5 syllables: Hy, dro, neph, ro, sis. Stress on ro.
heye-droh-nef-ROH-sis
/ˌhaɪ.dro.nɛfˈroʊ.sɪs/
Hydronephrosis is pronounced heye-droh-nef-ROH-sis (/ˌhaɪ.dro.nɛfˈroʊ.sɪs/). It has five syllables (Hy-dro-neph-ro-sis), with the stress on "ro". Hydronephrosis is a medical condition in which one or both kidneys become enlarged due to urine buildup from a blockage or obstruction. The term combines Greek roots for water and kidney, and describes the distention of the renal pelvis and calyces. It is typically diagnosed via imaging and can be acute or chronic, requiring medical evaluation and treatment.
nounHydronephrosis is a medical condition in which one or both kidneys become enlarged due to urine buildup from a blockage or obstruction. The term combines Greek roots for water and kidney, and describes the distention of the renal pelvis and calyces. It is typically diagnosed via imaging and can be acute or chronic, requiring medical evaluation and treatment.
"The ultrasound confirmed hydronephrosis of the left kidney."
"Chronic hydronephrosis can lead to reduced renal function if not treated."
"In that case the obstruction caused hydronephrosis was relieved surgically."
Break it into syllables: hy-dro-ne-phro-sis. Primary stress is on the third syllable: haɪˌdroʊˌnɛˈfroʊsɪs (US) or haɪˌdrɒnˈefrəˌsɪs (alternative). In practice you’ll hear a slight secondary stress on 'ne' and a strong emphasis on 'fro' depending on speaker. IPA: US haɪˌdroʊˌnɛfˈroʊsɪs; UK haɪˌdrɒnˈefrəˌsɪs; AU haɪˌdrɒnˈefrəˌsɪs. Focus on the -nephro- syllable as a light-to-moderate beat, with the -sis ending as a clear final syllable. You can listen to medical pronunciation references to confirm the -sɪs ending.
Two frequent errors: 1) Muddling the -nephro- as ne-FRO instead of NEF-ro with the 'ph' as f sound; 2) Misplacing stress, saying haɪˈdrɒnˌefrəˌsɪs or haɪˌdroʊnˈɛfroʊsɪs. Correction tips: keep -nephro- as NEF-ro with a short e and clear f sound from 'ph', and place primary stress on the -fro- syllable: haɪˌdro.neˈfroˌsɪs or haɪˌdroˌnɛfˈroʊsɪs depending on dialect. Practice with minimal pairs and listen-and-repeat using IPA guidance.
US: rhotic, with /ɪ/ or /ɛ/ in -nephro- depending on speaker; F0 often on -nef- or -fro-. UK: similar but less rhotic influence, sometimes a lighter -r-; AU: non-rhotic tendency in some speakers, 'r' less pronounced. Core segments stay haɪˌdroʊˈnɛfrəˌsɪs (US) vs haɪˌdrɒnˈefrəˌsɪs (UK/AU). The -phro- sequence typically yields /frɔ/ or /frə/. Listen to medical videos in each accent to fine-tune.
Key challenges: long multi-syllabic with three dense clusters: hyd-ro-ne-phro-sis; the -nephro- combining form carries /nɛfro/ or /nəvro/ depending on speaker; the /r/ influence and the /ɔ/ vs /ɒ/ vowel shift in non-native contexts. Additionally, the 'ph' yields an /f/ sound that must blend with the following r-controlled vowel. Practice by segmenting into syllables, anchoring each segment with steady jaw movement, and drilling contrasting forms like nephro- and -phrosis in isolation.
Unique aspect: the word contains nephro- derived from kidney, with a linking gentle transition between -nephro- and -sis. Some speakers emphasize the 'fro' syllable as the peak, producing haɪˌdroˌnɛfˈroʊsɪs. The trick is maintaining a light but distinct /f/ followed by a clear /r/ sound; in rapid speech the -o- can become schwa-like before -sis. Practice with careful mouth positioning and controlled tempo to keep each segment audible.
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Hydronephrosis traces to the Greek words hydro- meaning water, nephros meaning kidney, and -osis indicating a pathological condition or process. The term reflects the pathophysiology: distension and dilation of the renal pelvis and calyces by accumulated urine. The concept of hydronephrosis emerged from early urology and radiology as imaging modalities revealed dilated renal collecting systems in obstructive cases. In its modern usage, hydronephrosis can be described as acute or chronic, unilateral or bilateral, and is diagnosed via ultrasound, CT, or MRI demonstrating pelvic or calyceal dilation with variable cortical thinning depending on duration and severity. First known usage in medical literature appears in the late 19th to early 20th century with advances in renal imaging techniques enabling clearer characterization of urinary tract obstruction effects on kidney structure.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "Hydronephrosis" and can often be used interchangeably.
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Words that rhyme with "Hydronephrosis"
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