2 syllables: Le, sions. Stress on Le.
LEE-zhuhnz
/ˈliʒənz/
Lesions is pronounced LEE-zhuhnz (/ˈliʒənz/). It has two syllables (Le-sions), with the stress on "Le". Lesions is a medical noun referring to damaged or abnormal tissue, typically resulting from injury, disease, or infection. It denotes areas where normal tissue architecture is altered, which can be visible on the skin or detectable in organs. In medical contexts, it’s used for both singular and plural references to such tissue changes and is common in dermatology, pathology, and radiology.
nounLesions is a medical noun referring to damaged or abnormal tissue, typically resulting from injury, disease, or infection. It denotes areas where normal tissue architecture is altered, which can be visible on the skin or detectable in organs. In medical contexts, it’s used for both singular and plural references to such tissue changes and is common in dermatology, pathology, and radiology.
"The patient presented with crusted skin lesions that were biopsied."
"MRI revealed multiple brain lesions consistent with infection."
"The surgeon noted the lesion was encapsulated and could be removed."
Pronounce as two syllables: LIH-zhunz, with stress on the first syllable. IPA: US/UK/AU /ˈliː.ʒənz/. The initial sound is the long E in 'lee', followed by the voiced postalveolar fricative 'zh' as in 'measure', then an unstressed 'ənz' for the suffix. In careful speech, ensure the 'zh' sound is clearly voiced and not confused with an 's' or 'z' alone.
Common errors: 1) Materializing the second syllable as 'shen' or 'shen-z' instead of 'zhənz'; 2) Slurring the -on- into a short 'on' versus the mid 'ə' in the second syllable; 3) Dropping the final z, saying 'lesion' singular or 'lezions'. Correction: keep the second syllable as 'zhən' with a reduced vowel, and end with a voiced 'z' rather than a hard 's'. Practice with the phrase ‘medical lesion’ to lock the pattern.
US/UK/AU share /ˈliː.ʒənz/ but there are subtle cues: US tends toward clearer 'zh' as in measure and slightly stronger vowel in the first syllable; UK often has a more clipped second syllable with less vowel reduction; AU tends to a centralized vowel quality with a slightly more rounded second syllable. All are rhotic in phonetic realization; the final -z sound is voiced in all three. Pay attention to the 'ə' in 'zhən' in all accents.
The challenge lies in the combination of the long 'ee' vowel in the first syllable and the immediate transition into the voiced postalveolar fricative /ʒ/ followed by a reduced vowel /ən/ and final /z/. The rhythm is two syllables with stress on the first, and the /ʒ/ is relatively uncommon in many languages, requiring precise tongue placement near the hard palate. Mastery comes from slow practice at first, then increasing tempo while maintaining the /ˈliː.ʒənz/ pattern.
Does the word 'Lesions' ever sound like 'liesh-ions' in rapid speech? No. While some speakers may mis-hypothesize, the correct pronunciation remains /ˈliː.ʒənz/ with the 'zh' sound and a reduced second syllable; avoid conflating with 'lezion' or 'liesons'. The key is the 'zh' /ʒ/ sound immediately after the long E, followed by a reduced /ən/ before the final /z/.
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Lesion comes from the Latin word laesio, meaning injury or damage. The Latin verb laedere means to injure or wound. In the 17th century, the English medical term lesion entered via French or Latin medical texts to describe any area of tissue that has been damaged or deviate from normal structure. Early medical writers used terms like ‘lesion of the skin’ or ‘lesion of the organ’ to denote localized pathology. Over time, the plural form lesions became standard in medical literature, applicable to both cutaneous and internal tissue changes. The word retained its core sense of damage but broadened to include a wide range of tissue abnormalities—from bruises, ulcers, or tumors to inflammatory or necrotic areas. In contemporary usage, lesions are described by location, appearance, and presumed etiology, with imaging, histology, or endoscopy often providing confirmation. etymology notes: laesio (injury) → laedere (to injure) → lesion (medical usage) with later French and Latin-based medical adoption; first known English usage appears in 16th–17th century medical texts.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "Lesions" and can often be used interchangeably.
🔄 These words have opposite meanings to "Lesions" and show contrast in usage.
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Words that rhyme with "Lesions"
-ons sounds
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