3 syllables: He, mol, ysis. Stress on mol.
hee-MOH-lis-is
/hiˈmoʊlɪsɪs/
Hemolysis is pronounced hee-MOH-lis-is (/hiˈmoʊlɪsɪs/). It has three syllables (He-mol-ysis), with the stress on "mol". Hemolysis is the breakdown of red blood cells, releasing hemoglobin into surrounding fluid. It can occur due to physical damage, chemical exposure, or immune reactions. In medical contexts, it’s important for diagnosing hemolytic disorders and evaluating transfusion reactions, infections, or toxin exposure.
nounHemolysis is the breakdown of red blood cells, releasing hemoglobin into surrounding fluid. It can occur due to physical damage, chemical exposure, or immune reactions. In medical contexts, it’s important for diagnosing hemolytic disorders and evaluating transfusion reactions, infections, or toxin exposure.
- You: Focus on 2-3 phonetic challenges: 1) Adopting an /ə/ or /ʌ/ in the second syllable instead of a clear /ə/; 2) Dropping or softening the /laɪ/ diphthong; 3) Overemphasizing the final -sis as /sɪz/. Corrections: slow down to segment he-mə-lai-sis, exaggerate the /laɪ/ to a crisp diphthong, and end with a soft, precise /sɪs/.
"The lab measured hemolysis levels to assess sample quality."
"Certain drugs can induce hemolysis, requiring caution during treatment."
"Hemolysis can cause elevated free hemoglobin in the bloodstream."
US/UK/AU: /ˌhiː.məˈlaɪ.sɪs/. The primary stress is on the third syllable, MO- in heMOlysis, with secondary stress on the first syllable. Start with a long 'heh' sound, then 'muh' as in 'mama', followed by an emphasized 'lie' diphthong in the second syllable, and end with a soft 'sis'. It helps to segment: he- MO- lysis. Listen to a medical pronunciation audio to fine-tune the /ˈlaɪ/ and final /ɪs/.
Common errors: 1) Misplacing stress, saying he-MO-lis-sis; 2) Slurring the -la- into -lis-, giving he-ml-ysis; 3) Mispronouncing /laɪ/ as /laɪz/ or /lɔɪ/. Correction: emphasize the -laɪ- as a clear /laɪ/ diphthong, keep the /l/ light but precise between syllables, and avoid adding extra sibilants at the end. Practice with careful syllable segmentation: he- MOL- y- sis, ensuring the /ˈlaɪ/ is crisp and the final /sɪs/ is soft and evenly spaced.
US: /ˌhiː.məˈlaɪ.sɪs/ with rhotic r-less periphery and a clear /ɪ/ in the final syllable. UK: /ˌhiː.mɒˈlaɪ.sɪs/ features a shorter /ɒ/ in the second syllable and non-rhotic r. Australia: /ˌhɛː.məˈlaɪ.sɪs/ often has a centralized or lengthened vowel in first syllable and a more clipped final syllable. Focus the contrast on the /ɒ/ vs /ə/ and the final /ɪs/.
Key challenges: the composite 'he-mo-' sequence with a light initial vowel and the strong /laɪ/ diphthong can trip speakers; the three-syllable pattern with a mid-stress on the third syllable can be unfamiliar; and minding the short, crisp final -sis vs -lysis. Practice by isolating the /ˌhiː/ onset, ensuring the /m/ blends smoothly into /ə/ or /ə/ before /laɪ/. Use slow, deliberate articulation before speed.
There is no silent letter in standard pronunciation. Each syllable carries a distinct phoneme sequence: /ˌhiː/ /mə/ /ˈlaɪ/ /sɪs/. In rapid speech, the syllables can blur slightly, but all phonemes remain audible. Emphasizing the third syllable's /ˈlaɪ/ helps prevent swallowing the vowel sounds and keeps the term clear in speech.
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US: rhotics and a lengthened /iː/ in initial syllable, non-rhoticity minor variation; UK: shorter /ɒ/ sound in second syllable, more clipped rhythm; AU: broader vowel shifts with /eɪ/ or /eː/ qualities in some speakers; Keep IPA references in mind: /ˌhiː.məˈlaɪ.sɪs/ US, /ˌhiː.mɒˈlaɪ.sɪs/ UK, /ˌheː.məˈlaɪ.sɪs/ AU.
Hemolysis derives from the Greek haima (blood) and lysis (loosen, dissolution). The term blends haima with lysis to denote the disintegration of blood cells. The spelling and meaning crystallized in medical usage by the 19th century, aligning with other Greek- and Latin-based medical terms. The prefix hemo- designates blood, while -lysis specifies dissolution or breakdown. Over time, the word expanded from a physiological description to a marker in laboratories and clinical diagnostics, used to describe red cell destruction in various pathologies, transfusion reactions, or experimental settings. First known uses appear in early hematology texts and pathology treatises, where researchers documented phenomena like intravascular vs. extravascular hemolysis and their implications for patient management and experimental interpretation.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "Hemolysis" and can often be used interchangeably.
🔄 These words have opposite meanings to "Hemolysis" and show contrast in usage.
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Words that rhyme with "Hemolysis"
-sis sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
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