3 syllables: lor, do, sis. Stress on do.
lawr-DOH-sis
/lɔɹˈdoʊsɪs/
lordosis is pronounced lawr-DOH-sis (/lɔɹˈdoʊsɪs/). It has three syllables (lor-do-sis), with the stress on "do". Lordosis is a medical term describing an inward curvature of the spine, typically in the cervical or lumbar regions. It can be a normal spinal feature or a condition when exaggerated, causing postural issues or discomfort. The word comes from Greek roots and is used in clinical contexts, research, and anatomy discussions.
Lordosis is a medical term describing an inward curvature of the spine, typically in the cervical or lumbar regions. It can be a normal spinal feature or a condition when exaggerated, causing postural issues or discomfort. The word comes from Greek roots and is used in clinical contexts, research, and anatomy discussions.
- Mistaking the second syllable vowel length: ensure you use a long /oʊ/ or /əʊ/ depending on dialect, not a short /ɒ/ or /ə/; practice with minimal pair: lordo-sis vs lord-uh-sis to feel contrast. - Over-rolling the /r/ in non-rhotic speakers; in US you can maintain rhotic /ɹ/ in the first syllable, but UK/AU speakers may not pronounce the r strongly; keep the /r/ soft or near rhotic depending on accent. - Final /sɪs/ tends to be swallowed or reduced; practice crisp /s/ and /ɪs/ to avoid a trailing 'z' sound or a confused /sɪ/; use a brief release before the final /s/.
"The patient displayed pronounced lumbar lordosis after the injury."
"Physiotherapists work on strengthening the core to reduce excessive lordosis."
"In anatomy texts, lordosis is contrasted with kyphosis to describe spinal curves."
Pronounce as LORD-uh-sis with primary stress on the second syllable: /lɔːˈdoʊsɪs/ in US, /lɔːˈdəʊsɪs/ in UK, and /lɔːˈdəʊsɪs/ in Australian English. Start with the open-mid back rounded vowel in 'lor-', then stress the second syllable '-do-', followed by a soft 'sis'. Mouth position: lips neutral to slightly rounded for 'lo', tongue high-mid behind the teeth for 'r', then a clear 'd' with a short 'o' vowel, and a light 'sis' ending. Audible emphasis on the second syllable helps clarity in clinical speech.
Common mistakes include misplacing stress on the first syllable (LORD-o-sis) and pronouncing the second syllable as 'doh' with a long o for all speakers. Some say /ˈlɔrədəˌsɪs/ with inconsistent vowel quality in the r-controlled vowel. To correct: keep primary stress on the second syllable (/ˈdoʊ/ or /ˈdəʊ/) and use a short, unstressed final 'sis' (/sɪs/). Practicing with a slow tempo and listening to native medical speakers helps align vowel length and consonant clarity.
US tends to a clearer /ˈlɔːr.doʊ.sɪs/ with rhotic R: /lɔɹ/. UK and AU often reduce the 'r' in non-rhotic contexts, giving /ˈlɔː.də.sɪs/ and /ˈlɔː.də.sɪs/ respectively, with UK/AU showing slightly shorter first vowel and a more centralized middle vowel. In all, the second syllable carries the main vowel /oʊ/ or /əʊ/ depending on dialect. Training with listening samples helps you match your accent to your clinical audience.
The difficulty lies in the combination of a diphthong in the second syllable and the transition from the alveolar stop /d/ to the vowel /oʊ/ or /əʊ/. The unstressed third syllable increases vowel reduction risk, leading to /ˈlɔːrəsɪs/ or /ˈlɔːdəˌsɪs/. You’ll benefit from emphasizing the second syllable, slowing down through /doʊ/ or /dəʊ/, and keeping the final /sɪs/ crisp. Paying attention to alveolar-tap timing and proper lip rounding improves accuracy.
A unique aspect is the syllable boundary after the dr-sounds. The /r/ in the first syllable affects nearby vowel quality in non-rhotic dialects; changing from /ɔːr/ to /ɔː/ can shift the tension in the jaw and upper lip. Additionally, the ending /sɪs/ requires a clear, voiceless s and a slightly tensed final vowel to avoid blending with /z/ in connected speech. Practicing with slow, isolated syllables helps.
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US: maintain rhotic /ɹ/ and keep vowels open in /ɔːr/; UK/AU: post-vocalic /r/ is often not pronounced, so /ˈlɔːdə.sɪs/; watch length of /ɔː/ vs /əʊ/. Vowel shifts: US uses /oʊ/; UK/AU may use /əʊ/ in the second syllable. Ensure lip rounding consistent with /oʊ/; use IPA as reference to keep precise vowel height.
Lordosis derives from the Greek word lordos, meaning bent or curved to the side, with -osis indicating a condition or process. The term appears in medical literature to describe the inward curvature of the spine, particularly in the lumbar or cervical regions. Early medical texts (ancient Greek anatomy) laid groundwork for naming spinal curvatures, with the concept evolving through Latin translations and modern anatomy. The first known uses surface in 17th–19th century medical writings, as specialists distinguished between kyphosis (outward curving) and lordosis (inward curving). Over time, the term expanded to cover both physiological curvatures (normal lumbar lordosis) and pathological exaggerations, now central to orthopedics, physical therapy, and radiological reporting. The term’s precise definition has broadened with imaging advances (X-ray, MRI), but the core meaning remains: a forward-bending or inward spinal angle that can be either a natural curve or a deformity requiring intervention.
💡 Etymology tip: Understanding word origins can help you remember pronunciation patterns and recognize related words in the same language family.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "lordosis" and can often be used interchangeably.
🔄 These words have opposite meanings to "lordosis" and show contrast in usage.
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Words that rhyme with "lordosis"
-sis sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
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