended rhythm. Also, the final syllable contains a subtle /əl/ rather than a strong /l/; ensure your tongue lightly taps the roof of the mouth for a soft, syllabic ending. Using a quick, even tempo across all three stressed segments will support natural rhythm.
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Congenital comes from the Latin con‑ (“together, with”) and natus, past participle of nasci (“to be born”). The term entered English medical usage in the 17th–18th centuries as physicians sought a precise label for conditions present at birth, contrasting with conditions acquired after birth. The prefix con- here emphasizes that the condition is “with birth” or inherent. Over time, congenital has narrowed to medical contexts, especially to describe anomalies, defects, or traits existing since birth, regardless of whether they are caused by genetics, teratogens, or environmental influences during gestation. The word’s semantic drift kept the emphasis on timing (from birth) rather than the mechanism (genetic vs environmental). In contemporary usage, it is paired with qualifiers like congenital heart disease, congenital deafness, or congenital anomalies, underscoring the condition’s lifelong presence and the need for early recognition and management.
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Words that rhyme with "Congenital"
-nal sounds
-ial sounds
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