2 syllables: gall, stone. Stress on gall.
GAWL-stohn
/ˈɡɔlˌstoʊn/
gallstone is pronounced GAWL-stohn (/ˈɡɔlˌstoʊn/). It has two syllables (gall-stone), with the stress on "gall". Gallstone is a medical term for a small, hard deposit that forms in the gallbladder, often composed of cholesterol or bilirubin. It can obstruct bile flow and cause pain or digestive symptoms. The word combines gall- (bile) with stone, reflecting its nature as a stone-like concretion within the biliary system.
Gallstone is a medical term for a small, hard deposit that forms in the gallbladder, often composed of cholesterol or bilirubin. It can obstruct bile flow and cause pain or digestive symptoms. The word combines gall- (bile) with stone, reflecting its nature as a stone-like concretion within the biliary system.
"She presented with sharp right upper abdominal pain, suspecting a gallstone obstruction."
"The surgeon explained that gallstones can be treated noninvasively if detected early."
"A low-fat diet is often recommended to reduce symptoms in patients with gallstones."
Pronunciation is gall-stone with stress on the first syllable: /ˈɡɔːlˌstoʊn/ in US and UK dictionaries, and /ˈɡɔːlˌstəʊn/ in some UK representations. Start with a rounded, open back vowel in the first syllable, then a clear ‘l’ consonant, followed by a crisp ‘stone’ with long 'o' sound. If you’re recording yourself, aim for a light pause between syllables but smooth linkage in fluent speech.
Common errors include coalescing gall- and stone into a single syllable (gallstone pronounced as one brisk unit) and misproducing the long vowel in stone. To correct: pronounce gall- with a distinct /ɡɔːl/ and separate the second syllable with a clear /st(oʊ)n/ or /stəʊn/; ensure the 'o' in stone is long. Practice by isolating syllables and then slow linking.
In US English, gallstone usually has /ˈɡɔːlˌstoʊn/ with a broad ‘o’ in stone and non-rhoticity not affecting the r. UK RP may render second syllable as /stəʊn/ with a slightly lighter initial vowel and less rhotic influence. Australian English often aligns with US patterns but can exhibit slightly shorter vowel duration and a more clipped /əʊ/ in stone. Overall, stress remains on the first syllable, with vowel quality varying by region.
The challenge lies in switching from the thick, rounded /ɔː/ vowel in gall to the long, tense /oʊ/ or /əʊ/ in stone, and sustaining a crisp /st/ onset between the two morphemes. The sequence /ɡɔːl/ + /stoʊn/ demands precise tongue position and breath control, especially at faster speech rates. Small variations in vowel quality across accents can also tempt vowel mergers.
A distinctive aspect is the boundary between the two morphemes gall- and -stone; keep a perceptible pause or a slight boundary so listeners recognize the medical term as two morphemes joined to form a single concept. This separation helps disambiguate from similar-looking words and ensures clarity in clinical contexts where precision matters for patient understanding.
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Gallstone derives from Middle English gall (bile, gall) from Old English galle, galle, related to German Galle, meaning bile or bitterness, and stone from Old English stan. The term reflects medieval and early medical traditions that linked biliary concretion formation with the gallbladder. The first documented medical use appears in texts discussing cholelithiasis in the 17th–18th centuries as anatomical knowledge of the biliary system expanded. Over time, gallstone became the standard lay and clinical term for calculi formed within the gallbladder or biliary tract, distinguishing it from stones in other organs. The compound’s semantics emphasize the pathological stone-like nature of this condition within the biliary pathway, and it remains a widely used term in clinical, radiological, and patient-facing contexts.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "gallstone" and can often be used interchangeably.
🔄 These words have opposite meanings to "gallstone" and show contrast in usage.
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Words that rhyme with "gallstone"
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