5 syllables: hy, ster, ec, to, my. Stress on ec.
his-tur-EK-tuh-mee
/ˌhɪstɚˈɛktəmi/
hysterectomy is pronounced his-tur-EK-tuh-mee (/ˌhɪstɚˈɛktəmi/). It has five syllables (hy-ster-ec-to-my), with the stress on "ec". Hysterectomy is a surgical procedure to remove the uterus, sometimes including surrounding tissues or ovaries. The term combines prefixes and roots from Greek, but in medical usage it is pronounced as a single, multisyllabic word. It’s a technical word often encountered in clinical conversations, patient information, and medical literature.
Hysterectomy is a surgical procedure to remove the uterus, sometimes including surrounding tissues or ovaries. The term combines prefixes and roots from Greek, but in medical usage it is pronounced as a single, multisyllabic word. It’s a technical word often encountered in clinical conversations, patient information, and medical literature.
"The patient underwent a total hysterectomy due to fibroids."
"Her hysterectomy was performed robotically with minimal recovery time."
"The gynecologist discussed possible risks after the hysterectomy."
Pronounce as /ˌhɪs.təˈrek.tə.mi/ (US) or /ˌhɪs.təˈrek.tə.mi/ (UK/AU). Break into hiss-TAH-REK-tuh-mee, with primary stress on the third syllable: -REK-. Start with /h/ + /ɪ/ (short i), then /s/ and a schwa-like /ə/ in the second syllable, followed by a clear /ˈrɛk/ for the third, then /tə/ and finally /mi/. Mouth positions: lips neutral, tongue relaxed, tip of tongue near the alveolar ridge for /t/ and /r/ sequence. Quick tip: practice “hiss-ter-EC-to-me” slowly, then speed up while keeping the /ˈrek/ strong. Audio reference: consult a medical pronunciation resource or Forvo entry labeled hysterectomy.
Common errors include: 1) stressing the wrong syllable (placing primary stress on first or second syllable); 2) mispronouncing /ˈrek/ as /ˈrekˌto/ or flattening the /t/ into a flap; 3) inserting extra vowels or misplacing the schwa. Correction tips: emphasize the /ˈrek/ chunk with a crisp /r/ and short /e/; pronounce the final -my with /mi/ clearly, not /mɪ/ or /miː/. Practice with the rhythm: /ˌhɪs.təˈrek.tə.mi/ and use minimal pairs to stabilize the /t/ and /r/ combination.
In US, UK, and AU, main difference is rhoticity and vowel quality. US tends to maintain a more pronounced /r/ within the syllable and a slightly sharper /ɹ/; UK and AU may have a softer rhotic realization, with more schwa in the second syllable and a less intense /ɹ/ blend. The primary stress remains on the third syllable: /ˌhɪs.təˈrek.tə.mi/. Multisyllabic medical terms often retain similar spacing, but vowel quality and rhythm shift slightly by accent.
The challenge lies in the consonant cluster /stəˈrɛk/ and the sequence /tərɛk/ around the R-T transition, plus the multi-syllabic length that masks the stressed syllable. You must coordinate a short, crisp /t/ just before the /r/ and maintain a clear /ˈrek/ instead of blending into a schwa. Additionally, three unstressed syllables in a row can lull the mouth into shortening vowels; keep the /ə/ in the second syllable distinct and pace the articulation so the primary stress lands on the /ˈrek/.
A key feature is the strong, distinct /ˈrek/ chunk in the third syllable amid three preceding light syllables. Focusing on the “rek” consonant cluster helps anchor the rhythm of the word. Also, the ending /ti/ becomes /tə.mi/; avoid over-articulating the /ti/ and instead produce a quick, light /tə/ followed by /mi/. Practicing with slow to normal tempo and then faster speeds will reinforce natural pronunciation.
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Hysterectomy traces to the Greek hystera, meaning uterus, and ektome, meaning cutting out. The compound formed in Latinized medical terms as hysterectomy, essentially “cutting out the uterus.” The first elements reflect ancient Greek anatomy terms: hys-, hystera (uterus). The suffix -ectomy derives from Greek ektomē, “a cutting,” via Latinized spelling. In English medical vocabulary, the term emerged in the late 19th to early 20th centuries as surgeons formalized procedures and documentation for female reproductive surgeries. Usage spread with gynecology’s professionalization and the expansion of surgical interventions for uterine pathologies. Historically, hysterectomy became a standard treatment option for conditions like fibroids, endometriosis, cancer, and postpartum hemorrhage. Over time, refinements in technique (abdominal, vaginal, laparoscopic, robotic-assisted) influenced how the word is described in patient education and clinical notes, but the basic components—hystera (uterus) + ektome (excision)—remain intact. First known use in English medical literature appears in the late 1800s, with gradual adoption across medical texts and dictionaries as gynecologic surgery evolved. The term has since become an entrenched, widely understood surgical noun, spanning historical to contemporary contexts.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "hysterectomy" and can often be used interchangeably.
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Words that rhyme with "hysterectomy"
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