5 syllables: Lis, sen, ceph, a, ly. Stress on ceph.
lis-uhn-SEF-uh-lee
/lɪsənˈsɛfəli/
Lissencephaly is pronounced lis-uhn-SEF-uh-lee (/lɪsənˈsɛfəli/). It has five syllables (Lis-sen-ceph-a-ly), with the stress on "ceph". Lissencephaly is a rare brain malformation characterized by a smooth cerebral cortex with reduced or absent gyri and sulci. It results from disrupted neuronal migration during fetal development, leading to severe developmental delay and neurological impairment. The term describes the anatomical feature, not the cause, and is used in clinical and research contexts to classify certain congenital conditions.
nounLissencephaly is a rare brain malformation characterized by a smooth cerebral cortex with reduced or absent gyri and sulci. It results from disrupted neuronal migration during fetal development, leading to severe developmental delay and neurological impairment. The term describes the anatomical feature, not the cause, and is used in clinical and research contexts to classify certain congenital conditions.
- You may over-emphasize the third syllable (sef) or misplace stress, making it lis- SEN-sefal-y. Focus on keeping the 'sef' light while the second syllable is the peak of the word. - Confusion with a hard 'a' sound in the final -ly; avoid a long 'ee' finish; use a light, quick 'lee' (schwa before le) instead. - Slurring the final syllable; ensure you close with a crisp '/li/' rather than cutting off the vowel early. Practice with the IPA: lɪˈsɛnˌsɛfəli.
How to Pronounce Lissencephaly
"The child was diagnosed with lissencephaly after extensive MRI imaging."
"Researchers study the genetics of lissencephaly to understand neuronal migration disorders."
"Treatment focuses on managing seizures and promoting developmental therapies for lissencephaly."
Pronounce it as lis-SEN-sef-uh-lee, with the primary stress on the second syllable. IPA US: lɪˈsɛnˌsɛfəli. Break it into lis- SENC- sefa- lee. Start with a short i sound, then a stressed eh, then a soft schwa in the third syllable, finishing with a clear ee. Mouth positions: lips relaxed, tongue high-front for the i, mid-front for the e, and a schwa in unstressed positions. Audio reference you can compare: hearing native medical narrations of the term will help you lock the rhythm.
Common errors include flattening the second syllable stress (lis-SEN-sef-uh-lee misplacing emphasis) and running the word together as lis-sen-sef-uh-lee without a clear break. Another pitfall is mispronouncing the third syllable as a hard 'ee' rather than a schwa. Correct by pausing briefly after the second syllable and keeping the 'sef' syllable crisp with a short 'e' vowel. Practice with the IPA: lɪˈsɛnˌsɛfəli.
In US, UK, and AU, the main differences are vowel quality and rhoticity. US tends to maintain a pronounced rhotic /r/ only in linked speech? Actually lissencephaly ends with a syllable that is typically pronounced with a clear schwa then related to non-rhotic? UK and AU are often non-rhotic; the final -ly can sound almost like -lee with a non-rhotic vowel. Overall, stress pattern remains the same: lis-SEN-sef-uh-lee; the main var is the quality of the first vowel and the second syllable's vowel length. Use IPA guides for each region to fine-tune.
It combines a rare sequence of consonants and a multi-syllable structure with three successive light vowels (i, e, e) and a schwa in the middle. The initial cluster lis- starts with a short i, the second syllable carries the stressed e, and the final -ly adds a light, quick ending. The challenge is maintaining a steady rhythm across four syllables while keeping the schwa and the final /i/ clear, without slurring. IPA reminder: lɪˈsɛnˌsɛfəli.
A key unique point is the long multisyllabic rhythm with a mid-word stress and a light ending syllable. The second syllable carries the strongest emphasis, while the fourth syllable is light but audible. The 'ceph' portion includes a soft 's' followed by a crisp 'ef' cluster; producing the 'sef' with a short, crisp vowel helps avoid a slurred middle. IPA: lɪˈsɛnˌsɛfəli.
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- US: rhotic accents shorten the 'r' presence at the end; the focus remains on the second syllable. - UK: non-rhotic tendency; the final -ly can sound more like 'lee' with reduced r-coloring. - AU: similar to UK with slightly broader vowels and a quicker, more clipped final syllable. Pay attention to the mid vowels /ɛ/ and /ə/ in the second and third syllables. Use IPA references to fine-tune vowel qualities and syllable timing.
Lissencephaly originates from the Greek lexis lis- (smooth) and enkephalon (brain), combined with the Greek -phalos,-phalosis variant for a state or condition. The first element lis- derives from leios (smooth, flat), while enkepalon refers to the brain. The ending -y marks a noun describing a condition. The term was adopted into medical literature in the 19th–20th centuries as neuroanatomists described congenital cortical malformations. Early usage aimed to distinguish smooth-brain phenotypes from the normal gyrencephalic cortex. Over time, the term evolved to encompass a spectrum of cortical development disorders characterized by markedly reduced gyration, including agyria (complete absence of gyri) and pachygyria (wide, fewer gyri). Advances in neuroimaging (CT, MRI) in the late 20th century refined the diagnostic criteria and clarified genotype-phenotype correlations, with lissencephaly now understood as a result of disrupted neuronal migration during key gestational windows, often linked to mutations in genes regulating microtubule dynamics and cortical layering. The term remains a foundational descriptor in pediatric neurology and developmental neuroscience, guiding prognosis, research, and family counseling.”,
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "Lissencephaly" and can often be used interchangeably.
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Words that rhyme with "Lissencephaly"
-lly sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
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