4 syllables: En, u, re, sis. Stress on re.
en-yuh-REE-sis
/ˌɛn.jəˈriː.sɪs/
Enuresis is pronounced en-yuh-REE-sis (/ˌɛn.jəˈriː.sɪs/). It has four syllables (En-u-re-sis), with the stress on "re". Enuresis is a medical term describing the repeated involuntary discharge of urine, typically at night, in a child or occasionally in adults. It denotes a condition rather than a behavior and is used in clinical contexts to discuss urinary continence issues, treatment options, and diagnostic considerations. The term is most often encountered in pediatric and urology discussions.
nounEnuresis is a medical term describing the repeated involuntary discharge of urine, typically at night, in a child or occasionally in adults. It denotes a condition rather than a behavior and is used in clinical contexts to discuss urinary continence issues, treatment options, and diagnostic considerations. The term is most often encountered in pediatric and urology discussions.
"The pediatrician diagnosed primary nocturnal enuresis after the child had never achieved nighttime continence by age five."
"Parents discussed treatment options for nocturnal enuresis with a urologist and psychologist."
"Enuresis may have psychosocial impacts, so clinicians often coordinate care with family counseling."
You say en-uh-REE-sis, with primary stress on the second syllable: /ˌɛn.jʊˈriː.sɪs/. Break it into three parts: en- (neutral /ɛn/), -ure- (pronounced as /jʊə/ roughly “yoo-uh”), and -sis (sís) with a long 'ee' in the middle. Place the tongue high and near the palate for the /riː/ vowel, and finish softly with /sɪs/. If you want audio reference, check reputable dictionaries that provide pronunciation audio; you’ll hear the secondary stress pattern guiding where to emphasize.
Common errors include: 1) Misplacing stress, saying en-yoo-RE-sis instead of EN-uh-REE-sis, 2) Slurring or reducing the /jʊə/ to a simple /ju/ or /ʊə/ cluster, and 3) Lengthening or misplacing the /riː/ so it becomes /riːə/ or /riːz/. Correction tips: segment the word into three parts, practice /ɛn/ + /jʊə/ + /ˈriː/ + /sɪs/, keep the /riː/ long and clear, and ensure the final /sɪs/ is crisp, not faltering into /zɪs/ unless the following word requires it.
In US English, you’ll hear /ˌɛn.jʊˈriː.sɪs/ with non-rhotic tendencies generally; UK English tends to preserve a slightly more clipped vowel in /ɪ/ and a clear /r/ in rhotic accents; Australian often features a broader /ə/ or /ɪ/ in the first syllable and a more centralized final /ɪs/. Across all, the middle /jʊə/ cluster may reduce to /jʊə/ or /juː/ depending on the speaker, and the final /sɪs/ remains crisp; the stress pattern remains on the third syllable in many varieties: EN-u-RE-sis.
The difficulty lies in balancing the three-syllable rhythm, the /jʊə/ diphthong cluster, and the long /riː/ vowel within a clinical term. Many speakers misplace the primary stress on the first syllable or flatten the /riː/ into a shorter /ri/ sound, giving a non-native feel. Focus on the three distinct syllables, ensure the middle syllable carries the long /riː/ vowel with proper length, and end with a crisp /sɪs/ rather than a muffled or elongated ending.
The word features a notable /ˌɛn.jʊˈriː.sɪs/ contour with a relatively strong second-stress marker; the degree of sonority on the /j/ and the length of the /riː/ segment can trip non-native speakers. Additionally, the initial /ɪ/ versus /ɛ/ vowel in casual speech may vary by speaker, but the canonical form uses /ɛn/ at the start. Mastering the exact /jʊə/ sequence and the final /sɪs/ can be the key differentiator between accurate and casual clarity.
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Enuresis comes from the Greek prefix en- meaning in, within, or inside, combined with oura meaning urine, and the suffix -esis indicating a process or condition. The term entered medical vocabulary through late 19th-century Greek-influenced medical coinage, reflecting a systematic naming of urinary conditions. Its roots trace to classical Greek uros (urine) with associations to en- (in) and -esis (action or process), paralleling other medical terms like nocturia (night urination) and diuresis (increased urine production). The exact first known usage appeared in clinical texts as physicians sought precise descriptors for continence issues in pediatrics. Over time, enuresis has become a standard term in pediatric and urological literature, with distinctions formed around primary vs. secondary nocturnal enuresis and daytime enuresis, guiding diagnosis and treatment strategies.
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Words that rhyme with "Enuresis"
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