Hirschsprung is a medical noun denoting Hirschsprung disease, a congenital condition marked by absence of nerve cells in part of the colon, causing severe bowel obstruction. The term is named after Harald Hirschsprung, who first described the condition in 1891. In clinical contexts it refers to the disease itself, its diagnosis, treatment, or related research terms.
- Do not insert an extra vowel between the /tʃ/ and /spr/ sequences; keep them tightly connected: /tʃ spr/ rather than /tʃuh spr/. - Avoid mispronouncing the first vowel as /ɪ/; use /ɜː/ (US /ɜːr/ rhotic). Practicing with a minimal pair set helps: compare/hirsch-/hertz/ to refine vowel quality. - Do not shorten the final /ŋ/ into /n/; keep the velar nasal so the word ends with a true 'ng' sound. Use a quick but clear nasal closure at the soft palate. - Do not reduce the /spr/ cluster; it must be crisp and produced with simultaneous /s/, /p/, and /r/ gestures, without inserting an extra vowel between them. - Ensure the primary stress remains on the first syllable, not shifting to the second. Speech pacing and connected speech practice will help solidify stress timing.
- US: emphasize rhotics in the first syllable; ensure /ɜːr/ has a distinct r-coloring and the /t͡ʃ/ is released sharply. The /spr/ cluster should feel tight and almost simultaneous: /spr/ with minimal vowel between /t͡ʃ/ and /spr/. - UK: less rhotic influence; the /ɜː/ vowel remains central; maintain a crisp /t͡ʃ/ and /spr/ cluster; the second syllable vowel may be slightly more back (ɒ). Keep the final /ŋ/ clearly nasalized. - AU: similar to US with slightly broader vowel in /ɜː/ and more relaxed contrast in /ʌ/ or /ɒ/ depending on speaker; emphasize clear /ŋ/ and keep /t͡ʃ/ and /spr/ tightly connected. - IPA reference: US /ˈhɜːrtʃˌsprʊŋ/, UK /ˈhɜːtʃˌsprɒŋ/, AU /ˈhɜːtʃˌsprʌŋ/. - Practical tip: record yourself, compare with native medical voices, and adjust to match an authoritative pronunciation in clinical contexts.
"The surgeon explained the plan for Hirschsprung disease management."
"Pediatricians screen newborns for symptoms of Hirschsprung during early checkups."
"Genetic studies are increasingly used to understand Hirschsprung predisposition."
"Long-term outcomes after Hirschsprung surgery vary, depending on the extent of nerve-cell absence."
Hirschsprung derives from the surname Hirschsprung, combined with the medical suffix -sprung from German, originally meaning ‘sprung’ or ‘jump’ but here incorporated as a eponym in medical naming. Harald Hirschsprung, a Danish pediatrician, first described the condition in 1891 as a congenital megacolon caused by absence of enteric ganglion cells. The term evolved into Hirschsprung disease to describe the familial, congenital form of intestinal aganglionosis. The root concept involves neural crest-derived enteric neurons failing to migrate and differentiate properly during embryonic development, leading to distal colon segments that lack innervation needed for peristalsis. In historical medical literature, the term began to appear in europe in late 19th century translations of clinical observations, with the eponym solidifying in English and German texts through the early 20th century, and modern usage expanding to include diagnostic criteria, genetic associations, and surgical management strategies.
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Words that rhyme with "Hirschsprung"
-ung sounds
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Pronounced as /ˈhɜːrtʃˌsprʊŋ/ in US and UK English, with the first syllable roughly like 'hurch' (rhymes with 'church') and the second syllable a short 'sprung.' The stress is on the first syllable, with a secondary attention to the ‘spr-’ cluster. Mouth positioning: start with a relaxed, rounded /ɜː/ vowel, then blend into /tʃ/ for 'rch,' followed by a clear /ʃ/ in ' Hirsch' and combine with the /sprʊŋ/ sequence where /ɹ/ is light and the /ʊ/ is a short, rounded vowel. Listening to a native medical speaker or clinician pronouncing it will help solidify the flow. Audio references: consult Pronounce or Forvo entries for native clinical pronunciations.
Common errors include misplacing the stress (placing it on the second syllable), anglicizing the vowel in the first syllable to /ɪ/ as in 'hirtch' instead of /ˈhɜːrtʃ/; mispronouncing the /spr/ cluster as a simple 'sp' without the voiceless /r/ blend; and truncating the final /ŋ/ to an /n/ or /ŋk/. Correction tips: keep the initial /ˈhɜːrtʃ/ with a clear /t͡ʃ/ for 'rch,' maintain the /ˌspr/ cluster without inserting a vowel, and finish with a clear /ŋ/ (velar nasal). Practice slowed syllable by syllable and use minimal pairs to cement the correct cluster transitions.
In US /ˈhɜːrtʃˌsprʊŋ/, the /ɜːr/ is rhotic with r-colored schwa-like quality; the final /ʊŋ/ is a short, rounded back vowel plus velar nasal. UK /ˈhɜːtʃˌsprɒŋ/ tends to have a slightly shorter /ɒ/ in the second syllable and less rhoticic influence, though many speakers remain rhotic. Australian /ˈhɜːt͡ʃˌsprʌŋ/ often shows a broader vowel in the second vowel, with /ʌ/ akin to 'cup' in many accents. Across all, the critical parts are /ˈhɜːtʃ/ for the first syllable and /ˌsprʊŋ/ or /ˌsprɒŋ/ depending on vowel quality; ensure the /t͡ʃ/ is affricate, and keep the final velar nasal clear.
The difficulty stems from the long consonant cluster /ˈhɜːrtʃˌspr/—the /t͡ʃ/ after a consonant blend and the /spr/ cluster that follows; combined with a final /ŋ/ that must be clearly nasalized rather than a nasal-alveolar /n/. Speakers often misplace stress or insert an extra vowel between /t͡ʃ/ and /spr/, producing /ˈhɪərtʃ sprɒŋ/ or similar. Focus on keeping the /t͡ʃ/ and /spr/ sequences tight, reduce vowel insertion between segments, and practice with minimal pairs and shadowing to stabilize rhythm.
A distinct challenge is the combination of an affricate /t͡ʃ/ immediately before a strong /spr/ cluster, which requires precise tongue positioning: the tongue tip for /t/ touches the alveolar ridge, then transitions to /t͡ʃ/ with a brief release; the /s/ is sharp before /p/ and /r/ follows. The word contains an uncommon placement of /r/ after /h/ in the onset, and the final /ŋ/ demands a velar nasal release. Listening to native clinical pronunciations and practicing with controlled tempo helps. IPA cues: /ˈhɜːrtʃˌsprʊŋ/ (US) and variants.
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- Shadowing: listen to a clinician pronouncing 'Hirschsprung' and repeat in real-time, matching tempo, rhythm, and intonation. - Minimal pairs: practice with words that differ in onset clusters, such as /hɜːtʃ/ vs /hɜːr/, to lock in the /t͡ʃ/ release. Then pair /spr/ with nasal endings: /sprʊŋ/ vs /sprɒŋ/. - Rhythm practice: count syllables aloud (1-2-3-4) while articulating the word slowly, then at natural speed; ensure the /ˈhɜːrtʃ/ lead is followed quickly by /ˌspr/. - Stress practice: drill sequences where you rehearse the word in isolation, in sentences, and in questions to maintain primary stress on the first syllable. - Recording: use a phone or recorder; replay and compare with reference pronunciations; fix lags in tongue position by focusing on the /t͡ʃ/ release and the /spr/ cluster. - Context practice: read sentences aloud using the term, paying attention to surrounding words that may affect pacing. - Sleep on it: recite before bed to reinforce the motor memory of the sequences.
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