3 syllables: in, ci, sions. Stress on ci.
in-SIZH-uhnz
/ˌɪˈnsɪʒənz/
incisions is pronounced in-SIZH-uhnz (/ˌɪˈnsɪʒənz/). It has three syllables (in-ci-sions), with the stress on "ci". Incisions refer to surgical cuts or openings made in tissue, typically with a scalpel. The term also appears in general contexts to describe any precise cuts by a sharp instrument. It conveys a clinical, technical sense and is used in medical, dental, or woodworking discussions to denote deliberate, clean separations.
Incisions refer to surgical cuts or openings made in tissue, typically with a scalpel. The term also appears in general contexts to describe any precise cuts by a sharp instrument. It conveys a clinical, technical sense and is used in medical, dental, or woodworking discussions to denote deliberate, clean separations.
- You might add an extra vowel between the second and third syllables (e.g., in-sih-zh? en). Fix by merging /ˈsɪʒ/ into one smooth syllable. - Overemphasize the /ʒ/ or /z/ sounds, producing a heavy, sibilant ending. Fix by lightening the final consonant cluster and letting the /ənz/ glide. - Incorrectly voice the final /z/ as /s/; ensure voicing remains as /z/ for pluralization. Practice with minimal pairs to keep voicing distinct.
"The surgeon made several precise incisions along the patient’s abdomen."
"You’ll see small incisions on the fabric where the seam ripper entered."
"The engineer described the incisions required to separate the metal plate without jagged edges."
Pronounced in-SIH-zhuhnz with the primary stress on the second syllable. IPA: US /ɪnˈsɪʒ.ənz/, UK /ɪnˈsɪʒ.ənz/, AU /ɪnˈsɪʒ.ənz/. The middle syllable features a syllabic or near-syllabic 'zh' sound /ʒ/ as in measure, followed by a soft schwa /ə/ in the final syllable. Keep the /n/ nasal before the /s/ that begins the second syllable cluster, and ensure the /sɪʒ/ sequence stays smooth without a separate break between vowels in careful speech.
Common errors: over-pronouncing the /n/ by nasalizing the whole second syllable, or turning /ˈsɪʒ/ into a hard /sɪz/ cluster. Also, some speakers insert an extra vowel, saying in-sis-sions. Correction: keep the /ɪ/ in the second syllable short, glide from /n/ into /ˈsɪʒ/ without adding an extra vowel between the /s/ and /ɪ/; end with a clear /ənz/ (not /ənzɪs/). Use a brief, light /ə/ before /nz/ in the final syllable.
In US English, emphasis remains on the second syllable with a clear /ɪ/ in the first vowel and a rhotic-friendly /ɪ/ in the second; final /z/ is voiced. UK English shares /ɪnˈsɪʒ.ənz/ but the /ɒ/ vs /ɒ/ differences are not prominent in this word. Australian English is similar to UK/US but with slightly flatter vowels and less rhoticity in some speakers; ensure the /r/ is not pronounced since there is no /r/ in the word. Overall, the word remains non-rhotic in all three, with /ʒ/ retained in all contexts.
The difficulty lies in the /ɪŋ/ sequence followed by /ˈsɪʒ/; the /ʒ/ sound is relatively rare in everyday English and can be substituted with /ʃ/ or /z/ by some speakers. Additionally, the transition between /n/ and /s/ can be abrupt if you don’t soften the nasal boundary before the sibilant. Focus on a smooth /n/ into the /s/ and produce /ʒ/ with the tongue blade close to the palate, not the teeth. The final /ənz/ should be concise, not prolonged.
In fast speech, the /ˈsɪʒ.ənz/ sequence can blur if you reduce the schwa. Avoid flapping or over-singing the /ɪ/; maintain a crisp /ɪ/ for the first vowel and a full /ʒ/ before the final /ənz/. Practice slow, then speed up while holding the /ʒ/ steady and the final /nz/ clear. This keeps the three consonant-heavy syllables distinct even when talking rapidly.
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- US: rhoticity not present; vocalic quality tends to be more pronounced in the second syllable due to stressed /ˈsɪ/ followed by /ʒ/; /ɜr/ is not used. - UK: less rhotic emphasis, but /ˈsɪʒ/ remains, with slightly more fronted /ɪ/ and crisper /z/ end. - AU: vowels broader, final /z/ preserved; pay attention to the non-rhotic tendencies and less tense jaw; keep the /ɪ/ bright and the /ʒ/ unaspirated. - IPA references: US /ɪnˈsɪʒ.ənz/, UK /ɪnˈsɪʒ.ənz/, AU /ɪnˈsɪʒ.ənz/.
Incision originates from the Latin verb incidere, meaning to cut into or carve. The noun form incision comes from Latin incidere, with the suffix -ion denoting action or condition. The root inci- comes from in- (in, into) combined with caedere (to cut). The plural incisions follows English pluralization patterns by adding -s to incision. The term entered medical English via Latin in early modern surgical texts as surgeons described deliberate, measured cuts to expose body structures. In modern usage, incision retains its precise, technical connotations but is also used metaphorically in other crafts to describe clean separations or slices. The word has maintained consistency in meaning: a deliberate, clean, controlled cut rather than a tear. First known use citations anchor to early surgical glossaries and anatomical descriptions dating from the 16th to 18th centuries, with widespread adoption in textbooks by the 19th century as surgical procedures standardized.
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Words that rhyme with "incisions"
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