4 syllables: Im, pe, ti, go. Stress on ti.
im-puh-TEYE-goh
/ɪmpəˈtaɪɡoʊ/
Impetigo is pronounced im-puh-TEYE-goh (/ɪmpəˈtaɪɡoʊ/). It has four syllables (Im-pe-ti-go), with the stress on "ti". Impetigo is a contagious bacterial skin infection characterized by red sores that quickly rupture, ooze for a few days, and crust over. It commonly affects children and people with minor skin injuries, and is treatable with antibiotics. The term originates from Latin, but clinical usage focuses on the superficial, contagious nature of the lesions.
nounImpetigo is a contagious bacterial skin infection characterized by red sores that quickly rupture, ooze for a few days, and crust over. It commonly affects children and people with minor skin injuries, and is treatable with antibiotics. The term originates from Latin, but clinical usage focuses on the superficial, contagious nature of the lesions.
"The child was diagnosed with impetigo and started antibiotic cream."
"She wore long sleeves to prevent spreading impetigo to others."
"Public health officials advised keeping lesions covered to limit impetigo transmission."
Impetigo is pronounced IM-puh-TY-go, with primary stress on the third syllable. IPA US: /ˌɪm.pəˈtiː.ɡoʊ/. UK/AU: /ˌɪm.pəˈtiː.ɡəʊ/. Break it into syllables: im-puh-TI-go. The middle syllable features a clear /tiː/ (long E) vowel; the final /goʊ/ or /ɡəʊ/ has a long O sound. Practice by isolating the stressed syllable and articulating a crisp /tiː/ before a soft, rounded /ɡoʊ/.
Two common mistakes: misplacing the stress (saying im-PE-ti-go) and mispronouncing the middle vowel as a short /ɪ/ or schwa. Correct by maintaining primary stress on TI (im-pə-TI-go), and elongating the /iː/ to a clear long vowel before the final /ɡoʊ/ or /ɡəʊ/. Another pitfall is trailing the final /o/ with a lax vowel. Use the IPA cues: /ˌɪm.pəˈtiː.ɡoʊ/ (US) or /ˌɪm.pəˈtiː.ɡəʊ/ (UK/AU).
Across US/UK/AU, the main differences are final vowel quality and rhoticity. US tends to end with a pronounced rhotic /oʊ/ (though often reduced in connected speech), while UK/AU use a non-rhotic ending /əʊ/ with a clearer offglide to /əʊ/. Vowel duration of /iː/ remains long in all; the initial syllable may reduce to /ɪm/ in casual speech. Overall: US: /ˌɪm.pəˈtiː.ɡoʊ/; UK/AU: /ˌɪm.pəˈtiː.ɡəʊ/.
The difficulty lies in the multi-syllabic, patient-friendly medical term with a long stressed third syllable and a final diphthong. The /tiː/ segment requires a tense, palatal-tongue position, and the final /ɡoʊ/ or /ɡəʊ/ demands careful lip rounding and jaw relaxation to avoid a clipped ending. Additionally, non-native speakers may misplace emphasis or reduce unstressed vowels, leading to ‘im-PET-ih-go’ or similar. Focus on keeping TI distinctly stressed and crisp final /oʊ/.
Yes. The central challenge is the tertiary stress pattern and the long /tiː/ vowel; you want the emphasis on TI, not on the first or second syllables. The 'ti' cluster should have a clear, tense high front vowel, and the following /ɡoʊ/ or /ɡəʊ/ should be distinct but not overly forceful. In rapid speech, the middle syllable can weaken slightly, but retain the long /iː/ for intelligibility. Practice by isolating TI in a slow read, then link to GO smoothly.
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Impetigo comes from the Latin impetig(a)re, from impetigere meaning to attack or set upon. The medical term distilled through Old French and Latin into Late Medieval English, often associated with the “impetigo contagiosa” descriptor in 19th-century texts. The root impetigo itself likely reflects impet- (to attack, assault) combined with -igo, a common suffix in disease terms. Historically, impetigo was distinguished from other dermatoses by its highly contagious vesicular-crusting presentation, especially in warmer climates and crowded conditions. Over centuries, the name has solidified as a specific bacterial skin infection caused by Staphylococcus aureus or Streptococcus pyogenes, sometimes both. First known medical usage appears in late 18th to early 19th century European dermatology literature, where case descriptions emphasized contagion and compulsory isolation until lesions crusted. As microbiology advanced, the term remained stable, reflecting its clinical behavior rather than a change in causative pathogens, though treatment shifted from topical antiseptics to antibiotic therapy in the 20th century.
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Words that rhyme with "Impetigo"
-rgo sounds
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