5 syllables: He, mi, pa, re, sis. Stress on re.
hem-ip-uh-REE-sis
/hɛmɪpəˈriːsɪs/
Hemiparesis is pronounced hem-ip-uh-REE-sis (/hɛmɪpəˈriːsɪs/). It has five syllables (He-mi-pa-re-sis), with the stress on "re". Hemiparesis is a neurological condition characterized by weakness or partial paralysis affecting one side of the body, typically resulting from brain or spinal cord injury or stroke. It reflects impaired motor pathways and can vary in severity across limbs, with upper and lower extremities often affected differently. The term is used in clinical settings to describe unilateral motor deficit and its functional implications.
nounHemiparesis is a neurological condition characterized by weakness or partial paralysis affecting one side of the body, typically resulting from brain or spinal cord injury or stroke. It reflects impaired motor pathways and can vary in severity across limbs, with upper and lower extremities often affected differently. The term is used in clinical settings to describe unilateral motor deficit and its functional implications.
How to Pronounce Hemiparesis
"After the stroke, she developed hemiparesis on her right side and began rehab."
"The physician noted mild left hemiparesis with reduced grip strength."
"Hemiparesis can involve facial muscles, making speech and expression partially affected."
Pronounce as he-MY-pair-eh-sis with primary stress on the second syllable: /ˌhɛmɪˈpeɪrəsɪs/ in many US pronunciations. Break it into he-mi-pa-re-sis, with /ˈpeɪ/ or /ˈpeər/ depending on accent. Start with /h/ breathy onset, short /e/ as in 'bet', then /m/ and a clear /ɪ/ or /i/. The key is stressing -pares- and keeping the final -sis crisp. See audio references for nuance: Pronounce or Forvo entries for hemiparesis provide native-like pulmonic release and syllable timing.
Common errors include over-weakening or flattening the second syllable (he-MI-par-eh-sis) and misplacing stress on the first or last syllable. Another frequent mistake is merging -paresis- into -pares- or -per- with a schwaless ending. To correct: emphasize -pa-RE-sis with a clear, brief /eɪ/ or /eə/ in the second syllable, and keep the final -sis as /sɪs/ rather than /zɪz/ in careful speech.
In US, stress is on the second syllable: he-MI-paresis with /ˌhɛmɪˈpeɪrəsɪs/. UK tends to a sharper /ˈhɛmɪˌpeəreɪsɪs/ pattern with a longer second-vowel and more rounded -pa-; AU follows US-like patterns but with slightly broader vowels, e.g., /ˌhɛmɪˈpeːrəəsɪs/. Rhoticity affects the /r/ clarity: US is rhotic, UK often non-rhotic in careful speech, which can alter the perceived rhythm of -paresis-.
Three main challenges: 1) the multi-syllabic length with four vowel sounds in sequence, 2) the 'paresis' cluster where /eɪ/ or /eə/ must be clearly distinguished from adjacent /r/ and /s/ sounds, 3) maintaining lateralized, unilateral emphasis across the word while preserving natural speech rhythm. Practicing the exact IPA segments and listening to native pronunciation helps reduce slurring, especially in fast medical narration.
Hemiparesis features a mid-word vowel transition with the /ɪ/ following /m/ and a distinct /peɪ/ or /peə/ sequence in -paresis-. The stress pattern centers on the second syllable, so you should lift the vowel in -pa- and then smoothly connect to -resis-. Paying attention to the alveolar /r/ and the /s/ in -sis- helps avoid a flattened ending. Audio models show subtle timing differences across dialects.
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Hemiparesis derives from the Greek hemi- meaning “half,” and paresis from the Greek paresis meaning “weakness” or “slackening.” The term entered medical English through the 19th and early 20th centuries as neurology formalized descriptions of unilateral motor deficits—often in stroke patients. The combining form hemi- attaches to -paresis, designating weakness on one side of the body, while alternative terms like hemiplegia denote complete paralysis on one side. The word’s anatomy-focused lineage reflects a shift from general “weakness” to precise lateralized motor impairment, with usage expanding as imaging and neurorehabilitation advanced. Early medical texts describe hemiparesis as a partial loss of voluntary movement, usually following cerebrovascular events. Over time, the concept has broadened to include varying degrees of motor impairment, sometimes paired with sensory or cognitive effects. First known uses appear in 19th-century clinical literature on hemispheric brain injury, later standardized in neurology manuals and stroke rehabilitation guidelines.
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Words that rhyme with "Hemiparesis"
-ess sounds
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