5 syllables: He, ma, te, me, sis. Stress on te.
hem-uh-TEM-uh-sis
/hɛməˈtɛməsɪs/
Hematemesis is pronounced hem-uh-TEM-uh-sis (/hɛməˈtɛməsɪs/). It has five syllables (He-ma-te-me-sis), with the stress on "te". Hematemesis is the medical term for vomiting blood. It indicates upper gastrointestinal bleeding and requires prompt clinical assessment. The word combines Greek roots for blood and vomiting, and it is used primarily in clinical contexts and medical literature.
nounHematemesis is the medical term for vomiting blood. It indicates upper gastrointestinal bleeding and requires prompt clinical assessment. The word combines Greek roots for blood and vomiting, and it is used primarily in clinical contexts and medical literature.
How to Pronounce Hematemesis
"The patient presented with hematemesis after a severe episode of gastritis."
"Endoscopy was performed to determine whether the hematemesis originated in the esophagus or stomach."
"A rapid drop in hemoglobin accompanied the hematemesis, prompting a transfusion in the emergency department."
Pronounced heh-MAY-te-MEE-sis in US and UK practice, with primary stress on the third syllable. IPA: US /ˌhɛmətɛˈmɛsɪs/, UK /ˌhɛmɪˈtɛmɛsɪs/; AU follows the UK pattern but with a slight vowel shift in the first syllable. Break it as he-ma-te-me-sis, ensuring the 'te' is a clear stressed syllable. Listen for the middle emphasis to guide natural rhythm. For practice, say: he‑ma‑TE‑me‑sis, then: heh‑muh‑TAY‑muh‑sis (colloquial). Audio resources: Pronounce or YouGlish will help confirm the stressed syllable and local variation.
Common errors include stressing the wrong syllable (placing primary stress on ha- or me- instead of -te-), and slurring the -sis ending into -siss or -sis. Another mistake is reducing the middle vowel sounds or conflating with similar sounding terms like hematology. To correct: keep four clear syllables he‑ma‑te‑me‑sis, place strong emphasis on the third syllable -TE-, and pronounce the final -sis with a crisp -sɪs. Practice by separating syllables in slow speech: he-ma-te-me-sis, then speed up while keeping rhythm intact.
In US English, the sequence often sounds he‑uh‑te‑MÉH‑sis with a clear /ɛ/ in the middle and /ˈmɛsɪs/ at the end. UK English tends to have a slightly shorter first vowel and a more clipped final syllable, with /ˈhɛmətɛməsɪs/ sometimes heard as hem-uh-TEH-meh-sis. Australian English is closer to UK, with a smooth linking and a non-rhotic rhythm; expect /ˌhɛmətɛˈməsɪs/ or /ˌhɛmətɛməsɪs/. Focus on maintaining four syllables and stressing the te- syllable for all variants.
It’s challenging because it is a four-syllable medical term with a trochaic-to-iambic mix and a stress shift that many non-medical speakers misplace. The sequence ha‑te‑me‑sis contains subtle vowel transitions (ɛ to ə to ɛ) and a final crisp -sis that can blur in casual speech. Additionally, it contains both a raised mid vowel and a lower schwa in rapid speech, which makes it easy to mumble if you don’t pause between syllables. Practice saying it slowly, then with controlled tempo, focusing on the third syllable stress.
Is there a silent letter in hematemesis? Not exactly silent, but the initial 'he' can be reduced in fast speech, and the 'te' carries the primary stress that governs overall rhythm. Some speakers might reduce the unstressed syllables to a quick schwa, resulting in he-TEH-meh-sis becoming he-TE-məs-ɪs. Emphasize clear enunciation of the stressed third syllable and keep the 'sis' ending audible.
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Hematemesis derives from the Greek haima (blood) and haima, and from Greek emesis (vomiting). The combining form haima- signals blood, while -emesis denotes vomiting. The term first appeared in medical writings in the 19th century as clinicians sought precise descriptors for upper GI bleeding. Historically, physicians used general terms like vomiting of blood; the emergence of hematemesis reflects a shift toward standardized medical nomenclature. The prefix h- in hematemesis sometimes appears in Latinized medical usage as hematemesis (without the initial e-). The word was popularized in modern medicine with the advent of endoscopy and clearer classification of GI bleeding sources. Over time, hematemesis has become a benchmark clinical sign distinguishing upper GI bleeding from other causes of emesis or GI hemorrhage. The term is now common in teaching, case reports, and emergency medicine, signaling a potentially serious condition that warrants rapid investigation.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "Hematemesis" and can often be used interchangeably.
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Words that rhyme with "Hematemesis"
-sis sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
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