3 syllables: Hem, or, rhoids. Stress on Hem.
HEM-ur-oydz
/ˈhɛmɚˌɔɪdz/
Hemorrhoids is pronounced HEM-ur-oydz (/ˈhɛmɚˌɔɪdz/). It has three syllables (Hem-or-rhoids), with the stress on "Hem". Hemorrhoids are swollen veins in the lower rectum or anus that cause discomfort, itching, and sometimes bleeding. The term refers to varicose-like engorgement of the venous cushions at the anorectal junction, and it is commonly used in medical contexts as well as lay health discussions. Pronounced with emphasis on the second syllable, it combines elements from “hem-” and “-rrhoids.”.
nounHemorrhoids are swollen veins in the lower rectum or anus that cause discomfort, itching, and sometimes bleeding. The term refers to varicose-like engorgement of the venous cushions at the anorectal junction, and it is commonly used in medical contexts as well as lay health discussions. Pronounced with emphasis on the second syllable, it combines elements from “hem-” and “-rrhoids.”
How to Pronounce Hemorrhoids
"I’ve been dealing with hemorrhoids after weeks of constipation."
"The physician recommended dietary changes to prevent hemorrhoids from flaring up."
"During pregnancy, hemorrhoids can become more pronounced due to increased pressure."
US: /ˌhɛm.ɚˈɔɪdz/; UK: /ˌhɛm.əˈɔɪdz/; AU: /ˌhɛm.əˈɔɪdz/. Stress falls on the second syllable’s diphthong, with a clear ‘roy’ vowel sound in the stressed second syllable. Start with “HEM” (short e as in 'bed'), then a light schwa for the second syllable before the /ɔɪ/ glide, and end with /dz/. Mouth: lips neutral to slight rounding for /ɔɪ/, tongue blades high for /ɔɪ/; the /r/ in US is rhotacized, UK often non-rhotic or softly rhotic depending on speaker. Audio references include medical pronunciation tracks and general dictionaries with spoken examples.
Two common errors: 1) Turning /ɔɪ/ into a pure /ɔ/ or /aɪ/ without the glide, producing ‘he-mur-roids’ instead of ‘hem-uh-ROY-ds’; 2) Misplacing the primary stress, saying hem-OR-roids or hem-ur-ROIDS. Correction: emphasize the second syllable with /ɔɪ/, i.e., /ˌhɛm.ɚˈɔɪdz/ in US and /ˌhɛm.əˈɔɪdz/ in UK, and keep the ‘r’ or the non-rhotic quality consistent with your accent. Practice with minimal pairs: /ˈɔɪdz/ vs /ɔɪ/ to anchor the diphthong; ensure the final /dz/ is voiced and crisp.
US tends to be rhotacized: /ˌhɛm.ɚˈɔɪdz/ with a more pronounced /ɚ/; UK often uses a reduced vowel in the second syllable leading to /ˌhɛm.əˈɔɪdz/ with less pronounced rhoticity in many speakers; Australian tends to flatten vowels slightly and may give /ˌhɛm.əˈɔɪdz/ with a more centralized second vowel and a softer /ɪ/ or /ə/ in the first syllable. Across all, the /ɔɪ/ diphthong remains central; the coda /dz/ is often retained. IPA references help anchor exact vowel quality and rhoticity per region.
Three main challenges: the second syllable’s /ɔɪ/ diphthong requires a precise glide from /ɔ/ to /ɪ/, the /r/ in American English can carry a strong rhotic quality that some learners misplace, and the final /dz/ cluster requires keeping voicing without devoicing. Also, the sequence /mɚ/ in US can blur to /mərk/ in fast speech. Tips: practice the /ɚ/ or schwa+rhotic vowel, isolate the diphthong with a dedicated mouth position, and slow the transition to /d/ + /z/.
Hemorrhoids has no silent letters in standard pronunciations. The challenge is not silent letters but the reduction of a syllable in casual speech and the exact sequence /ˈhɛm.ɚˌɔɪdz/ where the second syllable carries the primary stress and the /ɔɪ/ diphthong. Focus on maintaining the /ɚ/ or a clear schwa in the second syllable, and keep the /d/ and /z/ distinct in connected speech.
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Hemorrhoids derives from the Latin haemorrhoēs, from Greek haim- ‘blood’ + rhoos ‘flow’ (from rhoa ‘to flow’). The form in English settled through Old French hémorroïde, then Late Middle English hemorrhoid(s). The word originally described venous swellings involving bleeding; in medical usage it denotes either internal hemorrhoids (superior to the dentate line) or external hemorrhoids (below the dentate line). The term’s spelling reflects the Latin root haem- or hem- and the Greek -oidēs meaning ‘like’ or ‘resembling,’ but pronunciation drifted toward “HEM-uh-ROYDS” in American English and “HEM-uh-ROIDZ” in many UK varieties. First known use in English traces to medical treatises from the 16th–17th centuries, as surgeons sought precise terms for anorectal vascular cushions. By the 18th century, the pluralized form hemorrhoids was standard in medical texts, while informal speech often shortened or softened the term. The word’s etymology mirrors the long-standing medical focus on venous dilation and bleeding in the anorectal region, evolving from anatomical descriptions to a common clinical diagnosis across languages.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "Hemorrhoids" and can often be used interchangeably.
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Words that rhyme with "Hemorrhoids"
-oid sounds
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