4 syllables: Hodg, kin's lym, pho, ma. Stress on Hodg.
hahj-kinz-lim-FOH-muh
/ˈhɑdʒ.kɪnz ˌlɪmˈfoʊ.mə/
Hodgkin's lymphoma is pronounced hahj-kinz-lim-FOH-muh (/ˈhɑdʒ.kɪnz ˌlɪmˈfoʊ.mə/). It has four syllables (Hodg-kin's lym-pho-ma), with the stress on "Hodg". Hodgkin's lymphoma is a type of cancer that originates in the lymphatic system, characterized by the presence of Reed–Sternberg cells. It typically presents as enlarged lymph nodes and may cause systemic symptoms like fever and night sweats. It is treatable, especially when detected early, and prognosis varies with stage and patient factors.
nounHodgkin's lymphoma is a type of cancer that originates in the lymphatic system, characterized by the presence of Reed–Sternberg cells. It typically presents as enlarged lymph nodes and may cause systemic symptoms like fever and night sweats. It is treatable, especially when detected early, and prognosis varies with stage and patient factors.
- You may mispronounce Hodgkin’s as HOHJ-kin’s or HODG-kins; correct by placing main stress on the second syllable of Hodgkin’s (/ˈhɒdʒ.kɪnz/) and keeping a crisp switch to lymph- (/ˈlɪm.foʊ.mə/). - Lymphoma often gets slurred to ‘limph-oma’; fix by isolating /lɪm/ and then a clear /ˈfoʊ/ in the second syllable, with a gentle second syllable onset. - Some speakers replace /ɡ/ with /dʒ/ or shorten vowels; keep the /dʒ/ in Hodgkin’s and maintain the long /oʊ/ in -ma. - Don’t drop the possessive -s; pronounce /z/ ending in Hodgkin’s to preserve the natural cadence. - Breath control: avoid running the phrases together; insert a light pause after Hodgkin’s, then proceed to lymphoma.
"The oncologist explained that Hodgkin's lymphoma has a high cure rate with appropriate chemotherapy."
"She was diagnosed with Hodgkin's lymphoma after a biopsy confirmed the presence of Reed–Sternberg cells."
"Researchers are investigating targeted therapies to reduce long-term side effects in Hodgkin's lymphoma patients."
In US/UK English, say Hodgkin’s with stress on the second syllable: /ˌhɒdʒ.kɪnz/ (US: /ˌhɑːdʒ.kɪnz/). Lymphoma is stressed on the first syllable: /ˈlɪm.foʊ.mə/. Overall: /ˌhɒdʒ.kɪnz ˈlɪm.foʊ.mə/ (UK: /ˌhɒdʒ.kɪnz ˈlɪm.fəʊ.mə/; US: /ˌhɑːdʒ.kɪnz ˈlɪmf.oʊ.mə/). Start with rounded lips for ‘hodg-’, then alveolar stops, then the “lymph-” onset with a light, airy /l/.
Common errors: misplacing stress on Hodgkin (often “HO-djinz” or “HODG-kin’s” wrong), and mispronouncing lymphoma as ‘limph-oma’ or with a hard d. Correction: stress Hodgkin’s on the second syllable /ˈhɒdʒ.kɪnz/ and pronounce ‘lymphoma’ with /ˈlɪm.foʊ.mə/, keeping the /l/ followed by /ɪ/ and a long /oʊ/ in the second syllable. Practice linking the words softly: Hodgkin’s- lymph- oma, not a strong pause between “Hodgkin’s” and “lymphoma.”
US: /ˌhɑːdʒ.kɪnz ˈlɪmf.oʊ.mə/ with rhotic /r/ and the /oʊ/ in ‘lymphoma’. UK: /ˌhɒdʒ.kɪnz ˈlɪm.fəʊ.mə/ non-rhotic, with /əʊ/ diphthong in ‘-ma’. AU: similar to UK but with Australian vowel quality; often slightly broader /ˈhɒdʒ.kɪnz ˈlɪm.fəʊ.mə/ and a more centralized /ə/ in the second syllable of lymphoma. Note rhoticity and vowel rounding vary subtly; pay attention to /ɒ/ vs /ɑː/ and the final /ə/.
The difficulty stems from two parts: the proper placement of stress across a two-word medical term, and the combination of a voiced alveolar affricate in Hodgkin’s with the silent-like 'd' sound cluster and the tricky pronunciation of lymphoma’s first syllable /ˈlɪm-/ and long mid diphthong /oʊ/ in US. The apostrophe-s creates possessive pronunciation, and the compact, multi-syllabic phrase demands breath control and careful enunciation to avoid slurring.
A unique feature is the contrast between the /dʒ/ sound in Hodgkin’s (as in 'judge') and the crisp /t/ in many forms, and ensuring the ‘lymph’ part is not pronounced like ‘limp’—you should avoid a heavy ‘m’ quality in the second syllable of lymphoma. Execute the sequence: Hodg-kins (stop after 'kins'), then lymph- and finally -oma with clear vowel separation; keep the ‘g’ soft, not a hard ‘g’ as in ‘gift.’
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- US: Hodgkin’s uses rhotic /r/ in typical contexts; vowel quality in lymphoma is /ɪ/ followed by /m/ and a clear /oʊ/; keep the /ɔ/ to a minimum. - UK: non-rhotic: no /r/ after vowels; Hodgkin’s /ˈhɒdʒ.kɪnz/ and lymphoma /ˈlɪm.fəʊ.mə/ with /əʊ/ in the final syllable. - AU: similar to UK; mild rhotic tendencies in some speakers; vowel sounds slightly broader; ensure the /ɒ/ as in ‘lot’ and /əʊ/ as in ‘go’ are distinct. IPA references: US /ˌhɑːdʒ.kɪnz ˈlɪmf.oʊ.mə/; UK /ˌhɒdʒ.kɪnz ˈlɪm.fəʊ.mə/; AU /ˌhɒdʒ.kɪnz ˈlɪm.fəʊ.mə/.
The term Hodgkin’s lymphoma derives from Dr. Thomas Hodgkin, who first described the disease in 1832. Hodgkin was a British physician who identified a distinctive malignant lymph node condition; the illness was later called Hodgkin’s disease and then Hodgkin’s lymphoma as medical understanding evolved. The name fused the physician’s surname with a generic term for a malignant lymphatic neoplasm. The “Hodgkin’s lymphoma” phrasing became standard in the late 20th century to distinguish it from non-Hodgkin lymphomas; “classical Hodgkin lymphoma” emerged as the preferred clinical term to reflect the histological subtypes, notably nodular sclerosis and mixed cellularity. The concept of lymphomas as malignancies of lymphoid tissue traces to early hematology, with Reed–Sternberg cells (giant B cells) identified in the 19th century and linked to Hodgkin’s description. Over time, advances in immunophenotyping and staging refined prognosis and treatment, making Hodgkin’s lymphoma one of the most curable cancers in young adults. First known use of the term in medical literature appears in the 1830s–1850s as the disease was gradually characterized, with the modernized name becoming widely accepted by the 1980s. Contemporary usage often emphasizes “classical Hodgkin lymphoma” to differentiate from nodal lymphomas that lack Reed–Sternberg cells.
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