5 syllables: Cra, ni, ot, o, my. Stress on ot.
kray-NEE-ot-uh-mee
/kɹeɪˈniɒtəmi/
Craniotomy is pronounced kray-NEE-ot-uh-mee (/kɹeɪˈniɒtəmi/). It has five syllables (Cra-ni-ot-o-my), with the stress on "ot". Craniotomy is a surgical procedure that involves removing a portion of the skull to access the brain. It is performed to treat brain injuries, tumors, or other cerebrovascular conditions, and may be done with the patient under anesthesia. The term emphasizes the skull (cranium) and the incision into brain-covering layers, distinguishing it from less invasive methods.
nounCraniotomy is a surgical procedure that involves removing a portion of the skull to access the brain. It is performed to treat brain injuries, tumors, or other cerebrovascular conditions, and may be done with the patient under anesthesia. The term emphasizes the skull (cranium) and the incision into brain-covering layers, distinguishing it from less invasive methods.
"The neurosurgeon scheduled a craniotomy to remove the tumor."
"Postoperative imaging showed successful relief of the pressure after the craniotomy."
"During the procedure, the patient was carefully monitored to minimize brain exposure."
Pronounce as /ˌkreɪ.niˈɒ.tə.mi/ (US) or /ˌkreɪ.niˈɒ.tə.mi/ (UK/AU). Emphasize the second syllable in most US speech: kri-NI-ot-uh-mee with a subtle secondary emphasis on the first syllable. The sequence features a clear 'ay' vowel in ‘cray’, a light 'nee' for the second syllable, and a stressed ‘ot’ in the third, followed by ‘a’ and ‘mee’. Mouth position: start with a rounded /kreɪ/, then place the tongue high for /ni/, drop to /ɒ/ for the open-mid vowel, then a light schwa-like /ə/ in /tə/, ending with /mi/. Audio reference: try listening to medical pronunciation resources or Forvo pronunciations labeled under 'craniotomy' for native intuition.
Common errors: misplacing the stress and mixing the /ɒ/ with /ɑː/ in the third syllable; articulating /ˈkreɪ.naɪ.ɒ.toʊ.mi/ or inserting extra vowels. Corrections: keep /ˌkreɪ.ni/ as a compact two-syllable onset, ensure the third syllable carries the primary stress with /ɒ/ as a short open back vowel, not /ɑː/. Finish with /təˈmi/ rather than /toʊ.mi/. Practice the sequence slowly: kri-NEY-nee-OT-uh-mee, then speed up while maintaining the same vowel qualities and a crisp /t/ without flapping.
In US English, the initial /kreɪ/ tends to be strong and the second syllable /ni/ is unstressed; primary stress often on the third or fourth phoneme depending on speaker; /ɒ/ is a rounded open back vowel. UK English often places slightly more emphasis earlier: /ˌkreɪ.niˈɒ.tə.mi/ with a rounded short /ɒ/ and clear /tə/ as a schwa; AU follows US patterns but may reduce certain vowels in connected speech, with a slightly flatter /ɒ/ in some speakers. Maintain the core three-vowel sequence /kreɪ.ni.ɒ.tə.mi/ across all accents, with nuances in vowel height and rhoticity reflected in the /r/ presence in US prose vs non-rhotic UK/AU.
The difficulty lies in the multi-syllabic construction, the cluster /kreɪn/ followed by /iˈɒ/ and the relatively short, unstressed /tə/ before /mi/. The sequence blends a diphthong /eɪ/ with a mid back vowel /ɒ/ and a mid-central schwa, which can be unfamiliar to non-medical speakers. Also, the optional secondary stress on the first syllable in rapid speech can confuse learners. Focus on segmenting: /ˌkreɪ.ni.ˈɒ.tə.mi/ and practice steady tempo to avoid garbling the /t/ and /m/ consonants.
Does the pronunciation change when spoken quickly during a patient briefing or operative planning discussion? In fast-medical discourse, many clinicians compress syllables: /ˌkreɪˈnɪˌɒtəmi/ or /ˌkreɪˈnɒtəmi/ with reduced vowels. The essential elements remain the same: crisp /t/ before /m/ and clear articulation of /ɒ/ (back rounded vowel). Practice both slow, deliberate enunciation and rapid, clinical tempo to preserve intelligibility in time-sensitive settings.
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US/UK/AU differences: US often rhotics with /r/ in broader contexts but craniotomy itself is not rhotic-heavy; US tends to slightly higher/vowelized /ɒ/ in the third syllable; UK and AU typically with non-rhotic accents, so /r/ is silent, vowels are slightly more clipped, especially in fast speech. Vowel notes: /kreɪ/ diphthong in all; /ni/ tends to be a clear /ni/ rather than /nɪ/ in some voices; /ɒ/ may be a rounded open back vowel or open back unrounded depending on speaker; /tə/ might be a reduced schwa in connected speech. Reference IPA: maintain /ˌkreɪ.niˈɒ.tə.mi/ across accents, adjusting vowel height subtly by region.
Craniotomy derives from the Greek kranion, meaning "skull" or "cranium" and -tomy, from tomē meaning "a cutting or incision." The term entered medical usage in the 19th century with the rise of modern neurosurgical techniques. Initially, cranial procedures were experimental and often dangerous, but the language reflected a systematic approach to brain access—emphasizing the cranial bone and deliberate incision. As neurosurgery advanced, craniotomy clarified the operation: removing a bone flap to reach brain tissue. First known uses appear in late 1800s surgical texts, evolving through radiographic and endoscopic innovations that broadened indications and refined nomenclature. Over time, craniotomy has come to denote a broad class of skull-base and intracranial surgeries, distinct from craniectomy (bone removal without replacement) and burr hole procedures. The etymology underscores the clear separation between bone manipulation (cranium) and surgical incision (tomy), a contrast still reflected in modern surgical lexicon and coding.
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Words that rhyme with "Craniotomy"
-omy sounds
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